flying cars take one step closer to take-off, and the commercial market, with a new partnership announced between suzuki and SkyDrive. founded in 2018, SkyDrive has been making waves with its eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft and its mission of ‘leading a once-in-a-century mobility revolution’. since the first test flight of its SD-03 eVTOL in 2020, the startup has been busy developing a two seater electric-powered flying car, which it aims to launch in 2025 as an air taxi service at the world expo in osaka.

SkyDrive’s SD-03, watch the video above to see its world debut

all images courtesy of SkyDrive

with this partnership, suzuki will team up with SkyDrive in areas of business and technology. although no details have yet been announced, the press release reveals that the collaboration will cover ‘technology R&D, planning of manufacturing and mass-production systems, development of overseas markets with an initial focus on india, and promotion of efforts to attain carbon neutrality.’

for suzuki, this collaboration will mean adding flying cars as the brand’s fourth mobility category, alongside automobiles, motorcycles, and outboard motors. ‘the company aims to remain indispensable to people by staying closely attuned to lives and providing mobility,’ says suzuki.

the advancement of flying cars marks part of the japanese government’s plans to solve mobility problems by taking to the skies. japan established the public-private council for air mobility revolution in 2018 with the aim to provide air taxi services in urban areas, new means of transportation for remote islands and mountainous areas, and emergency transportation in times of disaster. a roadmap has been formulated by the ministry of economy, trade and industry (METI) and the ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism (MLIT) for the start of business in 2023 and full-scale deployment in 2030.

SkyDrive’s SD-XX concept model

SkyDrive’s SD-XX concept model

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