New Suzuki 'flying taxi' previewed – Move Electric
Futuristic electric vehicle will be built in collaboration with Japanese tech start-up Skydrive and is designed to promote greener air transport...
Japanese car and motorcycle manufacturer Suzuki has announced a collaboration with tech start-up Skydrive to bring electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) machines to the market.
Established in 2018, Skydrive has previously advanced the development of cargo drones and flying cars, while working with a number of partners to promote clean air mobility.
The Tokyo-based firm unveiled its original SD-03 eVTOL concept last year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Now the eVTOL developer is teaming up with Suzuki to work on research and development, as well as to plan manufacturing and global sales.
Skydrive’s concept has already undertaken a piloted test flight, and an improved version, called the SD-05, is being developed for use as an air taxi at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.
Skydrive is the only company in Japan that has successfully conducted manned test flights of its eVTOL craft.
Suzuki is joining the likes of Hyundai by branching out into the eVTOL market. It marks another significant investment for the firm in future technologies, alongside its recent announcement that it will commence electric car production in India.
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