Kotaro Chiba, co-founder and managing partner of venture-capital group Drone Fund, yesterday became the first private individual to preorder a SkyDrive SD-05 two-seat eVTOL. The Japanese company started accepting preorders this week from private individuals, but has been securing preorders from business customers since unveiling a new vehicle design in September. Chiba also was the first investor in the company back in November 2018.
SkyDrive did not disclose the terms of the personal-use preorder agreements, including if they are backed by a down payment. The company has also not revealed the purchase price for the SD-05, which it aims to start delivering in 2025.
Chiba, who owns a HondaJet, holds a pilot’s license. However, SkyDrive said personal-use customers for the SD-05 will not be required to be licensed pilots.
In other news, SkyDrive reported earlier this week that it has raised ¥10 billion ($75.1 million) in further capital via its Series C funding round. Since its launch in 2018, the company has raised more than ¥15 billion in funding, it said.
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