Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese company SkyDrive has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Korean aircraft leasing company Solyu for the purchase of up to 50 SkyDrive electric vehicles.

SkyDrive is currently developing a three-seater electric, vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) called SKYDRIVE and is in the process of acquiring its Japan Civil Aviation Bureau certification. The SKYDRIVE is a three-seat, electric-powered lightweight aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.

Solyu has considerable experience in the aircraft leasing and finance industry, with a focus on providing customers with zero-emission vehicles.

“The eVTOL market will bring opportunities for reducing global emissions and increasing traveler convenience,” Solyu President Andrew Claerbout said. “We’re honoured to work with SkyDrive and the award-winning SD-05 to develop this global market.”

SkyDrive has also received pre-orders from the United States and Vietnam, but the order from Korea is the first from an aircraft leasing company.

“We look forward to working with Solyu to open up the Korean market and contribute to achieving the goal of reducing CO2 emissions in the Korean aviation sector,” said SkyDrive CEO FUKUZAWA Tomohiro.

In Korea, metropolitan areas experience severe traffic congestion, leading the Korean government to create the Korea Urban Air Mobility Roadmap.

Solyu believes it is important to promote the use of electric, zero-emission vehicles in Korea and is evaluating commercial eVTOL considerations such as landing areas, routes, infrastructure requirements, and ecosystems with the Koreangovernment and other interested stakeholders.

SkyDrive was formally established in July 2018 after testing flying car concepts and is headquartered in Toyota in central Japan. Its vision is to create a future where everyone has access to eVTOLs as their daily transportation.