SkyDrive, Japan’s pioneering eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle manufacturer, is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to refine its flying car designs. The company has partnered with Braid Technologies to harness AI’s power in generating thousands of design patterns to optimize the structure and performance of its electric aerial vehicles (EAVs).
Braid Technologies, known for using AI, physics, and mathematics to generate advanced engineering designs, is collaborating with SkyDrive’s team of scientists, engineers, and designers. Arnaud Coville, SkyDrive's Chief Development Officer, explained, "Rather than relying on generalized techniques like topology optimization, we’re inspired by Braid’s technology, which handles numerous parameters that influence the weight and structure of our eVTOLs."
SkyDrive, established in 2018, has been rapidly advancing its eVTOL project since conducting its first crewed flight test in Japan in 2019. The partnership with Braid Technologies is expected to accelerate the development of its next-generation flying vehicles, bringing them closer to real-world deployment.
SkyDrive is also actively exploring practical applications for its EAVs in Japan. The company recently signed an agreement with Osaka Metro, a major subway operator, to consider integrating eVTOLs into the Osaka area's transportation network. This collaboration aims to explore vertiport operations, enabling seamless takeoffs and landings in urban environments.
Osaka Metro, which carries over 2 million passengers daily across eight subway lines and a driverless tram, is also investing in SkyDrive’s vision for future urban mobility. The subway operator has been selected to operate a vertiport outside the Expo 2025 site in Osaka, further reinforcing its commitment to innovative transportation solutions.
SkyDrive is making strides in regulatory approval. The company recently submitted a type certification application to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), following approval from Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). SkyDrive aims to obtain both FAA and JCAB type certifications by 2026 or later.
In preparation for its U.S. market entry, SkyDrive established a U.S. subsidiary in 2023. The company also formed a strategic alliance with Volatus Infrastructure to develop an advanced mobility infrastructure in South Carolina. This partnership will support SkyDrive’s U.S. operations, with South Carolina serving as the company’s home base. Recently, Volatus was acquired by eVertisky, further strengthening SkyDrive’s infrastructure plans.
SkyDrive’s U.S. expansion is also marked by key sales agreements. The company has committed to selling five of its three-seat flying vehicles to a private charter service operator in Augusta, Georgia. This partnership with Bravo Air aims to scale advanced air mobility (AAM) in the region, with plans to develop an air taxi network connecting Augusta Regional Airport to nearby destinations.
SkyDrive has also started producing its SD-05 flying vehicle, referred to as a “flying car,” at Suzuki’s manufacturing plant in Shizuoka, Japan. The plant has the capacity to produce 100 EAVs per year, supporting SkyDrive’s vision for large-scale deployment.
Beyond urban mobility, SkyDrive is venturing into aerial tourism. The company recently agreed to sell its EAVs to MASC General Incorporated Association, which promotes aerial tourism in Japan’s Setouchi Islands. Together, they are exploring potential suburban routes for the SD-05 flying vehicle, aiming to create new travel experiences.
To further showcase its vehicles, SkyDrive is preparing for the launch of new showrooms in the U.S. Florida-based Aeroauto Global is set to open two showrooms in Florida and one in Austin, Texas. Additionally, a showroom has already been opened in Germany by Pal-V, another EAV developer.
SkyDrive is also advancing its charging infrastructure. In partnership with Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO), the company is developing high-speed charging stations for EAVs, with the first station expected to be operational this year. This initiative follows a successful collaboration between SkyDrive and KEPCO that began in 2022.
In 2023, SkyDrive received an $82 million grant from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry as part of the Next Generation Air Mobility Field initiative. This funding will support SkyDrive’s innovation projects as it strives to make eVTOLs a mainstream mode of transportation in Japan and worldwide.
SkyDrive’s ambitious vision is to create a future where everyone has access to eVTOLs as a daily transportation option. To that end, the company recently secured a deal to sell up to 50 EAVs to Solyu in Korea. The vehicles will help alleviate severe traffic congestion in the country, further cementing SkyDrive’s global impact on urban mobility.
