SkyDrive, a leading compact eVTOL (*1) aircraft developer based in Japan, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (“Tokio Marine & Nichido”), and Nippon Koei Co., Ltd. (“Nippon Koei”) announced the signing of a partnership agreement designed to promote the preparatory research required for the launch of eVTOL services in Japan.
Through this partnership, the three companies will integrate their unique capabilities, laying a robust foundation for the introduction of eVTOL into society as a safe and reliable form of transport operated via sustainable, profitable business models.
Background
SkyDrive and Tokio Marine & Nichido began collaborating in August 2020, when Tokio Marine & Nichido provided insurance for SkyDrive’s first flight of a crewed prototype, a landmark event that saw SkyDrive become the first Japanese company to ever fly a crewed eVTOL (*2). Since then, both companies, together with the additional cooperation of Nippon Koei, have been studying various issues related to the future rollout of eVTOL services including safety assurance, public acceptance of eVTOL technology, and the establishment of the operational infrastructure needed to support regular eVTOL flights. This work included a joint study on route feasibility in the Osaka Bay area in July 2022 (*3).
The March 2026 revision of the “Roadmap towards Air Mobility Revolution”, developed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), saw the Japanese government outline a strategy that aims to support the launch of commercial eVTOL flights sometime during 2027 or 2028. This policy evolution has accelerated the transition of eVTOL aircraft from the proof of concept phase to a new phase that will culminate in the deep-rooted integration of eVTOL travel into wider society. (*4).
While the Japanese government has now set out this key roadmap, the successful integration of eVTOL into society will require stakeholders to overcome various obstacles. Key challenges include demonstrating that the aircraft comply with rigorous safety standards, defining flight paths, developing policies for running vertiports (eVTOL takeoff and landing sites), and securing viable locations for vertiport construction.
To address these challenges, the three organizations, bringing together their respective expertise, entered into this partnership agreement to move forward with detailed feasibility studies and accelerate the drive toward commercial operations.
Overview of the Collaboration
The three companies will jointly conduct research and assessments on the following key areas:
- Target areas and use case selection: Selecting flight routes and use cases where eVTOLs can effectively address local transportation challenges and meet tourism demands.
- Vertiport feasibility study: Planning vertiport placement, studying maintenance and operation methods, and identifying legal matters related to building codes, fire regulations, and licensing procedures.
- Business model development: Studying potential eVTOL usage, building sustainable revenue models, and promoting discussions with local governments and relevant authorities.
- Risk management and insurance for safe operations: Conducting risk assessments of demonstration trials and future commercial operations to examine appropriate insurance and compensation frameworks, as well as safety management systems.
