Suzuki starts manufacturing flying cars in collaboration with SkyDrive

ABU DHABI: Suzuki Motor Corporation and SkyDrive Inc. collaborate to produce autonomous, electric flying cars, known as eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing). The production of the flying cars will kick off at Iwata City, Japan in a Suzuki-owned plant. The collaboration, started in June 2023 involves the SkyDrive (SD-05 type) manufacturing through the subsidiary of SkyDrive, Sky Works Inc.

An eVTOL is a three-seater, compact flying car that works like a helicopter, capable of landing and vertical takeoff. It comes with autonomous functions like Autopilot and will serve in the future as "Air Taxis", offering an excellent solution to traffic congestion.

In 2019, SkyDrive performed a crewed eVTOL test flight. Since then the company has been engaged with air traffic regulators, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), for potential US operations. SkyDrive’s recent model revealed at the 2023 Paris Air Show comes with a patented rotor design, carries an extra 700 pounds, accommodates three people, and boasts a 5-10 kilometres flight range longer than previous designs.

The flying car market also includes players like PAL-V Liberty which was introduced in 2017 with a £425,000 price. Hyundai is also working on an air taxi concept that will make its debut in 2028, while the Air Car prototype of Klein Vision which was unveiled in 2022 reaches speeds of 190 kmph and accommodates two passengers.

At Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan, SkyDrive will join the Advanced Air Mobility project. For their eVTOL SKYDRIVE, both SkyDrive Inc. and Suzuki Motor Corporation aim to get airworthiness certification to participate in the expo.

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