MESA, ARIZONA– SkyDrive has announced at the 2023 annual VFS eVTOL Symposium in Mesa, Arizona its plans to enter the U.S. market. The company will establish their home base in South Carolina. SkyDrive further outlined their plan to develop an advanced air mobility ecosystem in South Carolina. They will focus on building a variety of practical use cases originating from two of its key airports in cooperation with local and state government agencies.
SkyDrive was first invited to South Carolina in July 2022 by the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation (BCEDC). With the BCEDC’s support, they have been exploring market opportunities within the state and building a network of key stakeholders.
SkyDrive’s focus has been on working with South Carolina to study practical use cases originating from several of its major airports utilizing the Japanese manufacturer’s eVTOL aircraft, the SD-052.
As a result of this business development activity and the overwhelming support of local and state government, SkyDrive has decided to form a business infrastructure within the state and to work with South Carolina in realizing an advanced air mobility ecosystem that will bring the state to the forefront in its ability to support the commercial operations of eVTOL aircraft.
SkyDrive finds South Carolina an ideal location to establish its base of U.S. operations as it has a mild climate throughout the year, abundant tourism, and airports close to city centers, making it a good fit for the utilization of SkyDrive’s SD-05 eVTOL aircraft. It is also home to some of the nation’s most dynamic aerospace companies including Boeing and Lockheed Martin. South Carolina also has a proven ability to excel in advanced aerospace manufacturing, and its robust supply chain includes companies such as the affiliated company of Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd., one of SkyDrive’s major suppliers.
