A Tokyo-based flying car startup has revealed a new concept model – the SD-XX.

Created by SkyDrive who are one of Japan’s newest flying car startups, it stands at 1.5 metres tall and measures 4 X 3.5 metres across. This would make the SD-XX the smallest electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL).

This coincides with the Japanese government increasing its funding into the development of flying cars. With the country’s topography in mind, its aim is to provide this new mode of transport as a link between Japan’s remote islands and mountainous areas. Furthermore, it would give citizens a respite from sitting in traffic jams. 

The hope of the Japanese government is that the commercialisation of flying cars will arrive as soon as 2023.

“We’re considering launching an air taxi service in big cities, either Osaka or Tokyo, with initial flights over the sea as it would be too risky to fly over many people all of a sudden,” said SkyDrive CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa.

“There are many other rivals in Europe and the United States, but we’d like to manufacture a vehicle that provides a comfortable ride with ‘Made in Japan’ quality.”