Gujarat Deal Begins Laying Groundwork for Japanese eVTOL Ops

SkyDrive incorporated has seen a new Series C funding round through a 3rd-party allotment of shares to Suzuki Motor Corporation, refilling the coffers to keep development going.

SkyDrive and Suzuki made a journey to the "Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024", running from January 9th to the 13th in Gujarat, India. The trade show is supposed to be one of the largest exhibitions in the world with 'Cutting-Edge Technology', making it a fine place for the eastern eVTOL manufacturer to show off its wares. The team brought out its 1/5 scale Skydrive SD-05 aircraft, making use of the Maruti-Suzuki India Limited booth.

While there, SkyDrive brass were able to sign a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the state of Gujarat, "enabling the future of eVTOL aircraft operations in India." With the agreement, they'll be able to complete feasibility studies and developmental collaborations in the region, widening the future footprint of Japanese eVTOL operations.

Skydrive remains on track to introduce its own domestically produced and designed Japanese eVTOL aircraft. While their initial release plans weren't all that competitive in the wider global market, some nips and tucks in recent months have brought their SD-05 into line with current market demands. An expansion to their flagship transport model increased seating capacity from 1 pilot/1 passenger to 1 pilot/2 passengers, along with a larger footprint and higher max gross. Given the dense Japanese metro network, SkyDrive doesn't seem as interested as American designers in making a long-legged greyhound of an aircraft. They're content to advertise a (hopefully understated) 54-knot top speed and 9 statute mile range.

FMI: www.en.skydrive2020.com