SkyDrive Inc has announced that it has signed an agreement with Osaka Metro Co., Ltd. (Osaka Metro) to study the feasibility of using eVTOL in the Osaka area after the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Osaka Metro has also invested in SkyDrive. SkyDrive reports it has raised yen 8 billion (USD55.8 million) in its recent funding round.
Osaka Metro operates eight subway lines and one New Tram, which is an automated, driverless tram. Each day, around 2.4 million passengers use the Osaka Metro rapid transit system. The company is also advancing an urban Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) concept called “e METRO,” which integrates various modes of transport, including subways, buses, and taxis, to make Osaka city more convenient. In February 2024, Osaka Metro was selected as an operator of a vertiport outside the Expo site in Osaka.
SkyDrive and Osaka Metro have discussed vertiport operations both during and after the Expo. As SkyDrive envisions a future where eVTOL becomes a common mode of daily transportation, the two companies recognized a shared vision and identified a strong alignment between their goals.
Under this agreement, SkyDrive and Osaka Metro will explore detailed business plans and operations to determine how they can practically use eVTOL technology.
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