SkyDrive Inc and Kyushu Railway Company have announced that they have signed an agreement to conduct a feasibility study for eVTOL deployment in the Kyushu region of Japan.
“JR Kyushu is expanding various businesses that enrich travel and lifestyles by leveraging its broad “integrated corporate strength” in railway station shopping malls, distribution, food services, tourism and leisure, business services, construction, and other areas in Kyushu,” said SkDrive in a press release. “SkyDrive and JR Kyushu believe that introducing the SKYDRIVE in Kyushu will further attract visitors to tourist destinations, contribute to regional development, and enable advanced and attractive urban development.
“Under this partnership, SkyDrive and JR Kyushu agreed to conduct implementation studies including business plans and geographical analyses, with the aim of launching routes utilizing JR Kyushu’s railroad stations, commercial facilities, and other locations.
SkyDrive made the first crewed eVTOL flight test in Japan in 2019 and its eVTOL SKYDRIVE is in the process of acquiring its Japan Civil Aviation Bureau certification. SkyDrive has been selected as a company to participate in the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) project at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. SkyDrive began production of SKYDRIVE in March 2024 at the plant owned by official production partner Suzuki Motor Company. SkyDrive is headquartered in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture.
Kyushu Railway Company was established as a corporate group with its core business of railways with a network throughout the Kyushu region. The Group has expanded its business domain by focusing on areas with high synergy with the railroad business, such as station buildings, hotels, condominiums, construction, shipping, distribution, and restaurant business.
For more information
https://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/english/
(Image: An envisioned transfer point between railroads and flying cars – SkyDrive)