Consortium Agreement Reached for Commercial Operation of Flying Cars in Osaka, Preceding the Nation, Inheriting the Expo Legacy for Social Implementation
SkyDrive, in collaboration with Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, Osaka Metro, and others, has agreed to establish a consortium for the commercial operation of flying cars in Osaka. Aiming to achieve a "sky mobility revolution" ahead of the rest of the nation, they will leverage the demo flight experience from Expo 2025 Osaka.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 01:46
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 17:02
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 18:06 (1h 4m after Collected)
On May 8, 2026, a "Kick-off Meeting for Commercial Operation of Flying Cars based at Osaka Port Vertiport" (hereinafter, "this meeting") was held at the Osaka Port Vertiport.
At this meeting, SkyDrive Inc. (Headquarters: Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture; CEO: Tomohiro Fukuzawa; hereinafter "SkyDrive"), a developer, manufacturer, and seller of "flying cars" (※1), announced that it has agreed to establish a consortium with Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, Osaka Metro Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture; President & CEO: Hideaki Kawai; hereinafter "Osaka Metro"), Soracle Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director CEO: Yukihiro Ota; hereinafter "Soracle"), Marubeni Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Akimasa Ohmoto; hereinafter "Marubeni"), and others, for commercial operations preceding the nation and the shared use of the Osaka Port Vertiport by multiple operators.
## Content of this meeting
At this meeting, each company explained their business plans for commercial operation based at the Osaka Port Vertiport. Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura of Osaka Prefecture expressed strong backup and expectations, stating, "We want to promote a 'sky mobility revolution' that allows free movement in the sky from Osaka Port Vertiport, ahead of the nation, in cooperation with various businesses." This shared the determination for the implementation of flying cars in Osaka.
Furthermore, Osaka Metro proposed the establishment of a consortium to realize commercial operations based at the Osaka Port Vertiport, which was unanimously supported by all present.
From left: Taro Kawabe, Managing Executive Officer and Head of Domestic Operations, Marubeni Corporation; Toshihiro Sasaki, Representative Director, Soracle Inc.; Yukihiro Ota, Representative Director, Soracle Inc.; Hirofumi Yoshimura, Governor of Osaka Prefecture; Hideyuki Yokoyama, Mayor of Osaka City; Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Representative Director CEO, SkyDrive Inc.; Hideaki Kawai, President and CEO, Osaka Metro Co., Ltd.
At this meeting, SkyDrive presented a draft roadmap for commercial operations utilizing the Osaka Port Vertiport. Additionally, recognizing that the utilization of existing infrastructure is indispensable for urban implementation, SkyDrive expressed its intention to study and investigate the use of existing infrastructure, such as the 146 emergency landing sites (H marks) within Osaka City.
Supplement) About Osaka Diamond Route: https://skydrive.co.jp/archives/60498
## Initiatives in the Osaka area to date
SkyDrive has been engaged in initiatives aimed at implementation in the Osaka area, collaborating with government and business partners. This includes signing a cooperation agreement with Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City in September 2021, and a business alliance agreement with Osaka Metro in August 2024.
Furthermore, in 2025, SkyDrive conducted demonstration flights of "flying cars" at Expo 2025 Osaka and the Osaka Port Vertiport.
Even after the closing of Expo 2025 Osaka, efforts are being made to improve the social acceptance and recognition of "flying cars" through exhibitions, boarding experiences, and talk events at "Sora Kuru Labo" and other events hosted by Osaka Metro.
## Future Outlook
In March 2026, the Kansai Economic Federation published a future vision, "Aim for the First Penguin of Flying Cars ~ Realization of 'Greater Kansai' through Social Implementation and Wide-Area Expansion ~" (※3), to achieve the social implementation of flying cars as an "Expo legacy." This vision targets the operation of approximately 100 aircraft, mainly in the Osaka Bay Area, by 2035.
Osaka-Kansai is a region where rare and advanced initiatives are progressing worldwide, with public and private sectors working together to promote social implementation. Under the strengths of this region, SkyDrive, together with this consortium and all stakeholders, will work towards the realization of social implementation of flying cars.
At this meeting, SkyDrive Inc. (Headquarters: Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture; CEO: Tomohiro Fukuzawa; hereinafter "SkyDrive"), a developer, manufacturer, and seller of "flying cars" (※1), announced that it has agreed to establish a consortium with Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, Osaka Metro Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture; President & CEO: Hideaki Kawai; hereinafter "Osaka Metro"), Soracle Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director CEO: Yukihiro Ota; hereinafter "Soracle"), Marubeni Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Akimasa Ohmoto; hereinafter "Marubeni"), and others, for commercial operations preceding the nation and the shared use of the Osaka Port Vertiport by multiple operators.
## Content of this meeting
At this meeting, each company explained their business plans for commercial operation based at the Osaka Port Vertiport. Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura of Osaka Prefecture expressed strong backup and expectations, stating, "We want to promote a 'sky mobility revolution' that allows free movement in the sky from Osaka Port Vertiport, ahead of the nation, in cooperation with various businesses." This shared the determination for the implementation of flying cars in Osaka.
Furthermore, Osaka Metro proposed the establishment of a consortium to realize commercial operations based at the Osaka Port Vertiport, which was unanimously supported by all present.
From left: Taro Kawabe, Managing Executive Officer and Head of Domestic Operations, Marubeni Corporation; Toshihiro Sasaki, Representative Director, Soracle Inc.; Yukihiro Ota, Representative Director, Soracle Inc.; Hirofumi Yoshimura, Governor of Osaka Prefecture; Hideyuki Yokoyama, Mayor of Osaka City; Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Representative Director CEO, SkyDrive Inc.; Hideaki Kawai, President and CEO, Osaka Metro Co., Ltd.
At this meeting, SkyDrive presented a draft roadmap for commercial operations utilizing the Osaka Port Vertiport. Additionally, recognizing that the utilization of existing infrastructure is indispensable for urban implementation, SkyDrive expressed its intention to study and investigate the use of existing infrastructure, such as the 146 emergency landing sites (H marks) within Osaka City.
Supplement) About Osaka Diamond Route: https://skydrive.co.jp/archives/60498
## Initiatives in the Osaka area to date
SkyDrive has been engaged in initiatives aimed at implementation in the Osaka area, collaborating with government and business partners. This includes signing a cooperation agreement with Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City in September 2021, and a business alliance agreement with Osaka Metro in August 2024.
Furthermore, in 2025, SkyDrive conducted demonstration flights of "flying cars" at Expo 2025 Osaka and the Osaka Port Vertiport.
Even after the closing of Expo 2025 Osaka, efforts are being made to improve the social acceptance and recognition of "flying cars" through exhibitions, boarding experiences, and talk events at "Sora Kuru Labo" and other events hosted by Osaka Metro.
## Future Outlook
In March 2026, the Kansai Economic Federation published a future vision, "Aim for the First Penguin of Flying Cars ~ Realization of 'Greater Kansai' through Social Implementation and Wide-Area Expansion ~" (※3), to achieve the social implementation of flying cars as an "Expo legacy." This vision targets the operation of approximately 100 aircraft, mainly in the Osaka Bay Area, by 2035.
Osaka-Kansai is a region where rare and advanced initiatives are progressing worldwide, with public and private sectors working together to promote social implementation. Under the strengths of this region, SkyDrive, together with this consortium and all stakeholders, will work towards the realization of social implementation of flying cars.