TOYOTA CITY, JAPAN, Sept. 26, 2022 — SkyDrive Inc., a leading developer of flying cars1 and cargo drones, announced that it raised a total of 9.6 billion yen in the Series C round of financing through a third-party allotment of new shares and bank loans to 13 companies including MUFG Bank, Ltd. This brought the Company’s cumulative total raised to approximately 14.7 billion yen.
Press conference held in Osaka on Monday, September 26, 2022
■ Underwriters of Financing under Series C
・SCSK Corporation
・The Kansai Electric Power Company, Incorporated
・Kintetsu Group Holdings Co.,Ltd.
・SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
・Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
・Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.
・TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
・Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.
・NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
・Pegasus Tech Ventures, Inc.
・Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited
・MUFG Bank, Ltd.
・Resona Group
■ Financing from Series B to Series C, and the Future
With the mission of “taking the lead in the once-in-a-century mobility revolution,” the Company is developing flying cars, and cargo drones that are capable of transporting objects weighing 30 kg in order to realize a future that utilizes the sky for everyday transportation.
With successful manned flight of Japan’s first flying car in 2019, the Company completed the Series B Round in September 2020. In order to enter into service, SkyDrive participated in the “Osaka Round Table for the Social Implementation of the Air Mobility Revolution” from the inception in November 20202, and signed a collaboration agreement with Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City for the realization of flying cars in September 20213.
In October 2021, Japan’s first application for Type Certification of flying cars was accepted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)4. In January 2022, the Company exhibited at CES 2022, the world’s largest technology trade show, with a view to expanding our business overseas, and was selected as “Reuters’ Best of CES 30” and the first Japanese startup to be selected as “KEY TRENDS AT CES 2022”.
In addition, the Company agreed with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) of the MLIT to establish the Certification Basis for Type Certification based on the “JCAB Airworthiness Inspection Manual (AIM) ” in March 20225, and we have conducted various other activities. Currently, we are developing a two-seater vehicle, the SkyDrive SD-05 (“SD-05”), with the aim of realizing an air taxi service in the Osaka Bay area at the time of the Osaka Expo to be held in 2025.
With regard to cargo drones, we signed an agreement with Toyota City in June 2021 to promote drone utilization and its integration in society, became the first Japanese drone manufacturer to acquire JIS Q 9100:2016 certification6 for Quality Management System in the aerospace and defense field in November 2021, and began introducing our drones to an electric power company in August 2022 and proceeded with development and integration of secured and safe products in society.
By strengthening our business and management base through this financing, we will accelerate vehicle development, business promotion, and medium- to long-term growth as a manufacturer of flying cars and cargo drones.
■ Comments from Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Chief Executive Officer, SkyDrive Inc.
Since the completion of Round B Financing two years ago, the world has seen a dramatic increase in the movement toward the full-scale realization of New Air Mobility including business drones, and SkyDrive has also been promoting the full-scale launch of its cargo drone business and the development of its commercial vehicle, the SD-05. We are very grateful for the new financing and the opportunity to announce a capital alliance with those closely involved in our business.
We are having various discussions with the Kansai Electric Power Company Inc., Kintetsu Group Holdings, Inc. and Resona Group to start business mainly in the Kansai area. We are collaborating with SCSK Corporation on software development, and with Suzuki Motor Corporation on mass production and potential sales in India and other parts of Asia. We are currently studying with Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. and Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. on insurance to ensure safety and security, and Toyoda Iron Works Co.,Ltd., Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd., and NHK Spring Co., Ltd. are cooperating with us in the development of the entire mobility, with a focus on parts.
In the field of finance, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited, and MUFG Bank, Ltd. are supporting us, and Pegasus Tech Ventures, Inc. is helping us as a Venture Capital firm connecting Japan and the rest of the world.
First, we will use cargo drones to support companies and individuals in their highly hazardous and heavy work, and then, through the launch of air mobility services in 2025, we will create a world in which goods and people can move freely in the sky.
Editor’s Note:
1 Flying cars, called generally eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft outside Japan, are characterized by electrification, a fully autonomous autopilot, and vertical takeoff and landing. A new advancement in the field of mobility, the development of flying cars is being promoted globally. In Japan, the Public-Private Council for Air Mobility Revolution was established in 2018 for that purpose. The project is expected to lead to taxi services in urban areas, new means of transportation for remote islands and mountainous areas, and emergency transport in times of disaster. A roadmap formulated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) and the MLIT anticipates the start of business in the mid-2020s.2 SkyDrive Press Release on Participation in the “Osaka Roundtable for the Social Implementation of the Air Mobility Revolution”
https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/1094
3 SkyDrive Press Release on the Partnership Agreement with Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City
https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/60104 SkyDrive Press Release regarding acceptance of application for type certification of Japan’s first flying car
https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/60435 SkyDrive Press Release on the application criteria for type certification examination
https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/63796 SkyDrive Press Release on the acquisition of “JIS Q 9100:2016” certification
https://skydrive2020.com/archives/7679 (Only available in Japanese)
MEDIA CONTACTS
SkyDrive Inc.
Public Relations
Risa OISHI
risa.oishi@skydrive.co.jp
info@skydrive.co.jp
Press Release_SkyDrive and Volatus Create Strategic Alliance_220929