Japanese eVTOL maker SkyDrive has raised new funding through a third-party share allotment to Tobu Railway and travel company Tobu Top Tours, according to SkyDrive’s announcement on Business Wire on November 12. SkyDrive did not disclose the size of the investment.
The deal makes the Tobu Group SkyDrive’s fifth railway partner in Japan, after feasibility studies and flight demonstrations with four regional rail operators. Tobu runs one of Japan’s major private railway networks, and SkyDrive says the tie-up will help it develop business and plan ground infrastructure across the Kanto region around Tokyo.
The companies outlined three areas of work:
- Vertiports and tourism: Tobu Railway will draw on its rail network, local presence and tourism assets, especially in the Nikko area, to set up and promote vertiport infrastructure.
- Biometric boarding: The partners plan to use Tobu’s SAKULaLa biometric authentication platform for identity checks and boarding clearance.
- Travel packages: Tobu Top Tours will use its destination-management experience and municipal contacts to shape new business models and bundle eVTOL trips with onward transport.
SkyDrive, which flew uncrewed demonstrations at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, says it is working toward type certification and is pursuing commercialization projects with partners and municipalities in 10 countries. The company is targeting the start of commercial services in 2028.
More Info:
SkyDrive (Official website): click here
Tobu Railway (Official website): click here
Tobu Top Tours (Official website): click here
SkyDrive Raises Funds from Tobu Railway and Tobu Top Tours to Accelerate eVTOL Deployment in Kanto: click here