Our Story

Phase 0 Origin Story

A voluntary group of colleagues at a major automaker, got together to fulfill their ambition of building an entirely new and unique car.

In 2015, Tomohiro Fukuzawa, who would later lead SkyDrive, expanded the existing group to chase the dream of building a “flying car”. With financial contributions from 15 Toyota Group companies, the team grew in size to include over 100 people.

Phase 1 Taking Flight

In July 2018, Fukuzawa launched SkyDrive Inc. which, in summer 2020, successfully demonstrated the SD-03, a piloted “flying car”. Media worldwide carried footage of this landmark flight.

In August 2018, the Japanese government launched a public-private task force including SkyDrive, targeting the rapid evolution of a new and growing industry: Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). In 2019, SkyDrive’s SD-02 achieved Japan’s first-ever crewed AAM flight. This was followed in the summer 2020 by a demonstration of the SD-03. Footage of the vehicle’s inaugural flight was broadcast in 112 different countries.

Phase 2 Developing a Multicopter

SkyDrive began to grow further, attracting talented aircraft engineers from around the world, all united by the goal of developing a commercially viable three-seater compact multicopter.

With an international team, strategic partnerships, and the cooperation of Suzuki Motor Corporation, SkyDrive accelerated its aircraft development. In 2021,
SkyDrive filed applications for type certification with the FAA in the US and the JCAB in Japan, setting off down the road towards aircraft certification.

Phase 3 Showing the World

In 2025, SkyDrive’s multicopter flew at the Expo in Osaka and the Osakako vertiport on Osaka Bay. After a 2026 flight over Tokyo Bay, crowds witnessed our advancing air mobility commitment.

Alongside the SD-05’s demonstration flights, SkyDrive expanded through investment and operational partnerships with rail companies. These alliances help passengers “switch to the sky,” combining rail and short-hop flights for seamless point-to-point mobility.