Japan’s Suzuki teams up with SkyDrive to make flying cars
SkyDrive is developing a two-seater electric flying car
22 March 2022 - 18:27
bySatoshi Sugiyama
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A prototype SkyDrive flying car during the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 in Las Vegas in January.
Picture: REUTERS
Tokyo — Japanese carmaker Suzuki Motor and flying car firm SkyDrive said on Tuesday they have signed a deal to team up in research, development and marketing of electric, vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
In a joint statement, the two companies said they will also work to open up new markets with an initial focus on India, where Suzuki has a roughly half share of the auto market. Suzuki announced on Sunday it plans to invest 104.4-billion rupees ($1.37bn) in its India factory to produce electric vehicles and batteries.
The companies didn’t disclose details of investments in their partnership, nor outline any production timetable or target.
SkyDrive is engaged in the development of a compact, two-seating electric-powered flying car with plans for full-scale production. The statement did not say whether Suzuki would be working on this specific vehicle.
The company, which is also developing cargo drones, aims to launch a flying car service in Osaka in 2025 when the Japanese city hosts the World Expo.
For Suzuki, the partnership will add flying cars as a fourth mobility business, in addition to automobiles, motorcycles and outboard motors, the statement said.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Japan’s Suzuki teams up with SkyDrive to make flying cars
SkyDrive is developing a two-seater electric flying car
Tokyo — Japanese carmaker Suzuki Motor and flying car firm SkyDrive said on Tuesday they have signed a deal to team up in research, development and marketing of electric, vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
In a joint statement, the two companies said they will also work to open up new markets with an initial focus on India, where Suzuki has a roughly half share of the auto market. Suzuki announced on Sunday it plans to invest 104.4-billion rupees ($1.37bn) in its India factory to produce electric vehicles and batteries.
The companies didn’t disclose details of investments in their partnership, nor outline any production timetable or target.
SkyDrive is engaged in the development of a compact, two-seating electric-powered flying car with plans for full-scale production. The statement did not say whether Suzuki would be working on this specific vehicle.
The company, which is also developing cargo drones, aims to launch a flying car service in Osaka in 2025 when the Japanese city hosts the World Expo.
For Suzuki, the partnership will add flying cars as a fourth mobility business, in addition to automobiles, motorcycles and outboard motors, the statement said.
Reuters
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