April 24, 2023

Five Companies Have Been Unofficially Selected as Operators of "Flying Cars" Aiming for Commercialization at the Osaka-Kansai Japan Expo 2025

Flying cars will be a near-future means of transportation in urban areas, and their development and commercialization are spreading worldwide. The first commercial flight in Japan is expected at the Expo, giving momentum to the spread of the technology.

The five companies that made the unofficial decision are ANA Holdings and JAL, as well as Joby Aviation of the United States, in which Toyota Motor and other companies have invested; Skydrive (Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture), a Japanese startup company developing flying cars; and Marubeni Corporation. Orix will also operate a takeoff and landing site (port) within the Expo site. "Japan Association for the International Expositions," the operator of the Expo, and other organizations will make an announcement this month.

Visitors will be able to use flying cars as a means of transportation between the Expo site and three areas, including the center of Osaka City. However, whether or not the flights will be commercial flights that carry general passengers and the specific flight routes will be the subject of further study.

Companies around the world are competing for the practical application of flying cars. European and U.S. companies such as Borocopter, Joby, and Vertical Aerospace (U.K.) will proceed with development and demonstration experiments, aiming for commercialization around 2023 to 2024. Startups and others are also entering the market in China.