Tue, Apr 18, 2023
Early Investor Becomes 1st Private Buyer for SD-05
SkyDrive’s SD-05 will soon be available to the little guy, now that the company is accepting orders from private owner-operators.
The move is still a bit uncommon in the eVTOL scene, with most manufacturers content to aim their wares at the expected rideshare and point-to-point carrier markets. To kick off private sales, SkyDrive inked a deal with a longtime investor of the company, Kotaro Chiba. The venture capital investor has been immersed in the eVTOL and drone world since founding the DRONE FUND, a capital firm focused on next-gen AAM tech.
Chiba said the SkyDrive has slowly become his dream plane. “In 2018, I was captivated by SkyDrive’s vision of the future and its innovative aircraft, fueling my dream of flying cars. Upon seeing the company’s first prototype, I was convinced that my dream was finally within reach, and I enthusiastically made the decision to invest in SkyDrive. Driven by my passion for the first flying car of the future, I obtained my private pilot license. Since then, SkyDrive has conducted successful crewed test flights and applied for type certification, further solidifying my confidence in the team’s ability to make the dream a reality. I eagerly anticipate the exciting adventures that lie ahead in the skies with SD-05.”
“Since we unveiled the design of our SD-05 in September 2022, we have received numerous inquiries, not only from companies but also from private individuals,” said Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Founder & CEO of SkyDrive. “As we aim to create a future where everyone has access to eVTOLs as their daily transportation, we understand that it is important that we have an option for individuals to own their aircraft. We received inquiries from Mr. Chiba more than once and we are truly grateful that he confirmed the pre-order as the first individual owner right after we decided to receive pre-orders from individuals. We will develop fully automated aircraft in the future and further promote the realization of a society where everyone utilizes the sky for daily transportation.”
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