TOYOTA CITY, JAPAN, November 28, 2022 – SkyDrive Inc. (“SkyDrive”), a leading Japanese eVTOL1 manufacturer, and Pacific Group Co Ltd (“Pacific Group”), a leading renewable energy company and investment promotion with international funds in Vietnam, today announced that they have signed an MoU and agreed on a pre-order of 10 of SkyDrive’s “SD-05” and a conditional pre-order option up to 90 flying vehicles. Pacific Group has also agreed to explore sustainable and easily accessible new mobility solutions, focused on the use case of SkyDrive’s SD-05 flying vehicles, in the Vietnamese market.
The significant traffic congestions are happening on a daily basis and remain as a societal problem in Vietnam. SkyDrive and Pacific Group will collaborate to evaluate the potential use cases by exploring the requirements for eVTOL vehicle operations in Vietnam. They will also evaluate other commercial considerations such as vertiports, route and network planning, infrastructure requirements, and ecosystem with interested players who can play a role in launching new mobility solutions in Vietnam.
“The urban streets in Vietnam, crowded with motorcycles and automotives are vibrant and exciting. However, considering the current social problem of traffic safety and greenhouse gas emissions, I think this is one of the most important social issues that need to be addressed. The number of motorcycles and automotives is only increasing, and it takes time to develop roads and parking lots. We would be happy to contribute to solving Vietnam’s social issues by providing eVTOLs, a means of transportation using the sky, as one of the country’s new transportation infrastructures,” said SkyDrive CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa. “Working with such a respected Vietnamese company with a wide variety of business networks within the country, SkyDrive expects to accelerate its ability to enter the Vietnamese market. Together with Pacific Group, we look to offer the Vietnamese community and market a new way to move around and a new way to enjoy air travel within the country.”
“Vietnam Government committed at COP26 to go net-zero by 2050. Several companies and localities in Vietnam trend to zero-emission energy consumption and the zero-emission transportation is a must in the coming time. On the other hand, we can foresee the need of eVTOL in big cities in Asia e.g. Ho Chi Minh city, Hanoi to provide new generation of transportation means,” said Le Ngoc Anh Minh, the Executive President and Founder of Pacific Group. “Of course, we will have to work closely with SkyDrive and several authorities such as Vietnam Transport Ministry, Civil Aviation Agency of Vietnam, Vietnam Ministry of Defense from time to time to explain and present the trend and technology of eVTOL to get approval and to enhance regulations updated. There are many hurdles of transport facilities and regulation and also perception of the community in the time to come but we shall work together with SkyDrive to solve each from time to time. Next year 2023 remarking 50th year anniversary of Vietnam and Japan diplomatic relation and we really hope to create several activities with SkyDrive to promote this eVTOL not only for our business but also for contribution to the two nation’s scientific and friendship collaboration.”
About SD-05
The SD-05 is a two-seat, electric-powered compact aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. Operated by a driver-pilot, its flight stability is secured with the assistance of a computer-controlled flight system. SkyDrive is developing flying vehicles with an eye toward realizing a world where they are used in daily life for air mobility much as automobiles are used for daily ground transportation.
SkyDrive is in the process of acquiring a type certificate2 for the SD-05 from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), as the first of its kind in Japan. The company continues to work toward initiating practical use of flying cars during the World Exposition Osaka, Kansai scheduled for 2025 in Japan. The SD-05 is designed to travel up to approx. 10 km and the maximum cruise speed is 100 km/h. However, design and specifications are subject to change and the progress of design development.
About SkyDrive Inc.
SkyDrive was established in July 2018 and since then, it has advanced the development of flying cars and cargo drones while working in partnership with others to promote the shared vision of a future in which people use air mobility as a means of transportation in their daily lives. The company’s cargo drones, which can carry payloads of up to 30kg, are currently being used at worksites in remote mountainous areas in Japan. SkyDrive is aiming to launch a flying car service in the Osaka Bay area in 2025. SkyDrive is headquartered in Toyota, Aichi. Tomohiro Fukuzawa is the CEO of the company.
For more information, please visit: https://en.skydrive2020.com/
About Pacific Group Co Ltd
Pacific Group is a Vietnamese company for investment promotion with international funds. The company is researching and watching movement of development of toll roads and railroad projects in Vietnam and trying to have opportunity to develop project. It has several alliance partners in Vietnam of electricity sector, transport infrastructure sectors, environment sectors, and material producers. Pacific Group receives funds from Japan, China, Korea, Europe, Singapore, India and America to develop projects in Vietnam. Pacific Group is headquartered in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. Le Ngoc Anh Minh is the Executive President & Founder.
For more information, please visit: https://pcgroup.vn/
Editor’s Note:
1.eVTOL is short for electric vertical
takeoff and landing. eVTOLs are characterized by electrification, autopilot, and vertical
take-off and landing. As a new advancement in the field of mobility, the
development of eVTOLs is being promoted in many countries around the world. In
Japan, the Public-Private Council for Air Mobility Revolution was established
in 2018 with meetings held since then.
2.SkyDrive Press Release on agreement on basis for flying car type certification with MLIT
https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/6379
Media Contacts:
SkyDrive Inc.
Risa Oishi
Public Relations
info@skydrive.co.jp
Pacific Group Co Ltd
Ruby Truong
PR person
888@pcgroup.vn