SkyDrive – a leading eVTOL aircraft manufacturer based in Japan – announced that it has raised ¥8.3 billion in Pre-Series D funding through a third-party allotment. This funding round was led by MUFG Bank, with investments from Suzuki Motor, East Japan Railway Company (JR East), Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu), and seven other companies. The returning investors include ITOCHU Technology Ventures, Obayashi, The Kansai Electric Power Company, Suzuki Motor, SuMi TRUST Innovation Investment, Toyoda Iron Works, NHK Spring, and MUFG.
With this latest funding round, SkyDrive’s total funding now exceeds ¥43 billion.
Founded in 2018, SkyDrive is working to fulfill its goal of taking the lead in the once-in-a-century mobility revolution and its vision of creating a future in which the general public, in Japan and around the world, use eVTOLs for meeting their daily mobility needs.
In February 2025, Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) issued a G-1 certification basis for the SKYDRIVE SD-05, SkyDrive’s lightweight, 3-seater eVTOL aircraft.
How the funding will be used: SkyDrive is currently advancing its certification plans and coordinating with JCAB on the specifics of upcoming tests and their timelines. Following an agreement on the certification plan, SkyDrive will conduct extensive ground and flight tests in line with the agreed plans.
The new funding will be used to strengthen the development team, enhance testing infrastructure, improve operational readiness, and accelerate activities related to certification and development.
Following on from partnerships with Osaka Metro and Kintetsu Group, SkyDrive is delighted to welcome JR East and JR Kyushu as strategic equity partners in this new funding round. SkyDrive now maintains capital and business alliances with a total of four railway companies. Integrating SkyDrive’s eVTOL capabilities into existing networks operated by these partner companies will create seamless mobility solutions that effectively combine overland and air travel. These collaborations will also focus on establishing air routes and developing vertiports, along with public relations efforts designed to boost public support for the widespread use of eVTOLs.
On the global business front, the company received over 380 pre-orders across seven countries, expanding the international reach of the vision.
KEY QUOTES:
“The history of rail travel in Japan dates back more than 150 years. Since their introduction, railways have continually evolved alongside societal progress, adapting to changing lifestyles and technologies. Our recent partnership with SkyDrive represents an important milestone in our journey to create seamless mobility services that connect ground and air transportation. We believe this collaboration has the potential to address regional transportation challenges and unlock innovative solutions. By integrating railway services with eVTOL technology, we aim to help build a more comfortable and sustainable society. Building on our long-standing commitment to safety and passenger peace-of-mind, the East Japan Railway Company looks to create new value through the next-generation mobility solutions that will shape the future of transport.”
Yoichi Kise, President and CEO of East Japan Railway Company
“eVTOL will not only provide tourists with exciting, memorable air travel experiences, it will also make significant contributions to community development by providing a new daily transportation option for local community residents. This initiative aligns with key strategies outlined in the JR Kyushu Group Medium-Term Business Plan, which outlines our deep involvement in realizing sustainable mobility services, city building through enhanced collaboration among businesses, and planting seeds for the future. Through the introduction of innovations in air mobility, we aim to make the Kyushu region more attractive, and we are committed to working together with the local community to advance this exciting project.”
Yoji Furumiya, Representative Director, President and Corporate Officer of Kyushu Railway
“We are thrilled to announce our investment in SkyDrive, a company driving the move towards next-generation mobility services as an innovator at the forefront of eVTOL aircraft development. At Univance, we have spent decades developing and manufacturing advanced drive systems for the automotive industry, and we are confident that, by applying our expertise, we can play a key role in building the infrastructure needed for a new era of transportation. Through our partnership with SkyDrive, we look forward to creating sustainable and innovative mobility solutions, while working together to address critical societal challenges and shape a better future.”
Norihiko Takao, President of Univance
“Since our additional Series C funding in August 2024, SkyDrive has made steady progress in the development of our eVTOL aircraft. With substantial support from our partner Suzuki, prototypes of our eVTOL have successfully completed numerous flight tests without incident, also achieving a successful demonstration flight at the Osaka-Kansai Expo site in April 2025. We are also pleased with the progress of our certification plans with the issuance by JCAB of the standards that will apply to our application for type certification.”
Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive
