By AeroMorning November 11, 2025

Tokyo – Japan‑based SkyDrive Inc. is steadily advancing in the global race for urban air mobility (UAM) with its fully electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, known as the SD‑05. With certification progress underway, manufacturing partnerships secured, a growing pipeline of non‑binding orders, and a recent network announcement in Osaka, the company is positioning itself as a credible player in the emerging eVTOL market.

Technical & Production Overview

SkyDrive’s SD‑05 is a 100 % electric eVTOL aircraft designed for short‑haul urban and regional air mobility. Powered exclusively by electric motors and battery energy storage (no combustion or hybrid powertrain), the SD‑05 emphasizes zero‑emission flight, low acoustic footprint, and a compact footprint suited for vertiport operations.

The configuration centres on a three‑seat layout (pilot + two passengers) and a multicopter‑style rotor architecture aimed at achieving redundant safety and efficient lift/cruise operations. SkyDrive publicly targets serial production beginning in 2026 following type certification in Japan, leveraging local manufacturing capacity and partner facilities rather than building a massive green‑field plant.

Certification & Regulatory Progress

SkyDrive has made noteworthy regulatory strides. In early 2025, Japan’s Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) granted a G‑1 certification basis for the SD‑05, defining the technical and compliance path the aircraft must follow for Japanese type‑certification. Meanwhile, SkyDrive has also initiated formal engagement with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) signalling intent to pursue export certification and global operations. The company thus positions itself among the few Asian eVTOL manufacturers with defined regulatory milestones ahead of commercial launch.

Commercial Traction: LOIs, MOUs & Network Plans

While SkyDrive’s products are still pre‑commercial, the company has built a respectable pipeline of memoranda of understanding (MOUs), letters of intent (LOIs), and pre‑orders — indicating genuine market interest and momentum.

• January 2025: Partnership with India’s JetSetGo Aviation Services Pvt. Ltd. includes a pre‑order for 50 eVTOL aircraft and development of commercial eVTOL routes in Gujarat.
• February 2025: Business partnership with Dubai‑based AeroGulf Services Company LLC, pre‑ordering up to 50 units for tourist flight operations at Palm Jumeirah.
• September 2023: Korean aircraft‑leasing company Solyu Company Ltd. signs MOU for up to 50 aircraft.
• July 2023: Vietnamese firm CT UAV JSC signs MOU for up to 100 eVTOLs.
• March 2024: U.S. charter operator Bravo Air signs LOI for up to 5 SD‑05 aircraft and partners on developing use-cases from Augusta Regional Airport.
• The Diamond Routes was announced in December 2024 with/by Osaka Metro. 

The topic came out again since the Expo Osaka 2025 was completed in mid October AND SkyDrive had the “Rail x eVTOL” exhibition at Japan Mobility Show 2025 from October 30th – November 9^th 2025 — a proposed urban eVTOL network connecting key nodes across Osaka for air taxi services and regional shuttle operations. While not a sales contract per se, this strategic network announcement signals the company’s intention to integrate its aircraft into a concrete operational ecosystem in Japan.

• Announced 10 Nov 2025, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has selected a consortium led by Nomura Real Estate Development, including SkyDrive Inc. and Joby Aviation, Inc., for its “eVTOL Implementation Project (Phase I)”.
  The nine‑company team will conduct feasibility studies, develop vertiport locations and host public exhibitions toward commercial urban air mobility from FY2028 onward.
  SkyDrive’s eVTOLs and Joby’s aircraft will be used across multiple use‑cases to advance next‑generation mobility in Tokyo and strengthen the city’s global urban‑air‑mobility credentials.

These agreements reflect a diversified geographic footprint (Asia, Middle East, North America) and a mix of use-cases (tourism, shuttle, urban network) — underscoring SkyDrive’s intention to move rapidly from demonstration to commercialisation.

Financing, Ownership & Strategic Backing

SkyDrive is backed by a mix of strategic industrial investors and financial institutions. In July 2025, it announced a ¥8.3 billion (~$54 million USD) pre‑Series D funding round led by MUFG Bank and featuring major Japanese transport and manufacturing groups such as Suzuki Motor Corporation and rail operators. The investor mix aligns with SkyDrive’s business model: air mobility integrated with transport infrastructure, vertiport deployment, and multimodal connectivity.

Cumulatively, the company reports having raised tens of billions of yen (~$260 million USD) across multiple rounds, providing a solid foundation for certification testing, manufacturing setup, and early operations.

Competitive Positioning

In the global eVTOL marketplace, SkyDrive stands out in several respects:

• Its fully electric architecture differentiates it from competitors pursuing hybrid or mixed propulsion solutions.
• Early regulatory milestones with JCAB provide a strong foothold in Asia.
• Strategic partnerships and network initiatives such as the Osaka Diamond Routes demonstrate operational ambition rather than a single-market focus.

Challenges:

• Many commercial agreements remain LOIs or MOUs rather than firm purchase contracts with deliveries and payments locked-in.
• Scaling production, securing battery and motor supply chains, and finalizing certification remain critical hurdles.
• Competitors in the U.S. (Joby, Archer, Wisk, EHang, Eve) have larger capital pools and, in some cases, earlier operational commitments.

Outlook

SkyDrive has transitioned from demonstrator flights to a company with tangible commercial traction, regulatory recognition, and financial backing. The next 12–18 months will be pivotal: converting LOIs into firm orders, completing type certification, scaling production, and launching initial operations. With its fully electric SD‑05 and concrete network plans, SkyDrive is positioning itself as a serious contender in Japan’s nascent urban air mobility market.