Flying Car Designed to Land on Rooftops; Japan Grants $82M

A Japanese eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle maker has been granted $82 million by the Japanese government.

The country’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry selected SkyDrive for the Next Generation Air Mobility Field, part of an innovation promotion project.

The grant is a Japanese government initiative to support startup companies working on advanced technologies that address challenges in society and back projects with high potential for growth and impact.

SkyDrive recently announced that its flying cars will be manufactured at a Suzuki plant starting in the Spring of 2024 through a new subsidiary.

Up to 100 of the SkyDrive flying vehicles could be created annually at the subsidiary Sky Works Inc. at the Suzuki-owned plant in Iwata-city, Shizuoka.

SkyDrive and Suzuki formed a strategic partnership last year to collaborate on business and technology research and development, manufacturing and mass production systems and the development of international markets including India.

SkyDrive’s stated vision is “to create a future where everyone has access to eVTOLs as their daily transportation in Japan and across the world.”

“It features a unique patent pending rotor frame technology that allows it to land on rooftops, making it suitable and accessible aircraft for family, friends and commuters with an affordable operating cost per person,” according to SkyDrive.

Related:Suzuki to Start Building Flying Cars in 2024

SkyDrive has a deal to sell up to 50 electric aerial vehicles (EAV) to an aircraft leasing company Solyu in Korea, which is in the business of aircraft leasing and financing and aims to use EAVs to aid the severe traffic congestion there.

SkyDrive was established in 2018 and conducted its first crewed flight test in Japan in 2019.

The company has applied for certification from Japan’s Civil Aeronautics Law, which has to approve the design, structure, strength and performance of any newly developed aircraft.

The certification applies to SkyDrive’s SD-05, the flying car SkyDrive plans to launch in an air taxi service in 2025.

SkyDrive earlier teamed with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to improve noise reduction on eVTOL vehicles. 

While electric engines enable lower noise operations, SkyDrive aims to create EAVs that take off and land in neighborhoods and are used as a daily form of transportation.

The aerial agency already has noise source identification technology, which the joint venture plans to use as a starting point. In the study, the responsibilities are divided.

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Related:Suzuki Partners With SkyDrive to Develop Flying Cars