TOYOTA CITY, JAPAN, July 21, 2023 – SkyDrive Inc. (hereinafter “SkyDrive”), a leading Japanese eVTOL aircraft (*1) manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, and CT UAV JSC (hereinafter “CT UAV”) in Vietnam announced that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and CT UAV had agreed on a pre-order of up to 100 SkyDrive eVTOL aircraft “SKYDRIVE.”
CT UAV is a subsidiary of CT Group, one multi-business group in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and developing various kinds of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technologies.
SkyDrive is currently developing a three-seater electric, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft called “SKYDRIVE.” Its eVTOL is in the process of acquiring its Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) certification (*2).
In Vietnam, significant traffic congestion happens daily and is growing. To address this issue, Pacific Group Co Ltd in Vietnam signed an MOU with SkyDrive and agreed on a pre-order of up to 100 eVTOL aircraft in November 2022 (*3). Thanks to a new pre-order received from CT UAV, the announced pre-order count for SkyDrive’s eVTOL in Vietnam has reached 200 units.
CT UAV is supported by CT Group, a company that is operating in 9 business lines. Along with 3 sustainable business lines, CT Group is focusing on 6 high-tech industries to bring Vietnamese intelligence to catch up with the stormy speed of the 4.0 technology revolution, including CT UAV. With the mission to pioneer the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with UAV technology, CT UAV is creating a smarter and more advanced future and improving the quality of life.
SkyDrive and CT UAV will evaluate commercial eVTOL considerations such as vertiports, routes and network planning, infrastructure requirements, and ecosystems with interested stakeholders in launching new mobility solutions in Vietnam.
About SkyDrive eVTOL aircraft “SKYDRIVE”
The “SKYDRIVE” is a three-seat, electric-powered lightweight 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 eVTOL 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.
Comment by Mr. Tran Kim Chung, CT Group President
“We recognize the importance of leveraging its accumulated expertise and technological capabilities in infrastructure development, as well as the development of cutting-edge technologies such as drones and AI. We expect to contribute to the general development of Vietnam on the global market.”
Comment by Tomohiro Fukuzawa, SkyDrive Inc. CEO
“We are very grateful for the opportunity to work with CT Group, which is one of the three largest and most comprehensive UAV companies in Vietnam and has a large share of the urban development market, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, in providing eVTOL as a new means of mobility infrastructure that to solve modern society issues such as traffic congestion in Vietnam. It will be our honor to contribute to further social development in Vietnam.”
About CT UAV JSC
CT UAV is a subsidiary of CT Group. CT group is a holding company including 60 member companies for fields, such as: Urban development, Infrastructure, construction, logistics, and many high-tech companies with support by the CT Optimal (France) for the AI technologies in application to the UAV industry (a member of CT Group). UAV opened a new skyline for many industries, advanced in the abilities of observation, analytics, and transportation of goods, equipment, and human. CT UAV is expanding the production and manufacturing of many lines of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle that applies for many fields, such as: Agriculture and Forestry; Oil and Gas industry; Construction and Architecture; Environment Protection; Passengers; Security; Land and Geography; and other industries.
For more information, please visit: https://www.ctgroupvietnam.com/
About SkyDrive Inc.
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 “SKYDRIVE” is in the process of acquiring its Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) certification. SkyDrive has been selected as a company to participate in the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) project at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. SkyDrive is headquartered in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture. Tomohiro Fukuzawa is the CEO of the company.
For more information, please visit: https://en.skydrive2020.com/
Editor’s note:
(*1) eVTOL is short for electric vertical takeoff and landing. eVTOL aircraft are characterized by electrification, a fully autonomous autopilot, and vertical takeoff and landing. It is also called Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) or Urban Air Mobility (UAM).
The above information is sourced from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT):
https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001598463.pdf (dated March 2023, in Japanese)
(*2) Related press release: https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/7336
(*3) Related press release: https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/8270
Contact:
Risa Oishi
Public Relations
SkyDrive Inc.
Email: info@skydrive.co.jp