TOKYO, Japan (Reuters)–Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor Corporation recently said it had reached an agreement with SkyDrive Inc to make “flying cars”.
The companies will use a Suzuki Group factory in central Japan to make electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and aim to begin production by around spring next year, Suzuki said in a statement.
SkyDrive will establish a wholly owned subsidiary to make the aircraft and Suzuki will help with preparations for the manufacturing, including securing talent, the automaker said.
Headquartered in the city of Toyota in central Japan, SkyDrive has trading house Itochu Corp tech firm NEC Corp and a unit of energy company Eneos Holdings Inc among its main shareholders.
The two companies signed a deal in March last year to team up in research, development and marketing of flying cars.
They are currently developing a compact eVTOL designed to accommodate two passengers. Its objective is to scale up production to meet the demand and launch its flying vehicle service in Osaka during the World Expo in 2025.
