Japan grants eVTOL maker SkyDrive $82M for AAM development
In a move reflecting the national interests in the race between next-generation aviation companies to bring advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles to market, Japan’s SkyDrive has received 12.4 billion yen ($82.7 million) from the government to support the development of the startup’s electric vertical takeoff and landing craft (eVTOL).
SkyDrive’s work on its piloted two-passenger SD-05 eVTOL has secured it a reputation as one of Japan’s leading developers of next-generation AAM aircraft. With Japan already looking with enormous interest at eVTOL services like air taxis to alleviate the nation’s chronic road congestion, the government’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (“METI”) is granting SkyDrive $82.7 million to support its activity in “advanced technologies that address societal challenges.”
In an era not all that long gone, such state largesse of a company active in an emerging, high-stakes industrial sector would have provoked verbal and legal wars between US, European, and Japanese rivals brandishing unfair competition accusations. That, clearly, is not the case in AAM, despite leading actors pushing hard to obtain certification in time for initial eVTOL service launches in 2025 and 2026.
Indeed, several top startups preparing eVTOL craft around the globe have established research, testing, and tech adaptation relationships with their national government agencies and militaries. Japan’s support of Skydrive under its Small and Medium Enterprise Innovation Promotion Project (SBIR) is, therefore, another feature in that contest among leading AAM developers to tap a range of activities, aiding them to be among the first to bring their aircraft to market.
For example, Silicon Valley firms Archer and Joby both have solid partnerships with the US Air Force and NASA. More than one skeptical online wag, meanwhile, has intimated China’s recent aircraft type certification of EHang’s EH216-S was at least partly designed to give the company bragging rights (and operational advantages) as the first AAM aircraft maker to pass that enormous eVTOL milestone.
SkyDrive’s METI grant now becomes part of that wider global free market-state partnered patchwork.
According to the company’s announcement, the $82.7 million SBIR grant is designed for research developing SkyDrive eVTOLs for both passenger use, like air taxis, and diverse enterprise and government applications.
Significantly, however, the startup also notes the funding will support its efforts as one of roughly 10 companies around the world working to obtain aircraft certification. The first among those cleared for service, of course, will have a considerable advantage staking out turf and customers in the nascent AAM market.
“The SBIR program enables SkyDrive to accelerate its research and development efforts, focusing on improving the performance, safety, and efficiency of its eVTOL aircraft… and also to obtain Type Certification for commercial operation in the next five years,” the communiqué says. “It will also support the development of new technologies and systems necessary for the successful deployment of eVTOLs in Japan and beyond.”
SkyDrive has already commenced the certification process of its SD-05 eVTOL with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau. It also began laying the groundwork for AAM authorization and sales of the plane in the US with its decision last February to open offices in South Carolina.
Prior to the MEITI research grant, the company raised $183 million in capital from financial backers, including over $65 million during a funding round completed a year ago.
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Slate Auto, a new EV startup backed by Jeff Bezos, has poached a key Tesla manufacturing leader to build its electric pickup truck factory in Indiana.
Napoleon Reyes is a US Marine from Indiana who got a degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue after leaving the force.
He then worked a few years at Subaru and Wabash before joining Tesla’s manufacturing team at the Fremont Factory in 2020.
There, he became part of the Model Y production ramp and was quickly promoted to lead the Model Y General Assembly in Fremont in 2022.
Reyes led Model Y GA, one of the most critical parts of vehicle manufacturing, for more than a year before being promoted again to lead new pilot processes at the factory.
Most recently, he led the launch of the general assembly line for the Model Y refresh.
The new engineering manager announced this week that he is leaving Tesla to join Slate:
A bit late on the post but after nearly 5 years working at Tesla in Fremont, I made the difficult decision to leave the Company and move closer to home with my family. It was an incredible experience being part of multiple line expansions and multiple Model Y program launches. Leading and managing the Model Y Refresh launch for GA in Fremont this year tested me professionally however we ultimately succeeded due to our amazing cross functional team collaboration. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with such great people, and I will forever be proud and thankful for everything we accomplished together.
I will be taking on a new role as Senior Manager, Plant Vehicle Engineering at Slate Auto in Warsaw, In.
Slate emerged from stealth mode earlier this year to unveil a new type of electric pickup truck featuring modular customization and an affordable price.
The company raised over $700 million through two rounds of investments from several different investors, including Jeff Bezos. It is currently raising more, which basically guarantees that it will be able to reach production.
The startup acquired a former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana. It is currently converting to manufacture its electric pickup with a team from legacy automakers and also several former engineers and leaders from Tesla.
Rich Schmidt, an early Tesla manufacturing director, is the head of manufacturing.
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Genesis is preparing to shake things up with its most luxurious SUV yet, the GV90. Thanks to a new patent filing, we are getting a detailed look at how its Rolls-Royce-style coach doors will work.
New patent reveals Genesis GV90 coach door system
When Genesis first unveiled the full-size SUV at the NY Auto Show last March, it wasn’t the stunning design or advanced tech that caught everyone’s attention. It was the coach doors.
Although we were worried it wouldn’t make it to the production model, like many concepts, the Genesis GV90 will be offered with coach doors.
The ultra-luxe electric SUV was first caught with coach doors earlier this year on a car carrier in South Korea. Just last month, the GV90 was spotted in California with a hinge at the rear to open the coach doors.
After several new patents were filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for new door latching devices, we are getting a sneak peek at how they are expected to work.
The patents, titled “Cinching Device For Door Latches in Vehicle,” and “Door Latch Device for Vehicles,” give a pretty detailed explanation of how the Genesis GV90’s coach doors will operate. The “Door Latch Device” uses a door striker on the lower side of the door, which is opened or closed by a hinge unit.
Unlike traditional doors, which use the B-pillar for support, the device is attached directly to the door itself, allowing for hinge-like movement.
The cinching device works in a similar way. It’s also attached to the door and part of the vehicle. However, unlike most of its kind, Genesis found a way to use a single cinching device to control multiple units. Again, the device is used for B-pillarless doors that swing open.
Genesis already said that B-pillarless coach doors are now feasible in production vehicles. The patent reveals a glimpse into how the luxury automaker could make it a reality.
Although the Genesis GV90 is expected to be offered with coach doors, they will likely not be standard. Other variants, with traditional door handles, have also been spotted testing in the US and South Korea.
Genesis is expected to launch the GV90 in mid-2026. It will be built at Hyundai’s Ulsan plant in South Korea. The flagship Genesis SUV is scheduled to debut on Hyundai’s new eM platform, which the company said will “provide 50% improvement in driving range.” It will also be loaded with the latest technology, software, connectivity, and Level 3 or higher autonomous driving capabilities.
Source: USPTO
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Environment
Podcast: Tesla Model YL, more Tesla probes and lawsuits, new Nissan Leaf pricing, and more
In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss the launch of the Tesla Model YL, more Tesla probes and lawsuits, new Nissan Leaf pricing, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:
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