DUBAI, UAE, March 15, 2023 – SkyDrive Inc. (“SkyDrive”), a leading Japanese eVTOL1 manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, and VPorts and Air Traffic Management Inc. (“VPorts”), the global leader in the design, construction, and operation of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) infrastructure, have announced today that the two parties signed an initial set of agreements to collaborate on the technical and business aspect to leverage the world’s first AAM Integrator World Centre in Dubai for business development and market expansion for both parties.
SkyDrive was formally established in July 2018 after testing flying car concepts and prototypes from 2014 with the mission of “taking the lead in the once-in-a-century mobility revolution.” Its vision is to create a future where everyone has access to eVTOLs as their daily transportation in Japan and across the world. The company succeeded in the first crewed flight test in Japan in 2019 and its eVTOL “SD-05”2 is in the process of acquiring its Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) certification.
VPorts signed a strategic agreement with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) to establish the state-of-the-art AAM center on a 37,000-square-meter site within Dubai South late last year. With the support of MBRAH and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), VPorts will establish its Vertiport Operation Control Centre (VOCC) hub as part of the AAM integrator world center in Dubai3.
With this agreement, SkyDrive is considering using the AAM integrator world center as part of its infrastructure to promote the continual growth of the international AAM industry and accelerate the certification of its eVTOL aircraft. The two companies will continue to collaborate toward the common goal of social implementation of flying vehicles.
Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive, Inc stated that “We are pleased to be taking a part in the UAE government’s strategy for AAM, particularly in Dubai as it is one of the fastest growing and leading AAM markets in the world. As the leading eVTOL OEM in Japan, SkyDrive is aiming to deliver full electric and compact eVTOL vehicles for air taxi services and we are committed to making AAM transportation affordable to all in a highly accessible way, helping commuters access city centers and mobility hubs. By collaborating with VPorts, we are able to secure an air traffic corridor for our vehicle testing with our eVTOL capabilities which would be essential to ensure its safety before deployment in the urban areas.” Fukuzawa also added that “SkyDrive recognizes that UAE is one of the most important markets and it is highly encouraging to be part of this strategic project which will promote AAM in the UAE, whole GCC region and leading the global market by working together within Dubai South and the GCAA.”
Dr. Fethi Chebil, CEO and Founder of VPorts, stated that “We welcome SkyDrive to join us in shaping the future of the AAM sector by leveraging the world’s first integrator center, including its facilities and airspace. Our presence in Dubai is in line with our strategy and ambition to build and operate 1,500 vertiports around the world by 2045.”
About SkyDrive Inc.
SkyDrive was established in July 2018 and since then, the company has advanced the development of eVTOL and heavy lift cargo drones. The company has been working in partnership with other companies around the world 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 30 kg, are currently being used at worksites in remote mountainous areas in Japan. SkyDrive is aiming to launch an air taxi service in the Osaka Bay area in 2025, then to other regions as well. SkyDrive is headquartered in Toyota, Aichi. Tomohiro Fukuzawa is the CEO of the company.
For more information, please visit: https://en.skydrive2020.com/
About VPorts and Air Traffic Management Inc.
VPorts leads the way in shaping how people will interact and connect in the future. Our vision is to enable travelers to reach their destinations quickly and safely through sustainable advanced air mobility infrastructure.
VPorts aims to build and operate 1,500 vertiports around the world by 2045, which will be integrated into local and global air mobility ecosystems through a proactive, responsible approach. By centralizing our operations and leveraging the most advanced technology, we aim to deliver a seamless travel experience.
VPorts is headquartered in Quebec, Canada. Fethi Chebil is the CEO and Founder of the company.
For more information, please visit: https://vports.com/
Editor’s Note:
1. eVTOL is short for electric vertical takeoff and landing. eVTOLs are characterized by electrification, autopilot, and vertical takeoff 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. Related press release: https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/7336
3. For more information about VOCC and AAM integrator world center in Dubai, please read a press release from VPorts and Air Traffic Management Inc.: https://vports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Press-release__VPorts_AAM-Integrator-Centre_FINAL-Eng.pdf
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS：
Forward-looking statements give SkyDrive’s current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. All forward-looking statements in our contents, including, without limitation technical information, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates and beliefs as of the date of the press release or other materials. While the company may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it disclaims any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause its views to change.
Media Contacts:
SkyDrive Inc.
Risa Oishi
Public Relations
risa.oishi@skydrive.co.jp
info@skydrive.co.jp
VPorts and Air Traffic Management Inc.
GCC Managing Director
Frederico Fernandes
Email: frederico.fernandes@vports.com