Japanese carmaker Suzuki Motor Corporation is getting behind SkyDrive's efforts to develop a two-seat personal eVTOL vehicle. Suzuki is now supporting the Toyko-based start-up on multiple aspects of research and development work, preparations for manufacturing, and business planning.
Since October 2021, SkyDrive has been engaged in the type certification process with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT). The timeline for bringing the flying car to market has slipped from late 2023 to 2025 after the company acknowledged that more time is needed for the approval process.
The MLIT, which includes the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, will evaluate the single-seat, all-electric SD-03 prototype for environmental performance as well as for airworthiness. The two-seat SD-05 is the company's designation for the version of the vehicle that will be evaluated for type certification purposes and which it intends to start delivering from 2025.
In August 2020, SkyDrive raised ¥3.9 billion ($31 million) in a Series B funding round to support its development of urban air mobility technology, including flying cars and cargo drones. The start-up, which was founded in 2018 and now has cargo drones with payloads in excess of 30 kg (66 pounds) working at industrial sites, has now raised more than $50 million.
In a statement on March 22, Suzuki indicated that it views flying cars as an opportunity to develop, “a fourth mobility business.” The automotive group did not mention whether it will be making a financial investment in SkyDrive.
The SkyDrive vehicle is one of several eVTOL models expected to start commercial services during the 2025 World Exposition in the Japanese city of Osaka.
