Partnership leverages Tobu Group's regional network to advance ground infrastructure and commercial eVTOL deployment

SkyDrive Inc. (“SkyDrive”), a leading compact eVTOL (*1) aircraft manufacturer based in Japan, announced that it has raised new funding through a third-party share allotment to Tobu Railway Co. Ltd., one of Japan’s leading transportation operators, and Tobu Top Tours Co. Ltd. Through this partnership, the companies will work closely to accelerate commercial eVTOL deployment in the Kanto region by combining the Tobu Group's extensive transportation and tourism assets with SkyDrive's aircraft development and operational expertise.

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Background and Purpose

Driven by its mission of leading the once-in-a-century mobility revolution, SkyDrive is developing and manufacturing compact eVTOL aircraft to make everyday air mobility a reality. Following uncrewed demonstration flights at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (*2), SkyDrive continues to make steady progress through the certification processes required for commercial operations, working toward type certification. Leveraging assembly lines established in collaboration with a leading automaker, SkyDrive is currently advancing commercialization projects alongside local partners and municipalities across 10 countries worldwide.

In Japan, SkyDrive has collaborated with four regional railway operators (*3) on feasibility studies and flight demonstrations. With this strategic investment, the Tobu Group becomes SkyDrive's fifth railway partner. Partnering with the Tobu Group, which operates one of Japan’s major private railway networks, allows SkyDrive to advance business development and plan ground infrastructure across the Kanto region, surrounding Tokyo.

Key Areas of Collaboration

Through this investment and partnership, the companies will focus on the following core initiatives across the Kanto region:

• Ground Infrastructure and Tourism Asset Utilization: Tobu Railway will leverage its extensive rail network, regional presence and tourism assets — particularly in the Nikko area — to establish and promote vertiport infrastructure.
• Seamless Biometric Authentication and Safety: The partners will utilize Tobu Railway’s “SAKULaLa” common biometric authentication platform (*4) to enable accurate identity verification and boarding pass clearance, delivering a frictionless passenger experience.
• Integrated Business Mediation and Multimodal Travel Packages: Tobu Top Tours will act as an operational connector, utilizing its destination management expertise and municipal networks to design new business models and package secondary transport services.

Through this deepened partnership with the Tobu Group, SkyDrive will strengthen its business foundation and accelerate the buildout of next-generation mobility infrastructure toward launching commercial services in 2028 and driving sustainable long-term growth.

Tomohiro Fukuzawa, founder and CEO of SkyDrive

“We are thrilled and deeply encouraged that Tobu Railway and Tobu Top Tours share our vision for the future. To establish eVTOLs as a familiar part of everyday life, we must do more than just build aircraft. We need to seamlessly connect our aircraft with existing transit networks, develop vertiports and create compelling regional travel experiences. Alongside the Tobu Group, which boasts an extensive transit network and iconic tourism assets across Kanto such as Nikko, we will work toward launching commercial services in 2028 to make air mobility a daily choice.”

About SkyDrive Inc.

SkyDrive is a Japanese compact eVTOL company aiming "to take the lead in the once-in-a-century mobility revolution." The company began testing eVTOL prototypes in 2014 prior to official incorporation in 2018. Under its future vision for urban transportation, flying in eVTOLs will become a regular part of city life. In 2019, SkyDrive became the first company to fly a crewed eVTOL in Japan. In 2025, the company successfully showcased SKYDRIVE, the company's first commercial eVTOL product, with demonstration flights at the Osaka Expo witnessed by thousands of visitors over a one-month period. SkyDrive began production of SKYDRIVE in March 2024 at a plant owned by Suzuki Motor Corporation, SkyDrive's official production partner. SkyDrive has been working with civil aviation authorities in Japan and the U.S. to obtain certification for SKYDRIVE, with the aim of launching the aircraft into service in 2028. SkyDrive is headquartered in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture and led by CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa, an engineer and entrepreneur.

For more information, please visit: https://skydrive.co.jp/en/

Editor’s Notes:

(*1) eVTOL 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.
(*2) Related Press Releases: SkyDrive Starts Demonstration Flights at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai:
https://skydrive.co.jp/en/news/16094/
(*3) Partnerships and routes with the four railway companies: https://skydrive.co.jp/en/news/18235/
- Kintetsu Group Holdings (Kintetsu Group): Routes connecting the Ise-Shima area
- Osaka Metro: The Osaka Diamond Route connecting four key locations across Osaka
- East Japan Railway Company (JR East): Routes connecting Morioka and Koiwai (AZUMA FARM KOIWAI)
- Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu): Routes connecting Oita Prefecture, including the Beppu and Yufuin hot spring resort areas
(*4) SAKULaLa: A biometric-based common platform service jointly developed by Tobu Railway Co. Ltd. and Hitachi, Ltd. (A registered trademark of Tobu Railway Co. Ltd.)

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