In a joint statement, the two companies
said they will also work to open up new markets with an initial focus on India,
where Suzuki has a roughly half share of the auto market. Suzuki announced on
Sunday it plans to invest Rs. 10,420 crore in its India factory to produce
electric vehicles and batteries.
The companies didn't disclose details of
investments in their partnership, nor outline any production timetable or
target.
Founded in 2018, Tokyo-headquartered
SkyDrive counts big Japan businesses like trading house Itochu, tech firm NEC
and a unit of energy company Eneos Holdings among its main shareholders. In
2020 it raised 5.1 billion yen in total in Series B funds, according to its
website.
SkyDrive is currently engaged in the
development of a compact, two-seating electric-powered flying car with plans
for full-scale production. The statement did not say whether Suzuki would be
working on this specific vehicle.
The company, which is also developing cargo
drones, aims to launch a 'flying car' service in Osaka in 2025 when the
Japanese city hosts the World Expo.
For Suzuki, the partnership will add
'flying cars' as a fourth mobility business, in addition to automobiles,
motorcycles and outboard motors, the statement said. -