The archive · Hardware & Devices · Strategic decision · 2018–2026
SkyDrive bets Japan certifies flying cars; ¥8.3B round, 380 pre-orders
Japan's SkyDrive bets eVTOLs become daily mobility: JCAB certification basis, Osaka Expo demo flight, ¥8.3B pre-Series D from MUFG, Suzuki and four railways
SkyDrive Inc. (株式会社SkyDrive)
What the business is
A Japanese eVTOL aircraft manufacturer developing the SD-05, a lightweight three-seat electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, targeting type certification and commercial air-taxi service.
Starting capital：¥8.3B pre-Series D (July 2025), led by MUFG Bank with Suzuki, JR East, JR Kyushu and others; cumulative funding exceeded ¥43 billion
How it started
Founded in 2018 out of the Cartivator volunteer project by CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa and teammates, SkyDrive took on the 'once-in-a-century mobility revolution' mission. It developed a lightweight three-seat eVTOL, the SD-05, with manufacturing support from Suzuki, and by 2023–2024 had completed numerous flight tests without incident.
What happened
In February 2025 Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau issued the G-1 certification basis for the SD-05, a critical regulatory milestone toward type certification. In April 2025 SkyDrive conducted a successful public demo flight at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. On July 4, 2025 it raised ¥8.3 billion in a pre-Series D led by MUFG Bank, with Suzuki, East Japan Railway (JR East) and Kyushu Railway (JR Kyushu) joining — bringing cumulative funding above ¥43 billion and giving SkyDrive capital-and-business alliances with four railway companies.
How it ended up
Still live and pre-commercial: as of July 2025 SkyDrive was working through JCAB certification planning for the SD-05, holding 380+ pre-orders across seven countries and using the round to strengthen its development team, testing infrastructure and operational readiness.
Background
SkyDrive is a Japanese eVTOL manufacturer betting that flying cars can become everyday mobility. Its SD-05 is a lightweight three-seat electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft developed with Suzuki, aimed at type certification with Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and eventual commercial air-taxi service.
Founded in 2018 out of the volunteer Cartivator project, SkyDrive took the mission of leading the 'once-in-a-century mobility revolution.' In February 2025 JCAB issued the G-1 certification basis for the SD-05 — the regulatory groundwork for certification — and in April 2025 the aircraft performed a public demonstration flight at the Osaka-Kansai Expo.
On July 4, 2025 SkyDrive raised ¥8.3 billion in a pre-Series D led by MUFG Bank, joined by Suzuki, JR East and JR Kyushu among others, lifting cumulative funding above ¥43 billion. The company now holds capital and business alliances with four railway companies, aiming to integrate eVTOL routes with rail networks, develop vertiports and win public support.
As of the round, SkyDrive held more than 380 pre-orders across seven countries and was using the funding to strengthen its development team, testing infrastructure, operational readiness and certification activities.
What has to be true
- Regulatory approval, not aircraft performance, is the eVTOL bottleneck — JCAB's G-1 certification basis made SkyDrive one of the first movers down Japan's certification path.
- Suzuki's manufacturing partnership gave a startup access to automotive-grade production and cost engineering that pure aircraft developers lack.
- Four railway partners supplied routes, vertiport development and the public-relations machine needed to normalize flying cars.
- The Osaka Expo demo flight put a real aircraft, not a render, in front of millions — a concrete public-acceptance milestone.
What can be applied
For a category whose bottleneck is regulation, not technology, the wedge is manufacturing partners and certification milestones — SkyDrive used Suzuki for production and railways for routes.
Aftermath
As of July 2025 SkyDrive was live but pre-commercial: JCAB certification planning for the SD-05 was underway, 380+ pre-orders spanned seven countries, and the ¥8.3B pre-Series D was funding the development team, testing infrastructure and certification work. The company had not yet begun commercial passenger service.
Sources
- SkyDrive Secures ¥8.3 Billion in Pre-Series D Funding from Suzuki, JR East, JR Kyushu
- SkyDrive Secures ¥8.3 Billion in Pre-Series D Funding from Suzuki, JR East, JR Kyushu, and Others
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