Μια ιαπωνική προσπάθεια μόλις ανακοινώθηκε. Η Suzuki θα μπει στον εναέριο χώρο. Ναι, και μάλιστα σε συνεργασία με μια εταιρία που έχει σαν στόχο αν ετοιμάσει ένα ‘όχημα’ που δεν θα είναι απλά ενάεριο αλλά θα μπορεί και να…
…λειτουργήσει στο δρόμο.
Με τις εναέριου ταξί υπηρεσίες να είναι έτοιμες για να ‘απογειωθούν’ οι eVTOL εταιρίες όπως η SkyDrive θα πατήσουν γκάζι (…) ώστε να ετοιμαστεί ένα “compact, two-seating electric-powered flying car,” που θα παρουσιαστεί στην Osaka World Expo in 2025.
Η SkyDrive είναι μια εταιρία από τις δυνατέ στην eVTOL κατηγορία με μια μητρική, την Cartivator που είχε χρηματοδότηση και από την Toyota και τον CTO της Nobuo Kishi να έχει μπει στην εταιρία μετά από την κορυφαία θέση στην Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation.
Με την Suzuki η εταιρία ελπίζει να “…collaborate in areas of business and technology that include technology R&D, planning of manufacturing and mass-production systems, development of overseas markets with an initial focus on India, and promotion of efforts to attain carbon neutrality.”
Μέχρι τώρα η SkyDrive έχει πετάξει μονοθέσια multicopter concept ΑΛΛΑ, από το SkyDrive SD-XX concept μοντέλο φαίνεται πως και διθέσιο μοντέλο είναι στα σκαριά.
Με στόχο 500 βάρος επιβατών και 500 μέτρα ύψος πλεύσης αλλά και 100 χλμ/ώρα ταχύτητα για 20-30 λεπτά πτήση, θα είναι ένα “Ιπτάμενο Αυτοκίνητο” αφού υπόσχεται και drive mode στο έδαφος.
Με κάθε τελικό προϊόν πάντως, τα air taxi είναι Μέλλον και η 2025 World Exposition στην Osaka της Ιαπωνίας ο στόχος.
Αναλυτικά:
TOKYO, JAPAN, March 22, 2022 — SkyDrive Inc. (hereinafter SkyDrive) and Suzuki Motor Corporation (hereinafter Suzuki) today jointly announced a partnership for the commercialization of flying cars*.
SkyDrive is a leading manufacturer of flying cars in Japan and is currently engaged in the development of a compact, two-seating electric-powered flying car with plans for full-scale production.
Suzuki is one of Japan’s leading automakers with expertise that includes manufacturing and selling compact cars in international markets.
SkyDrive and Suzuki will start consideration to collaborate in areas of business and technology that include technology R&D, planning of manufacturing and mass-production systems, development of overseas markets with an initial focus on India, and promotion of efforts to attain carbon neutrality.
SkyDrive aims to begin air taxi service during the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, Japan, as well as to initiate service in other regions of Japan.
Suzuki, which has the company motto “Develop products of superior value by focusing on the customer,” currently offers products in three mobility categories — automobiles, motorcycles, and outboard motors. The company aims to remain indispensable to people by staying closely attuned to lives and providing mobility. The partnership with SkyDrive will provide Suzuki with opportunities to explore and potentially add flying cars as a fourth mobility business.
About SkyDrive Inc.
SkyDrive was established in July 2018 with the mission of “leading a once-in-a-century mobility revolution.” Since then, it has advanced the development of flying cars and cargo drones while working in partnership with others to promote the shared vision of a future in which people use air mobility as a means of transportation in their daily lives. SkyDrive is the only company in Japan that has successfully conducted manned test flights and is now involved in designing a system for future air mobility as a member of Japan’s Public-Private Council for advanced air mobility. The company’s cargo drones, which can carry payloads of up to 30kg, are already being used at worksites in Japan, mainly in mountainous areas. SkyDrive is aiming to launch a flying car service in the Osaka Bay area in 2025. SkyDrive has headquarters in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Tomohiro Fukuzawa is CEO of the company. For more information, please visit: https://en.skydrive2020.com/
About Suzuki Motor Corporation
Suzuki Motor Corporation is one of Japan’s leading carmakers and a global motorcycle manufacturer. The company’s non-vehicle products include outboard motors for boats and motorized wheelchairs. It builds its lineup on its own and through numerous subsidiaries and joint ventures outside Japan. Suzuki was established in 1920 and has headquarters in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. Toshihiro SUZUKI is President of the company. Website: https://www.globalsuzuki.com