Japanese ‘flying car’ takes to the skies in Tokyo test flight

Japan-based startup aircraft manufacturer SkyDrive Inc., focused on developing new air mobility solutions, has showcased its «flying car» in action in Tokyo, according to the company’s press release.

The showcase took place on Feb. 24 in the area of the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center. The remotely controlled SkyDrive SD-05 vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, flown without a pilot, safely performed a flight over Tokyo Bay lasting around three minutes and 30 seconds, covering 150 meters at an altitude of 13 meters, with roughly 300 people watching the demonstration.

The startup noted that since takeoff and landing were possible in a parking lot, potential port locations may not be limited to rooftops but could also include parking lots and plazas in front of malls and train stations.

The vehicle’s previous demonstration flights took place at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka in the summer. The startup aims to launch commercial operations across Japan’s different regions by 2028.