Toyota, Japan: SkyDrive Inc., a leading Japanese eVTOL aircraft manufacturer, March 7 announced the start of production of its highly anticipated “SKYDRIVE (SD-05)” aircraft at Suzuki Motor Corporation’s (“Suzuki”) manufacturing plant in Iwata-city, Shizuoka, Japan. This marks a significant milestone in SkyDrive’s mission to revolutionise urban air mobility.
In a riveting ceremony that took place on March 6, 2024, Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President of Suzuki, Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive, all employees from Sky Works and other representatives attended. The ceremony marked the beginning of production and served as a symbol of the collaboration between SkyDrive and Suzuki.
SkyDrive is committed to delivering safer, more affordable, quieter, and emission-free aerial mobility solutions. The establishment of Sky Works Inc., its manufacturing arm, and the partnership with Suzuki are significant steps towards achieving this goal. With the capacity to produce up to 100 eVTOLs per year, SkyDrive is poised to meet the growing demand for urban air mobility solutions.
Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive, said, “Partnering with Suzuki, a renowned automotive manufacturer, is a momentous occasion for SkyDrive. It is the beginning of a new phase. We share a goal of quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, making them an ideal partner in our quest to revolutionise urban air mobility.”
“We are thrilled to begin production of the SKYDRIVE (SD-05) with Suzuki’s manufacturing specialists. This facility allows us to produce high-quality eVTOLs efficiently and effectively, ensuring we meet the needs of our customers,” Nobuo Kishi, President of Sky Works Inc. added.
SkyDrive plans to operate its eVTOL aircraft SKYDRIVE at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, showcasing the potential of eVTOL technology to the world.
Sky Works Inc. was established in September 2023 as a subsidiary of SkyDrive Inc. for the production of eVTOL aircraft. The company’s manufacturing plant in Iwata-city, Shizuoka, owned by Suzuki, has a production capacity of up to 100 eVTOLs per year.
SkyDrive was formally established in July 2018 after testing flying car concepts and prototypes from 2014 with the mission of “taking the lead in the once-in-a-century mobility revolution.” Its vision is to create a future where everyone has access to eVTOLs as their daily transportation in Japan and across the world. The company succeeded in the first crewed eVTOL flight test in Japan in 2019 and its eVTOL “SKYDRIVE” is in the process of acquiring its Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) certification.
Headquartered in Toyota, SkyDrive has been selected as a company to participate in the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) project at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. SkyDrive began production of ”SKYDRIVE” in March 2024 at the plant owned by official production partner Suzuki Motor Company.
