Japanese eVTOL developer SkyDrive Inc has announced plans to evaluate potential operational routes for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in India in partnership with Air India and Suzuki. The initiative forms part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the three companies in July 2026 to examine the feasibility of eVTOL-based medical logistics services in the country.
The partnership aims to identify routes where eVTOL aircraft could provide faster transportation of critical medical supplies and other urgent cargo. The companies will study operational requirements, potential benefits and the feasibility of introducing such services in Indian cities.
Traffic congestion in major urban centres has created challenges for time-sensitive transportation. The proposed study will therefore focus on use cases where reducing travel time could have a direct impact on healthcare delivery and other critical operations.
One of the key areas under evaluation is the emergency transportation of radioactive isotopes used in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Because these medical products can have very short half-lives, rapid transportation from production facilities to hospitals is essential.
The initial route being assessed would connect a manufacturing facility in Mumbai with major general hospitals in the surrounding area. The study will examine whether eVTOL operations could avoid road congestion, reduce delivery times and help maintain the effectiveness of time-sensitive medical products.
The companies will also assess emergency medical and organ transportation between major hospitals in the Delhi National Capital Region. Road journeys between hospitals can take between 30 and 90 minutes depending on traffic. The proposed eVTOL service will evaluate whether these trips could potentially be reduced to around 10 to 15 minutes while meeting safety and operational requirements.
The programme has also identified a potential application beyond healthcare. SkyDrive, Air India and Suzuki will study the use of eVTOL aircraft to transport urgently required aircraft parts between collection hubs, maintenance bases and airport facilities around Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Delays in delivering aircraft components can contribute to Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations and increase aircraft downtime. The study will examine whether eVTOL transportation could provide a faster alternative for critical parts movement across congested urban areas. The routes announced are initial candidates for further evaluation and do not represent confirmed commercial operations. Any future services will require coordination with government agencies and aviation regulators, along with all necessary approvals.
SkyDrive, Air India and Suzuki signed their original MoU in July 2026 to jointly examine the feasibility of eVTOL-based medical logistics in India. The latest phase will provide greater understanding of potential routes, operational requirements and applications.
SkyDrive is developing compact eVTOL aircraft for future urban transportation. The company began testing eVTOL prototypes in 2014 and was incorporated in 2018. In 2019, it became the first company to conduct a crewed eVTOL flight in Japan. Its “SKYDRIVE” aircraft was demonstrated at Expo 2025 Osaka, where thousands of visitors saw the aircraft in flight demonstrations.
SkyDrive began production of the SKYDRIVE in March 2024 at a facility owned by Suzuki Motor Corporation, its official production partner. The company is working with aviation authorities in Japan and the United States on certification and aims to begin aircraft service in 2028.
