By CHIHAYA INAGAKI/ Staff Writer
June 21, 2023 at 18:57 JST
A “flying car” planned by SkyDrive Inc. (Provided by the company)
Suzuki Motor Corp. and SkyDrive Inc. agreed to cooperate in developing a “flying car” by as early as spring 2024.
Under the deal signed on June 19, Suzuki will help recruit staff for the startup’s new subsidiary dedicated to the project.
The two companies plan to produce the small electric passenger aircraft at Suzuki’s plant in Shizuoka Prefecture.
SkyDrive on June 19 also announced a design change to its next-generation flying vehicle, increasing its passenger capacity from two to three.
SkyDrive plans to start mass-producing the aircraft in 2026 following its official debut at the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo.
Suzuki invested in SkyDrive in September 2022, six months after the two companies started their official partnership.
The auto giant offers its manufacturing expertise to the startup in exchange for the opportunity to enter a new business field.
Tokyo start-up shows off manned flight of its flying car
September 2, 2020
Company starts receiving orders for $1.5-million flying vehicle
May 11, 2023
SkyDrive says it started test flights of flying car with driver
January 21, 2020
Osaka inks deal to make flying cars to transport 2025 Expo guests
September 15, 2021
VOX POPULI: Flying car technology catching up with ‘Blade Runner’
January 2, 2020
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