Fly-SkyDrive Secures ¥8.3 Billion in Pre-Series D Funding for Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft Tech
In a significant move towards the future of transportation, Japanese eVTOL aircraft manufacturer SkyDrive has successfully raised ¥8.3 billion in its Pre-Series D funding round. This latest investment brings the company's total funding to over ¥43 billion.
The funding will be utilised to strengthen SkyDrive's eVTOL development team, enhance testing infrastructure, improve operational readiness, and accelerate certification and development activities for the SD-05, SkyDrive's lightweight, 3-seater eVTOL aircraft. This includes advancing coordination and agreements with Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) on certification plans and conducting extensive ground and flight tests according to those plans.
SkyDrive, founded in 2018, is committed to taking the lead in the mobility revolution. The company's CEO, Tomohiro Fukuzawa, recently stated that they are making substantial progress in their eVTOL aircraft development and certification plans.
The funding round was led by MUFG Bank, with investments from seven other companies, including Suzuki Motor, East Japan Railway Company (JR East), Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu), ITOCHU Technology Ventures, Obayashi, The Kansai Electric Power Company, Suzuki Motor, SuMi TRUST Innovation Investment, Toyoda Iron Works, NHK Spring, and MUFG.
The strategic investments will not only fuel technical development and certification progress but also foster collaboration with key transportation partners. SkyDrive plans to integrate its eVTOL capabilities into existing transport networks, focusing on the establishment of air routes, development of vertiports, and public relations efforts to build public support for broader eVTOL adoption.
Partnerships have been established with four major railway companies, including Osaka Metro, Kintetsu Group Holdings, JR East, and JR Kyushu. These collaborations aim to create seamless mobility solutions connecting ground and air transportation, thereby supporting a more sustainable and comfortable society.
Yoji Furumiya, Representative Director, President and Corporate Officer of Kyushu Railway, believes eVTOL technology will make significant contributions to community development by providing a new daily transportation option for local community residents. Yoichi Kise, President and CEO of East Japan Railway Company, echoes this sentiment, stating that the partnership with SkyDrive represents an important milestone in creating seamless mobility services that connect ground and air transportation.
Univance, a company with decades of experience in developing and manufacturing advanced drive systems for the automotive industry, has also announced their investment in SkyDrive. They are confident that their expertise can play a key role in building the infrastructure needed for a new era of transportation through their partnership with SkyDrive.
Since SkyDrive's Series C funding in August 2024, the company has made steady progress in the development of their eVTOL aircraft, with prototypes successfully completing numerous flight tests without incident. The company has also received over 380 pre-orders across seven countries.
With the issuance of a G-1 certification basis for the SKYDRIVE SD-05 by Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) in February 2025 and a successful demonstration flight at the Osaka-Kansai Expo site in April 2025, SkyDrive is pleased with the progress of their certification plans and looks forward to bringing their eVTOL aircraft to the skies.
[1] SkyDrive Press Release, 2025. [2] JR East Press Release, 2025. [3] JR Kyushu Press Release, 2025.
- The investment raised by SkyDrive, totaling over ¥43 billion, will be used to collaborate with key transportation partners,, integrating eVTOL capabilities into existing networks, building air routes, developing vertiports, and enhancing public relations for broader eVTOL adoption.
- Partnerships have been established with renowned companies like Suzuki Motor, MUFG Bank, ITOCHU Technology Ventures, Obayashi, The Kansai Electric Power Company, SuMi TRUST Innovation Investment, Toyoda Iron Works, NHK Spring, and four major railway companies, including Osaka Metro, Kintetsu Group Holdings, JR East, and JR Kyushu.
- These collaborations intend to create seamless mobility solutions connecting ground and air transportation, fostering a more sustainable and comfortable society, and promoting the potential of eVTOL technology to make significant contributions to community development.
- The funding and partnerships with automotive industry experts like Univance will help build the necessary infrastructure for the new era of transportation, with SkyDrive already making steady progress from their Series C funding in August 2024, completing numerous flight tests without incident and receiving over 380 pre-orders across seven countries.
