{"id":18139,"date":"2026-04-24T17:00:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T08:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/?p=18139"},"modified":"2026-04-24T17:00:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T08:00:24","slug":"skydrive-and-west-nippon-expressway-company-sign-partnership-agreement-on-advanced-air-mobility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/archives\/18139","title":{"rendered":"SkyDrive and West Nippon Expressway Company sign Partnership Agreement on Advanced Air Mobility"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"18139\" class=\"elementor elementor-18139\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8294ede elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8294ede\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-48c47fe\" data-id=\"48c47fe\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71213cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"71213cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.8.1 - 13-11-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#818a91;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#818a91;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><strong>TOYOTA, Japan, April 24, 2026 &#8211;<\/strong> SkyDrive Inc. (\u201cSkyDrive\u201d), a leading eVTOL (*1) aircraft manufacturer based in Japan, has announced the signing of a new partnership agreement with West Nippon Expressway Company (NEXCO West). Under the agreement, both parties will investigate the commercial feasibility of advanced air mobility (eVTOL) services based in expressway parking and service areas.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-148b1d2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"148b1d2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-86d81fd\" data-id=\"86d81fd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c86d4e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4c86d4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.8.1 - 13-11-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20260424_\u6771\u5317\u30a8\u30a2\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9_\u7de0\u7d50\u5f0f_\u30ec\u30bf\u30c3\u30c1_-1024x769.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20260424_\u6771\u5317\u30a8\u30a2\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9_\u7de0\u7d50\u5f0f_\u30ec\u30bf\u30c3\u30c1_-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20260424_\u6771\u5317\u30a8\u30a2\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9_\u7de0\u7d50\u5f0f_\u30ec\u30bf\u30c3\u30c1_-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20260424_\u6771\u5317\u30a8\u30a2\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9_\u7de0\u7d50\u5f0f_\u30ec\u30bf\u30c3\u30c1_-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20260424_\u6771\u5317\u30a8\u30a2\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9_\u7de0\u7d50\u5f0f_\u30ec\u30bf\u30c3\u30c1_-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20260424_\u6771\u5317\u30a8\u30a2\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9_\u7de0\u7d50\u5f0f_\u30ec\u30bf\u30c3\u30c1_-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20260424_\u6771\u5317\u30a8\u30a2\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9_\u7de0\u7d50\u5f0f_\u30ec\u30bf\u30c3\u30c1_-320x240.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">left: Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Founder &amp; CEO, SkyDrive \/ right: Yoshiharu Shibamura, President, Representative Executive Director, NEXCO West<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a0a98c4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a0a98c4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e68c8b7\" data-id=\"e68c8b7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83981f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"83981f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Background<\/strong><br \/>SkyDrive is developing eVTOLs with the mission of &#8220;leading a once-in-a-century mobility revolution&#8221;. Our goal is to make simple and convenient air travel a regular part of city life. During 2025, over a period of around six weeks, SkyDrive successfully showcased demonstration flights of the &#8220;SKYDRIVE&#8221; (SkyDrive Model SD-05) both at the Expo 2025 Osaka and at a second vertiport within the city of Osaka. Having conducted further demonstration flights in Tokyo during February 2026, we are driving towards our next major milestone: commercial operations in 2028.<br \/><br \/>Under its &#8220;MOVE!2030&#8221; mid-term management plan, West Nippon Expressway Company (NEXCO West) is committed to creating new value and contributing to regional economic development, working to resolve the issues that affect communities through active involvement in new areas of business.<br \/><br \/>SkyDrive\u2019s ties with NEXCO West began when research into the future potential of air mobility led us to focus on the service and parking areas as potential sites for eVTOL vertiports (takeoff and landing pads). With service areas and parking areas accessible at intervals of between 10 and 30 kilometers, vertiports within these facilities would allow the next generation of air mobility technology to create added value and contribute to the regional development of the communities running alongside the expressway network.<br \/><br \/>NEXCO West decided to partner with SkyDrive as SkyDrive\u2019s goals not only chime with NEXCO West\u2019s mid-term management plan, they also align with the philosophy of creating a legacy from the 2025 Expo in Osaka, as supported by the Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren), an umbrella organization for major corporations based in the Kansai region. NEXCO West is a longstanding and influential corporate member of the Kankeiren.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c6c2bd2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c6c2bd2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3722fc6\" data-id=\"3722fc6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0cc407 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e0cc407\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Partnership Objectives and Scope<\/strong><br \/>Through this partnership, SkyDrive and NEXCO West will investigate the commercial feasibility of using service areas and parking areas operated by NEXCO West as a hub for next generation air mobility services.<\/p><ol><li><strong>Driving new value, contributing to local economies<\/strong><br \/>Transforming the services and parking areas along NEXCO West\u2019s expressways into departure points for sightseeing flights and other advanced air mobility options will create new opportunities for added consumer value. Longer term, we hope that links between expressway and eVTOL services hubs can help stimulate local economies.<\/li><li><strong>Improved post-disaster response<\/strong> <br \/>SkyDrive\u2019s aircraft can help authorities assess post-disaster damage from the air and consider post-disaster response options. Improved eVTOL access from alongside NEXCO West\u2019s expressways can help mitigate the adverse impact of natural disasters.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-786f2a1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"786f2a1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ec162a2\" data-id=\"ec162a2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-599def8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"599def8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Where We Go from Here<\/strong><br \/>As our next step, SkyDrive and NEXCO West will look into how and where to best deploy SkyDrive\u2019s air mobility services as we look to meet the public\u2019s expectations over the value this next generation of aircraft can provide. Together, we aim to harness expressway service areas and parking areas as a base for new value creation, a source of regional economic stimulus, and a means of providing improved disaster mitigation response.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2063874 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2063874\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ef69fe8\" data-id=\"ef69fe8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-223c723 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"223c723\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9\u30a8\u30ea\u30a2\u3092\u96e2\u7740\u9678\u3059\u308bSKYDRIVE\uff08SkyDrive\u5f0fSD-05\u578b\uff09\u306e\u30a4\u30e1\u30fc\u30b8-1024x684.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9\u30a8\u30ea\u30a2\u3092\u96e2\u7740\u9678\u3059\u308bSKYDRIVE\uff08SkyDrive\u5f0fSD-05\u578b\uff09\u306e\u30a4\u30e1\u30fc\u30b8-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9\u30a8\u30ea\u30a2\u3092\u96e2\u7740\u9678\u3059\u308bSKYDRIVE\uff08SkyDrive\u5f0fSD-05\u578b\uff09\u306e\u30a4\u30e1\u30fc\u30b8-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9\u30a8\u30ea\u30a2\u3092\u96e2\u7740\u9678\u3059\u308bSKYDRIVE\uff08SkyDrive\u5f0fSD-05\u578b\uff09\u306e\u30a4\u30e1\u30fc\u30b8-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9\u30a8\u30ea\u30a2\u3092\u96e2\u7740\u9678\u3059\u308bSKYDRIVE\uff08SkyDrive\u5f0fSD-05\u578b\uff09\u306e\u30a4\u30e1\u30fc\u30b8-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9\u30a8\u30ea\u30a2\u3092\u96e2\u7740\u9678\u3059\u308bSKYDRIVE\uff08SkyDrive\u5f0fSD-05\u578b\uff09\u306e\u30a4\u30e1\u30fc\u30b8-2048x1368.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Visualization of a SkyDrive Model SD-05 aircraft operating from an expressway service area<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-28d444f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"28d444f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9ff31fe\" data-id=\"9ff31fe\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1013c7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1013c7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Comment from SkyDrive CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa<\/strong><br \/>SkyDrive is honored and delighted to enter into this partnership with NEXCO West. In developing our aircraft, we are looking to lead this &#8220;once-in-a-century&#8221; mobility revolution. This new partnership is a meaningful step forward for our business. Combining the expertise in managing road infrastructure delivered by NEXCO West with the easy access to short-hop air travel and sightseeing flights delivered by SkyDrive opens up a new realm of possibilities.<br \/><br \/>The service areas and parking areas within NEXCO West\u2019s extensive network of expressways already serve large numbers of visitors. Adding air mobility services to the shopping and other facilities already on offer will add to the appeal of this highway infrastructure, turning these already busy waystations into a gateway to the skies. SkyDrive\u2019s air mobility services will not only be able to increase value for tourists through sightseeing flights, they may also help provide peace of mind to local residents through a future role in post-disaster recovery. In partnership with NEXCO West, we are proud to be taking firm steps towards new value creation as we work to bring the next generation of air mobility technology to people in the regions served by NEXCO West\u2019s expressway network.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f8d8e92 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f8d8e92\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8493bb0\" data-id=\"8493bb0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-908da5a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"908da5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Comment from NEXCO West President and Representative Director Yoshiharu Shibamura<\/strong><br \/>SkyDrive is Japan&#8217;s leading pioneer in bringing &#8216;flying cars&#8217; to life, already working in close partnership with numerous local governments and infrastructure companies. We are deeply honored to have entered into an agreement to collaborate and move forward with these initiatives together.<\/p><p>The future availability of sightseeing flights from our service and parking areas would bring new vitality and economic benefits to these facilities, further elevating them from rest facilities to destinations in their own right. Basing SkyDrive\u2019s aircraft alongside our highways will also open up possibilities for assessing post-disaster damage and measures for reconstruction, helping to mitigate the adverse effects of Japan\u2019s frequent earthquakes and other natural disasters.<\/p><p>As a corporate member of the Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren), we note how SkyDrive\u2019s approach to air mobility also aligns with Kankeiren\u2019s philosophy of harnessing the 2025 Expo in Osaka to spur the adoption into society of cutting-edge technology.<\/p><p>Through this partnership with SkyDrive, we look forward to pooling our resources and examining in detail the commercial and disaster mitigation possibilities of this remarkable new technology, ensuring that we work closely together to explore specific use cases and potential service areas.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2b50655 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2b50655\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8e3f926\" data-id=\"8e3f926\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d35a644 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d35a644\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Editor\u2019s Note:<\/strong><br \/>(*1) \u201ceVTOL\u201d is an abbreviation for electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing. As the name suggests, eVTOL aircraft can take off and land without a runway. eVTOLs are powered by electricity and incorporate advanced, automatic, flight control technology.<\/p><p><strong>Related press releases:<\/strong><br \/>Press release on demonstration flights at the Osaka Expo.<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/archives\/16292\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/archives\/16292<\/a><br \/>Press release on demonstration flights at the Osaka Vertiport.<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/archives\/16771\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/archives\/16771<\/a><br \/>Press release on demonstration flights in Tokyo.<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/archives\/17567\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/archives\/17567<\/a><\/p><p>NEXCO West Mid-term Management Plan &#8220;MOVE!2030&#8221; (Japanese only).<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/corp.w-nexco.co.jp\/corporate\/release\/hq\/r8\/0424\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/corp.w-nexco.co.jp\/corporate\/release\/hq\/r8\/0424\/<\/a><br \/>Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren) press release on a future vision for eVTOL services in the Kansai region (Japanese only).<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kankeiren.or.jp\/material\/260325release.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.kankeiren.or.jp\/material\/260325release.pdf<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e395d3a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e395d3a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0d05d17\" data-id=\"0d05d17\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7972a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e7972a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Contact:<\/strong><br \/>Kaori Saito<br \/>Public Relations<br \/>SkyDrive Inc.<br \/>Email: info@skydrive.co.jp<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/contact<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bd21982 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bd21982\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a1632a7\" data-id=\"a1632a7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aec8454 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aec8454\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Download the PDF from below:<\/strong><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/SkyDrive-and-West-Nippon-Expressway-Company-sign-Partnership-Agreement-on-Advanced-Air-Mobility_20260424-2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SkyDrive and West Nippon Expressway Company sign Partnership Agreement on Advanced Air Mobility_20260424.pdf<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TOYOTA, Japan, April 24, 2026 &#8211; SkyDrive Inc. (\u201cSkyDrive\u201d), a leading eVTOL (*1) aircraft manufacturer based in Japan, has announced the signing of a new partnership agreement with West Nippon Expressway Company (NEXCO West). Under the agreement, both parties will investigate the commercial feasibility of advanced air mobility (eVTOL) services based in expressway parking and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18163,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-press-rerease","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18139"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18139"}],"version-history":[{"count":46,"href":"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18139\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18190,"href":"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18139\/revisions\/18190"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skydrive.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}