Japan’s SkyDrive Reaches Basic Agreement with Suzuki to Build eVTOL Aircraft, Leveraging manufacturing facilities and expertise.
eVTOL and drone manufacturers around the world have run up against the realities of cost-effective manufacturing at scale. At this week’s Paris Air Show, Japan’s SkyDrive announced their solution.
SkyDrive has partnered with Suzuki Motor Corporation (Suzuki) to leverage Suzuki’s production facilities and expertise to manufacture Skydrive eVTOL. Skydrive will establish a wholly owned manufacturing subsidiary. With Suzuki, the subsidiary will begin building the SkyDrive eVTOL by spring of 2024 in a Suzuki production facility in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Suzuki will also assist with staffing and other preparations in the manufacturing facility.
SkyDrive has multiple models of eVTOL available: the aircraft to be built at the Suzuki facility is a 3 seat, electric lightweight vertical takeoff and landing vehicle.
“We are excited to cooperate with SkyDrive as we ambitiously work towards creating valuable products that contribute to the realization of a world where people use the sky for their daily transportations,” saidToshihiro Suzuki, Suzuki Motor Corporation President.
“At Suzuki, all manufacturing activities are based on a concept, ‘Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, and Neater’ and SkyDrive is developing lightweight air mobilities. Suzuki and SkyDrive have been collaborating since March 2022 and we are very excited that SkyDrive will utilize the production facility of Suzuki to build our eVTOL ‘SKYDRIVE.’ In our pursuit to consistently manufacture safe and high-quality aircraft for the world, we are grateful for the valuable know-how we will learn from Suzuki, a global leader in automobile mass production. Suzuki and SkyDrive will work closely towards the shared goal,” said Tomohiro Fukuzawa, SkyDrive Inc. CEO.
Read more:
- Flying Cars Take Off: Skydrive Announces Consumer Pre-Orders
- SkyDrive Enters U.S. Market with Plans to Develop Practical Uses for eVTOLs and an AAM Ecosystem
- Pacific Group Bets on Urban Air Mobility in Vietnam, Pre-Orders SkyDrive’s Passenger eVTOL
- SkyDrive Funding: Japanese Flying Car and Cargo Drone Company Scores More than $66 Million
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
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