Notable Japan eVTOL Startups

Akihabara News (Tokyo) — As Japan and much of the international community look to move away from fossil fuels and towards a carbon zero future, innovation in electric vehicles has skyrocketed. Among these vehicles are electric take off and landing vehicles (eVTOL), which are often described as flying cars or flying taxis.

As futuristic as the idea may sound, eVTOLs may be available commercially in the coming years. The government has also thrown its support behind some eVTOL projects in hopes to spur domestic technological innovation.

SkyDrive is an eVTOL startup headquartered in Tokyo. Founded in July 2018 by Tomohiro Fukuzawa, it has already become rather prominent. With almost US$400 million in financial backing from Toyota, SkyDrive hopes to start commercial operations over Osaka Bay by 2023.

SkyDrive has already successfully tested a one-seater manned eVTOL vehicle, which it plans to turn into a two-seater for commercial use. With one of the smallest manned eVTOL vehicles, SkyDrive asserts that its two-passenger vehicle will be ideal for Japan’s crowded urban landscape.

NEC Corporation is a major Japanese technology company based in Tokyo. While best known as a manufacturer of electronics such as PCs and phones, NEC recently dove into the world of eVTOL as well. The company held a successful unmanned test flight in August 2019 with the help of many of the engineers behind SkyDrive, of which it has become a major corporate sponsor.

Tetra Aviation Corporation is an aircraft manufacturer based in Tokyo. Tetra’s newest aircraft, called the Mk-5, is a single-seat eVTOL that can travel up to 160kph with a range of about 160 kilometers. Tetra’s eVTOL is considerably easier to both fly and manufacture than most of its competitors’ vehicles. Tetra plans to start delivery of the Mk-5 as a kit as early as 2022, and it is already available for preorder.

Tetra has also partnered with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to research the development of quieter ducted fans in order to make its aircraft more acceptable to the residents of densely populated areas.

DroNext, an Osaka-based drone firm established in 2019, is in the early stages of development of an eVTOL vertiport it calls DroNext SmartHub.

Aside from the Japan-based firms, there are some companies based abroad that have made significant partnerships to enter the Japanese market.

Volocopter is an aircraft manufacturer established in 2011. While it is based in Germany, the company linked up with Japan Airlines (JAL) in September 2020 to develop and explore eVTOL opportunities in Japan.

Within this partnership, Japan Airlines plans to use Volocopter vehicles to operate a domestic air taxi service in the coming years. JAL has already signed an agreement with Mie Prefecture to conduct trials. The airline expects to begin commercial operations in the prefecture in 2025.

Joby Aviation is another eVTOL startup with heavy backing from Toyota. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, Joby has become one of the most prominent eVTOL startups in North America.

In early 2020, Toyota invested US$394 million into Joby. The startup has also received US$75 million in financial backing from Uber after acquiring the rideshare company’s air taxi division last year. Additionally, the startup has earned investment from Japan insurance company Aioi Nissay, who hopes to research insurance services and products for eVTOLs.

Joby’s air taxi can hold up to five passengers and is said to have a range of up to 240 kilometers. The company plans to start operating commercially in California by 2024.

Skyports is a UK-based provider of infrastructure for advanced air mobility, such as drones and eVTOL. In recent years, the company has sought to expand its network of vertiports across the globe, including Japan. Last year, Skyports partnered with Japanese trading company Kanematsu Corporation to develop vertiport infrastructure for eVTOLs in Japan.

Bell Textron is a US aircraft manufacturer based in Fort Worth, Texas. Founded in 1960, Bell partnered with Sumitomo Corporation and JAL last year. While Bell is best known as a manufacturer of civilian and military aircraft, it has recently entered the eVTOL business as well. With its Japanese partners, Bell hopes to create an on-demand urban air mobility network.

The partnership serves as another dimension of JALs’ desire to become a major player, if not the leader, in the domestic eVTOL market.

Recent eVTOL Industry Related Articles

DroNext and the Vertiports of the Future

JAXA-SkyDrive Boost for Flying Cars

Osaka Taps Flying Car Expertise from Skyports

Terra Drone Enters Air Taxi Business

JAXA Yamato eVTOL Cargo Pod
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