Suzuki and SkyDrive have teamed up to develop flying cars in Japan.
The firms—one a multinational automaker, the other a cargo drone manufacturer—will collaborate to commercialize flying cars (officially known as electric vertical takeoff and landing [eVTOL] aircraft).
Characterized by electrification, a fully autonomous autopilot, and vertical takeoff and landing, eVTOL are designed for urban air mobility—typically used as flying taxis, delivery vehicles, medical assistants, recreational drones, and military fliers.
Details of the alliance are scant; the pair will collaborate on technology research and development in Japan and overseas (with an initial focus on India), all while promoting carbon neutrality. They did not, however, provide a production timetable or target, let alone a glimpse at what sort of flying car they will end up producing.
“The partnership with SkyDrive will provide Suzuki with opportunities to explore and potentially add flying cars as a fourth mobility business,” according to a company news announcement.
SkyDrive, a member of Japan’s Public-Private Conference for Future Air Mobility, already produces cargo drones, and is currently working on a compact, two-seater eVTOL. It plans to launch an air taxi service during the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka.
Suzuki isn’t the only automaker with its head in the clouds: In 2019, Boeing and Porsche partnered to explore building a flying car for the premium market. GM, meanwhile, debuted its futuristic concept for an eVTOL last year as part of its larger electric-vehicle vision. Even Uber hired a NASA engineer five years ago to work on flying cars.
