SkyDrive Co., Ltd.
SkyDrive and Suzuki begin manufacturing “flying cars” at a factory in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture
……
SkyDrive Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Representative Director and CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa, hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), which develops “flying cars” (*1) and “logistics drones”, is a manufacturing subsidiary, Sky Works Co., Ltd. Through Representative Director Nobuo Kishi (hereinafter referred to as “Skyworks”), in cooperation with Suzuki Motor Corporation (Headquarters: Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Representative Director and President Toshihiro Suzuki, hereinafter referred to as “Suzuki”) (*2), we utilize Suzuki Group factories. We would like to inform you that we have started production.
Approximately half of the employees at Skyworks, a manufacturing subsidiary, are seconded from Suzuki and have a wealth of experience and knowledge in automobile assembly. Since September 2013, we have been making preparations for the “Flying Car” prototype and creating an assembly procedure manual.
On March 6th, a riveting ceremony was held to pray for the safe operation of the factory, attended by all Skyworks employees, Suzuki’s President Suzuki, SkyDrive’s CEO Fukuzawa, and other stakeholders from both companies.
[Image 1: https://prtimes.jp/i/38857/114/resize/d38857-114-7d780008c9ff372da8dc-0.jpg&s3=38857-114-0e0d680c417dd52fa064b7bd3e4ed06d-3900×2600.jpg] Group photo at the riveting ceremony. In the center of the front row are Suzuki CEO Toshihiro Suzuki, Skyworks CEO Nobuo Kishi, and SkyDrive CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa.
[Image 2: https://prtimes.jp/i/38857/114/resize/d38857-114-a465b2ddebe51b2aa097-1.jpg&s3=38857-114-6ab8e55ee0fbc3408dbd659c0c4b5be9-3900×2600.jpg] factory
[Image 3: https://prtimes.jp/i/38857/114/resize/d38857-114-3cc13b7b618a824825ef-2.jpg&s3=38857-114-bb8d9cf57cfced4ab9ed5286c6ac4ea8-3900×2600.jpg] Work situation
At our factory, we will first manufacture “SKYDRIVE (SD-05)”, which is scheduled to fly at the Osaka/Kansai Expo, and then manufacture products that will be sold to customers.
■Representative comment
SkyDrive Co., Ltd. Representative Director and CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa Today, I am very happy to be able to announce the start of
manufacturing of a flying car together with Suzuki. We have been preparing for production for more than half a year, but from today we are very grateful to be able to take a new step as a single team that goes beyond the company organization, and we will continue to provide safe, high quality, and comfortable mobility. . We will continue to work even harder on development, manufacturing, and certification activities in order to lead the revolution in air mobility.
Sky Works Co., Ltd. Representative Director and President Nobuo Kishi We are very excited to be able to begin manufacturing the flying car “SKYDRIVE (SD-05)” at the Suzuki Group’s factory together with Suzuki’s manufacturing specialists. In the future, we will strive to efficiently manufacture safe, secure, and high-quality flying cars to meet the needs of our customers.
■Sky Works Co., Ltd. Overview
Representative: Nobuo Kishi, Representative Director and President Capital: 1 million yen
Establishment date: September 1, 2023
*1 What is a flying car? It is an easy-to-use and sustainable next-generation means of air transportation, made possible by aviation technologies such as electrification and automation, and flight modes such as vertical takeoff and landing. In other countries, it is called Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) or Urban Air Mobility (UAM).
Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (as of March 2020) https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001598463.pdf
*2 Press release related to our company regarding activities with Suzuki Motor Corporation
About cooperation agreement https://skydrive2020.com/archives/13733 About the basic agreement https://skydrive2020.com/archives/37769 About establishing a manufacturing company
https://skydrive2020.com/archives/39590
Regarding additional funding https://skydrive2020.com/archives/41403 ≪SkyDrive Co., Ltd. Overview≫
Established: July 2018
Representative: Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Representative Director and CEO URL: https://skydrive2020.com/
Location: Toyota Head Office: 2-1-1 Koromo-cho, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Development Center: 20-2 Yamanoda, Nishinakayama-cho, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture
Toyota Test Field: Asuke District, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Nagoya Airport Office: 2F Prefectural Nagoya Airport, Toyoba, Toyoyama-cho, Nishi-Kasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture
Tokyo Office: 7F SPACES Shinagawa, 2-16-1 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Shinagawa East One Tower
Osaka Office: 8F Osaka Ekimae Daiichi Building, 1-3-1-800 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture
Subsidiary: Sky Works Co., Ltd.: Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture SkyDrive America, Inc.: 500 Carteret Street, Suite D, Beaufort, South Carolina 29902, U.S.A.
Business details: Established in July 2018 with the mission of “leading a once-in-a-century mobility revolution,” and in order to realize a future in which “the sky is utilized for daily
transportation.” We are developing flying cars and logistics drones. In the development of “flying cars,” we successfully conducted Japan’s first public manned flight test in 2020, and are also involved in system design as a member of the public-private council. We are currently developing a three-seater “flying car” and aim to begin operation at the Osaka/Kansai Expo in 2025. In addition, together with Suzuki Motor Corporation, the manufacturing partner for the “Flying Car,” production began at a Suzuki Group factory in March 2024. More details about this release:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000114.000038857.html