SkyDrive enters into business partnership with Osaka Metro to implement “flying cars” in society
*SkyDrive Co., Ltd.*
Press release: August 26, 2024
**
SkyDrive enters into business partnership with Osaka Metro to implement “flying cars” in society
*~In addition, Osaka Metro has invested in SkyDrive~*
SkyDrive Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Representative Director and CEO), which develops “flying cars” (*1) and provides drone-related services
Tomohiro Fukuzawa (hereinafter referred to as “SkyDrive”) aims to implement flying cars in society, and aims to commercialize flying cars in the Osaka area after the 2025 Japan International Expo (hereinafter referred to as “Osaka-Kansai Expo”). Osaka City High Speed Electric Tramway Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, President and Representative Director)
We would like to inform you that we have concluded a business partnership agreement with Hideaki Kawai (hereinafter referred to as “Osaka Metro”). In addition, Osaka
Metro has invested in SkyDrive.
Press conference held at Osaka Metro headquarters on August 26, 2024 From left: Osaka Metro President and Representative Director Hideaki Kawai, SkyDrive
Representative Director and CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa (title omitted)
With the mission of “leading a once-in-a-century mobility
revolution,” SkyDrive is developing “flying cars” to realize a future in which “the sky is utilized for everyday transportation.” At the Osaka-Kansai Expo, we were selected to operate a “flying car” between two points (*2).
Osaka
Metro operates nine subway and New Tram lines, with an average daily ridership of approximately 2.4 million passengers. The urban MaaS initiative “e
METRO” and is considering “flying cars” as a new option for realizing personal transportation. In February 2024, we will be selected as Osaka City’s “Flying Car” off-site port operator and will proceed with the development of the vertiport.
The two companies have been in discussions since Osaka Metro was selected as the off-site port operator for the “Flying Car.” During the discussion, Osaka
Metro’s urban MaaS concept aims to “establish a transportation infrastructure that meets all transportation needs,” and SkyDrive aims to realize a world in which the sky is utilized for daily
transportation through “flying cars.” With this in mind, we have now concluded a business partnership agreement.
Through this partnership, both companies will proceed with the studies necessary to commercialize “flying cars”, including formulating and refining business models and setting and finalizing operational details.
*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, Advanced It is called Air Mobility (AAM) or Urban Air Mobility (UAM). Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (dated April 2020) https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/content/001739488.pdf *2 Related press release: https://skydrive2020.com/archives/18259
* ≪Osaka City High Speed Electric Tramway Co., Ltd. Overview≫* Established April 1, 2018
Representative: Hideaki Kawai, President and Representative Director URL https://www.osakametro.co.jp/
Address: 1-12-62 Kujo Minami, Nishi-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Business content
We made a new start as a corporation in April 2018, and operate a 9-line, 137.8km subway network that runs through central Osaka in a network, playing an important role as social infrastructure. In addition to our basic mission as “transportation infrastructure” that can be used safely, securely, and comfortably, and as “social life infrastructure” that supports everyone’s lives, we aim to help diverse people meet and create new value together. Our corporate philosophy incorporates our desire to fulfill our role as a “vital
infrastructure” and contribute to the further development of the international city of Osaka, and we are moving forward with our business activities in order to transform into a “living community development company with transportation at its core.” Masu.
* ≪SkyDrive Co., Ltd. Overview≫*
Established July 2018
Representative Representative Director and CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa 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, Shinagawa East One Tower, 2-16-1 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
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 content
Established in July 2018 with the mission of “leading a
once-in-a-century mobility revolution” and realizing a future in which “the sky is utilized for everyday transportation”, the company is a “flying car” company based primarily in Toyota City. We develop and provide “drone services.” 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. The “Flying Car” is currently under
development as a three-seater aircraft, and production will begin at a Suzuki Group factory in March 2024 in collaboration with manufacturing partner Suzuki Motor Corporation. We aim to obtain type certification and begin deliveries after 2026.