SkyDrive, Japanese Advanced Air Mobility Firm (AAM) has confirmed its first pre-order for its SkyDrive eVTOL aircraft with Austin Aviation, a South Carolina-based charter aircraft company and subsidiary of Lowcountry Aviation Company.
SkyDrive has plans to enter the US market and establish a home base in South Carolina for an AAM ecosystem. SkyDrive is already in collaboration with Volatus Infrastructure to build permanent vertiports and charging stations in many US states.
“We have received an overwhelming amount of support from local, regional, and state organizations here in South Carolina to develop our technology and operations within the state. We are thrilled to be taking this next step of working more closely with all South Carolina stakeholders, with the ultimate aim of placing South Carolina at the forefront of the AAM infrastructure development in the U.S. and making our aircraft more widely accessible in the future,” said Tomohiro Fukuzawa, founder, and chief executive, SkyDrive.
“Sustainable electric propulsion vertical take-off and landing vehicles are the next new exciting challenge in General Aviation, following the early lead of the automotive industry with electric propulsion. With the SkyDrive vehicle and all South Carolina stakeholders, we look forward to being a part of this next exciting chapter in General Aviation, as this new pioneering electric technology matures into reality,” said Alex Cavazzoni, president, Austin Aviation.