Advanced Air Mobility News

SkyDrive to Accelerate Development of SD-05

SkyDrive to Accelerate Development of SD-05

SkyDrive, the Japanese eVTOL manufacturer, informed Asian Sky Group that it plans to “accelerate the development” of its SD-05 aircraft after securing further funding in its Series C round. 

The latest injection of capital took its cumulative total to over 15 billion yen (about USD$112.7 million) and came after the company received a 9.6 billion yen boost (about USD$72.1 million) in September 2022.

In addition to speeding up the process of bringing the SD-05 to market, which SkyDrive aims to do in 2025, it plans to allocate the funds raised to enhance its management team and focus on the development of the SkyLift cargo drone. 

“As with the funding conducted in September 2022, the additional Series C funding will strengthen the business and management base. Thereby we will be able to accelerate the development of the aircraft, business promotion and medium to long-term growth as a manufacturer of Flying Car and Cargo Drone,” a SkyDrive spokesperson told Asian Sky Group. 

The Tokyo-based aircraft developer plans to use the SD-05 for air taxi services, emergency medical services, and as a transport option between resort facilities. Just last week, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Taiho and received a pre-order from the infrastructure provider for the SD-05. Earlier in the month, it announced plans to start accepting pre-orders for the SD-05 for personal use

Prior to that, it inked a deal with VPorts centered around business development, market expansion, and implementing AAM transportation in the United Arab Emirates. 

An MOU was also signed with Pacific Group, a Vietnamese energy company that preordered up to 10 SD-05 eVTOLs. The agreement included a conditional option for an additional 90 aircraft. 


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