Japanese Company SkyDrive Plans To Launch Flying Cars By 2023

A Japanese tech company has released an amazing video showing their new flying car which they aim to officially lanch by 2023. Tokyo-based SkyDrive Inc.'s CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa has even said that by 2050 absolutely anyone will be able to fly around using one of the vehicles.

Toyota Motor Corp., another firm involved in the new flying-car, or eVTOL, industry is intending to launch a flying-car taxi service in Tokyo by 2023, the first of its kind anywhere in the world, which will be able to take passengers anywhere in the city in under 10 minutes. While it is true that many major firms, such as Boeing and Uber, are also looking at flying-cars and building prototypes the SkyDrive vehicle, which is a two-seater, is the smallest in existence, meaning it may be more usable in an urban environment.

The use of flying-cars is especially useful for urban environments as it could seriously cut down on the traffic-jams that plague many cities. For this reason, several governments and local authorities are also interested in the new tech.

Rajeev Lalwani, Morgan Stanley's analyst of airlines and aircrafts, told reporters:

"[A market for the vehicles] could likely begin as an ultraniche add-on to existing transportation infrastructure, similar to how helicopters operate today. They could later transform into a cost-effective, time-efficient method of traveling short to medium distances, eventually taking business away from car and airline companies."

The new vehicle from SkyDrive, known as the SD-XX, measures 4 by 3.5 metres across and is only 1.5 metres tall. As it will be battery powered, it is thought that in time it could travel at speeds of around 100 kilometres (62 mph).

SkyDrive CEO, Tomohiro Fukuzawa, told The Japan Times that there are still hurdles to overcome in relation to bringing the new flying-car to market. He said:

"Because we're making something that does not exist today, we have encountered various challenges we did not anticipate. The two biggest difficulties are getting it certified for commercial flights and ensuring the same safety and reliability as existing aircraft — and changing the social climate, by letting the general public know about this air mobility, and making them want to ride a flying car. We have already acquired government approval for flights in limited situations and places, but the hurdles for getting a certification for commercial flights are much higher."

He added:

"I'm really excited about the future prospects, because we're about to witness a big improvement in mobility — which is rare, historically, starting from horses to cars, to airplanes and steamships. About 100 years have passed since the debut of the Ford Model T, and we're about to introduce an air taxi service in 2023, paving the way to achieve air travel anywhere without a need for roads or train tracks. There are many other rivals in Europe and the United States, but we'd like to manufacture a vehicle that provides a comfortable ride with "Made in Japan" quality."

h/t: The Japan Times