Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor and a flying car manufacturer, SkyDrive have jointly announced a partnership for the commercialization of flying cars.
The two companies will start considering to collaborate in areas of business and technology that include technology R&D, planning and manufacturing and mass-production systems, development, and marketing of electric, vertical takeoff, and landing aircraft. They will also work to open up new markets with an initial focus on India.
SkyDrive is currently engaged in the development of a compact, two-seating electric-powered flying car with plans for full-scale production. SkyDrive’s two-seat SD-XX concept model is an 8-prop coaxial multicopter airframe with a glass-covered cabin. The eVTOL aircraft is designed to fly at the maximum speed of about 100 km/h (62 mph) for somewhere between 20-30 minutes.
The joint statement did not say whether Suzuki would be working on the SkyDrive’s two-seat flying vehicle. SkyDrive aims to begin air taxi service during the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, Japan, as well as to initiate service in other regions of Japan. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) recently accepted SkyDrive’s application for a type certificate for its flying car
For Suzuki, the company currently offers products in three mobility categories – automobiles, motorcycles, and onboard motors. And now, the partnership with SkyDrive will provide Suzuki with opportunities to explore and potentially add flying cars as fourth mobility business.
