SkyDrive and West Nippon Expressway Company Partner to Explore Advanced Air Mobility Services in Japan
SkyDrive Inc., one of Japan’s leading developers of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has announced a new partnership agreement with West Nippon Expressway Company Limited (NEXCO West). The collaboration marks an important step toward integrating advanced air mobility solutions into Japan’s transportation network by evaluating the use of expressway parking and service areas as future hubs for eVTOL operations.
The agreement reflects growing momentum in the global advanced air mobility sector, where companies and infrastructure operators are working together to create practical use cases for next-generation aircraft. Through this partnership, SkyDrive and NEXCO West will study the commercial viability of establishing eVTOL services based at strategically located expressway facilities across western Japan.
The initiative could eventually transform ordinary roadside service areas into multimodal transport centers that connect road travel with urban and regional air mobility services.
Building the Future of Urban and Regional Air Mobility
SkyDrive has positioned itself as a pioneer in the emerging eVTOL market, with a mission centered on creating what it describes as a once-in-a-century mobility revolution. The company aims to make air travel simple, accessible, and integrated into everyday life.
Its electric aircraft are designed to offer short-distance, low-emission travel alternatives in urban and regional environments. By reducing travel times and easing congestion on roads and railways, eVTOL aircraft are expected to become a major component of future transport systems.
SkyDrive has steadily progressed toward commercialization through a series of public demonstrations and test programs. During 2025, the company conducted successful demonstration flights of its “SKYDRIVE” aircraft, also known as the SkyDrive Model SD-05, over a six-week period during Expo 2025 Osaka.
Those flights were carried out both at the Expo venue and at an additional vertiport in Osaka, showcasing the aircraft’s operational potential in a real-world environment. The demonstrations drew significant public attention and highlighted Japan’s ambitions to become a leader in next-generation aviation.
Following those flights, SkyDrive expanded testing activities to Tokyo, where further demonstration flights were completed in February 2026. These milestones are helping the company move closer to its long-term goal of launching commercial services in 2028.
Why NEXCO West Is a Strategic Partner
West Nippon Expressway Company, commonly known as NEXCO West, operates a large portion of Japan’s expressway infrastructure across western regions of the country. Its highways, service areas, and parking zones form an essential part of national mobility and logistics systems.
Under its medium-term management strategy known as “MOVE!2030,” NEXCO West has committed to creating new value through innovation while supporting regional economic growth. The company is actively exploring new business areas that can address community challenges and generate long-term benefits.
This vision made SkyDrive a natural partner.
The two organizations found common ground in the idea that expressway service areas and parking facilities could serve as future takeoff and landing points for eVTOL aircraft. These sites are already strategically distributed at intervals of approximately 10 to 30 kilometers, making them attractive candidates for a network of vertiports.
Because these facilities already support motorists with parking, rest services, retail, and food offerings, they could be adapted into transportation hubs that combine highway travel with aerial mobility services.
For NEXCO West, the partnership also aligns with broader regional development goals supported by the Kansai Economic Federation, known as Kankeiren. As a major corporate member of the federation, NEXCO West supports the idea of creating a lasting legacy from Expo 2025 Osaka, including new industries and transport innovations that continue beyond the event.
Turning Highway Stops into Vertiports
One of the most compelling aspects of the partnership is the concept of converting expressway service areas into vertiports.
Vertiports are specialized facilities where eVTOL aircraft can take off, land, recharge, and board passengers. Unlike traditional airports, vertiports require less land and can be integrated into urban or suburban environments.
Japan’s expressway service areas already possess several advantages that could make them ideal vertiport locations:
- Existing road access for passengers and logistics vehicles
- Available land for development or repurposing
- Frequent spacing along highway corridors
- Existing customer amenities such as food, restrooms, and parking
- Strategic placement between cities and regional destinations
By leveraging these existing assets, SkyDrive and NEXCO West could accelerate infrastructure deployment while reducing the cost and complexity of building entirely new sites.
If successful, travelers may one day drive to a highway service area, park their car, and board an eVTOL aircraft for a fast connection to city centers, tourist attractions, airports, or neighboring regions.
Boosting Tourism and Regional Economies
A major objective of the partnership is to stimulate local economies by creating new transportation-linked business opportunities.
Many parts of Japan face demographic challenges such as aging populations, shrinking rural communities, and limited public transport connectivity. Advanced air mobility could help reconnect these areas by improving access and attracting tourism.
Service areas along expressways could become launch points for sightseeing flights, leisure experiences, and regional shuttle services. Travelers heading to scenic areas, hot springs, historical destinations, or coastal regions may be able to use eVTOL flights to reduce travel times and enjoy unique aerial experiences.
This could generate increased traffic for local businesses including:
- Hotels and resorts
- Restaurants and retail stores
- Tourist attractions
- Transportation providers
- Event venues
In addition, upgraded service areas could attract new investment and become commercial hubs in their own right.
By integrating air mobility into regional infrastructure, Japan may create a new model for tourism-led development that supports both urban visitors and rural communities.
Supporting Disaster Response and Emergency Operations
Japan is one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations, facing risks from earthquakes, typhoons, floods, volcanic activity, and landslides. Improving emergency response capabilities is therefore a national priority.
The SkyDrive-NEXCO West partnership also includes exploration of disaster-response applications for eVTOL aircraft.
Because these aircraft can take off vertically and operate without runways, they may be especially useful in situations where roads are blocked or damaged. Operating from expressway service areas located across large geographic regions, eVTOL fleets could support emergency authorities in several ways:
- Rapid aerial assessment of disaster damage
- Transportation of emergency personnel
- Delivery of medical supplies and equipment
- Communication support in isolated areas
- Faster coordination between agencies
Since many expressways are used as critical evacuation and relief routes after disasters, combining them with aerial mobility infrastructure could strengthen resilience and improve recovery times.
This dual-use model—commercial transportation during normal operations and emergency response during crises—adds further value to the proposed network.
Advancing Japan’s Position in the Global eVTOL Industry
The agreement also highlights Japan’s growing commitment to becoming a major player in the global eVTOL market.
While the United States and Europe have several high-profile developers, Japan has focused on integrating advanced air mobility into its dense urban areas, aging regional communities, and highly developed transport systems.
SkyDrive’s progress places it among the most visible Asian eVTOL manufacturers. Its partnership strategy with public and private infrastructure owners could provide a practical pathway to commercialization.
Rather than waiting for entirely new infrastructure systems, Japan is exploring how existing transport assets—such as highways, service areas, rail stations, and city rooftops—can support future aviation services.
This pragmatic approach may help accelerate adoption and lower barriers to market entry.
Roadmap Toward 2028 Commercial Launch
SkyDrive’s stated target is to begin commercial operations in 2028. To reach that milestone, the company will need progress in several key areas:
- Aircraft certification and regulatory approvals
- Infrastructure development including vertiports
- Air traffic integration and safety systems
- Battery and charging solutions
- Public acceptance and pricing models
- Strategic partnerships with operators and infrastructure owners
The partnership with NEXCO West directly addresses one of the most important challenges: where aircraft will operate and how customers will access services.
If feasibility studies prove successful, selected expressway service areas may become among the first operational eVTOL hubs in Japan.
As the next stage of their collaboration begins, SkyDrive and NEXCO West will evaluate where and how to deploy advanced air mobility services most effectively. Their shared vision extends beyond transportation convenience.
They aim to create new economic opportunities, improve regional connectivity, and strengthen disaster resilience through a modern mobility network built on existing infrastructure.
What was once considered only a roadside rest stop may soon become a gateway to the skies.
If successful, the partnership could become a landmark example of how aviation innovation and highway infrastructure can work together to reshape mobility in Japan—and potentially inspire similar models around the world.
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