SkyDrive

• SKYDRIVE

Supply chain relationships

• Sanyoh Manufacturing

  Inbound - Structural Components - SkyDrive selected Sanyoh Manufacturing to supply sheet-metal components for SD-05

  Source
• Airtificial

  Inbound - Structural Components - SkyDrive selected Airtificial to supply carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic structures for SD-05

  Source
• ITO Corporation

  Inbound - Manufacturing - SkyDrive selected ITO Corporation to supply precision-machined metal components for SD-05

  Source

• 2025-07-04 - Pre-Series D - SkyDrive raises JPY8.3B Pre-Series D at JPY38.7B reported valuation

  SkyDrive completed a JPY8.3 billion Pre-Series D equity financing; Japan Investment Corporation later reported a JPY38.7 billion valuation for the matching deal. - source: skydrive.co.jp

• 2022-09-26 - Series C - $62M - SkyDrive raises JPY9.6B Series C for eVTOL development

  SkyDrive raised JPY9.6 billion in Series C financing to accelerate flying-car and cargo-drone development. - source: skydrive.co.jp

• MUFG Bank - Lead - Angel / Individual - 2 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2022-09-26 - latest 2025-07-04
• East Japan Railway Company - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-07-04
• ITOCHU Technology Ventures - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-07-04
• Kansai Electric Power Company - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-07-04
• Kyushu Railway Company - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-07-04
• NHK Spring - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-07-04
• Obayashi Corporation - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-07-04
• SBI Investment - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-07-04
• Suzuki Motor Corporation - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-07-04
• Toyota Iron Works - Participant - Corporate / CVC - 1 funding event - strategic/corporate - first seen 2025-07-04
• Univance - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-07-04

• Arnaud Coville - Chief Technology Officer - Coville oversees SkyDrive vehicle-development technology, bringing aircraft systems, structures, helicopter, large-aircraft, and eVTOL engineering experience.
• Hiromi Go - Chief Financial Officer - Go manages SkyDrive capital procurement and corporate functions as the company funds eVTOL development, certification, and manufacturing readiness.
• Nobuo Kishi - Chairman, Director, and Chief Safety Officer - Kishi brings aircraft development, certification-adjacent safety, system integration, and manufacturing-subsidiary leadership to SkyDrive vehicle development.
• Takehiro Sato - Director, Executive Officer, Director of Planning Department - Sato leads product-roadmap and strategy work for SkyDrive and played a critical role in launching the cargo-drone business.
• Yugo Fukuhara - Vice President, Director of Project Management Department - Fukuhara manages SkyDrive air-mobility project execution, including the 2025 Osaka Expo flight campaign and progress toward mass production.
• Tomohiro Fukuzawa - Founder and CEO - Fukuzawa leads SkyDrive eVTOL and cargo-drone development and participates in a Japanese government-led task force on future eVTOL industry regulation.

Events

• 2026-08-18 - Partnership - SkyDrive signs Australian operator LOI for up to five SD-05 aircraft

  The basic agreement sets pricing and a delivery schedule targeting two aircraft in 2028 and three in 2029, but remains a letter of intent rather than a firm aircraft order. The partners plan to launch sightseeing flights in 2028 from the existing Marina Mirage heliport on the Gold Coast. Preparatory work includes aircraft certification plus a dedicated vertiport and maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Southport Airfield.

  Source
• 2026-07-22 - Partnership - Airtificial joins SD-05 supply chain with CFRP structures

  The agreement covers structural components for the SD-05 programme. Airtificial contributes composite engineering and production capability. The announcement is a supply agreement rather than a new aircraft launch.

  Source
• 2026-07-22 - Partnership - ITO wins precision-machining role on SD-05

  The agreement supports the SD-05 production supply chain. ITO will contribute precision metal-machining capability. The announcement is a supplier selection rather than a new aircraft launch.

  Source
• 2026-07-22 - Partnership - Sanyoh to manufacture sheet-metal parts for SD-05

  The agreement adds a Japanese sheet-metal supplier to the SD-05 production network. Sanyoh will contribute component-production capability. The announcement is a supplier selection rather than a new aircraft launch.

  Source
• 2026-07-15 - Partnership - SkyDrive, 7A Drones and ITRI prepare Penghu eVTOL medical service

  7A Drones is responsible for feasibility studies, aircraft operation and maintenance, and discussions with medical and government institutions. Preparations include Magong–Hujing route details, candidate hospitals and vertiport sites, and control, communications and charging infrastructure. The framework targets entry into service from 2028 or later.

  Source
• 2026-04-21 - Award - SkyDrive receives Japan ADO certification for planned 2028 eVTOL launch

  has received Approved Design Organization (ADO) certification from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). The company is the first dedicated eVTOL developer in Japan to earn this designation.

  Source
• 2026-02-12 - Partnership - 7A Drones signs LOI for potential purchase of ten SKYDRIVE aircraft

  The delivery schedule envisages one aircraft in 2028, four in 2029 and five on dates to be determined. The proposed route would link Magong City with Hujing Island, whose approximately 860 residents share one basic clinic. The LOI covers a pricing framework and delivery timetable following the May 2025 pre-order agreement.

  Source
• 2025-07-04 - Funding - SkyDrive raises JPY8.3B Pre-Series D at JPY38.7B reported valuation

  MUFG Bank led the ¥8.3 billion third-party allotment, with Suzuki, JR East, JR Kyushu and seven other companies investing. The matching Japan Investment Corporation deal record lists a ¥38.7 billion valuation without specifying a pre- or post-money basis. SkyDrive said the round took cumulative funding above ¥43 billion and would support certification, testing infrastructure, development staffing and operational readiness.

  Source
• 2025-05-08 - Partnership - 7A Drones and SkyDrive plan Penghu medical transport with ITRI

  The initial route concept connects a Magong City hospital with Hujing Island, within a ten-kilometre service area. The parties targeted service from 2028 and planned work on regulation, medical coordination and vertiport infrastructure. The collaboration builds on a business-development agreement reached in March 2024.

  Source
• 2024-06-17 - Regulatory - FAA accepts SkyDrive eVTOL certification application

  SkyDrive submitted the application through Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau. The acceptance started SkyDrive’s certification path for the U.S. market.

  Source
• 2024-03-07 - Production Milestone - SkyDrive begins eVTOL production at Suzuki plant

  SkyDrive began production of its SKYDRIVE aircraft at a Suzuki Motor Corporation plant in Iwata, Japan. The first riveting ceremony took place on March 6, 2024. The production start advanced SkyDrive’s path toward aircraft certification and delivery.

  Source
• 2023-06-20 - Partnership - SkyDrive reaches Suzuki production-facility agreement

  SkyDrive reached a basic agreement with Suzuki to use a Suzuki Group plant for eVTOL production. The agreement followed the companies’ March 2022 collaboration. SkyDrive planned to build its SKYDRIVE eVTOL aircraft using Suzuki manufacturing know-how.

  Source
• 2022-09-26 - Funding - SkyDrive raises JPY9.6B Series C for eVTOL development

  SkyDrive raised JPY9.6 billion in Series C financing to accelerate flying-car and cargo-drone development. The financing included third-party share allotment and bank loans from 13 companies including MUFG Bank. The round brought SkyDrive’s cumulative fundraising to about JPY14.7 billion.

  Source
• 2022-05-17 - Regulatory - SkyDrive and MLIT agree on SD-05 certification basis

  SkyDrive and Japan’s MLIT agreed on the certification basis for the SD-05 flying car. MLIT had accepted SkyDrive’s type-certification application in October 2021. The agreement advanced the Japanese certification path for SkyDrive’s two-seat aircraft.

  Source
• 2022-03-22 - Partnership - SkyDrive and Suzuki collaborate on eVTOL business and technology

  SkyDrive and Suzuki agreed to collaborate on business and technology development for flying cars. The partnership explored eVTOL aircraft as a new mobility business for Suzuki. The collaboration later supported production work at a Suzuki-owned plant.

  Source

Profile notes

• SkyDrive's Expo milestone became demonstration flights rather than passenger service

  reviewed 2026-07-19 - Osaka's advanced-air-mobility plans were initially associated with carrying Expo visitors, but SkyDrive ultimately performed short demonstration flights without commercial passengers. The Expo record proves flight demonstration and public visibility, not launch of a certified passenger network.

  Source

Relationships

• 7A Drones

  Taiwan Advanced Air Mobility Partner - SkyDrive and 7A Drones are collaborating on Taiwan eVTOL commercialization, a potential ten-aircraft purchase and Penghu medical transport.

• Suzuki Motor Corporation

  Manufacturing Partner - SkyDrive and Suzuki collaborated on flying-car business, technology and production.

• Industrial Technology Research Institute

  Evtol Service Research Partner - The partners moved the Penghu Islands medical-transport programme into practical service preparations for 2028 or later.

• Gold Coast Helitours

  Partner - SkyDrive and Gold Coast Helitours signed an LOI covering up to five SD-05 aircraft and preparation of Gold Coast sightseeing operations.

Market context

develops the compact electric SKYDRIVE SD-05 aircraft for short urban air-mobility trips. The programme targets rooftop and small-port operations for transport, tourism, disaster response and medical-access use cases.

Comparable profiles

• GOVY

  comparable profile - Evtol Air Taxi Builder

• Archer Aviation

  comparable profile - Evtol Air Taxi Builder

• Qifei Aviation

  comparable profile - Evtol Air Taxi Builder

• Wisk Aero

  comparable profile - Evtol Air Taxi Builder

Shared workflows

• AutoFlight

  workflow adjacency - Urban Air Mobility

Context tags

• Aerial autonomy technology stack - Stack Layer - Profile source supports this robotics context.
• eVTOL air taxi builder - Peer Group - SkyDrive develops the passenger SD-05 eVTOL.
• Urban air mobility - Workflow - The current commercial lane is advanced passenger air mobility.
• eVTOL aircraft OEM - Stack Layer - SkyDrive is building an aircraft production and certification system.
• UAV platform builder - Stack Layer - Profile source supports this robotics context.