Suzuki the well-known company due to its motorcycles, automobiles, and outboard motors is now planning to reach the sky. To do so, the company had to make a partnership with someone who also has a big goal, SkyDrive. SkyDrive is an air mobility startup working on producing flying cars. The goal of this startup is to kick off its air taxi service in Japan, hopefully with the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, Japan.
SkyDrive introduced SD-03, the world’s smallest eVTOL. Measuring 4 x 4 x 2 meters (13 x 13 x 6.5 feet). It is a one-seater vehicle that can reach 30 mph (50 kph) and has a flight time of ten minutes only. However, It was the first eVTOL in Japan that successfully complete piloted flight testing. According to the startup, it’s the first flying car developer who obtained a type certificate from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) for its aircraft.
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Currently, SkyDrive is working on the SD-XX, a two-seat compact flying car. It has eight propellers and a longer flight time of up to 30 minutes. The new eVTOL has a maximum speed of 62 mph (100 kph) and a maximum take-off weight of over 1,000 lb (500 kg). The SD-XX would also be able to fly at 500 meters (1,640 feet).
There are only a few details so far about the collaboration between Suzuki and SkyDrive. The sure thing is that they’ll work together on the technology and manufacturing of flying cars. India could be the first international market to promote the SkyDrive flying cars.