Air India, SkyDrive, and Suzuki Motor Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding to conduct a joint feasibility study on utilizing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for medical air logistics across India.
Major cities throughout India face severe traffic congestion that creates significant challenges for time-critical medical logistics. By combining SkyDrive’s eVTOL technology, Air India’s airline operational expertise, and Suzuki’s deep insight into the Indian market, the three companies plan to address last-mile emergency medical logistics to help advance the country’s medical infrastructure.
“India is today one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing aviation markets, and we see advanced air mobility as a natural extension of the country’s transport ecosystem,” said Ramesh Mamidala, Head of Cargo of Air India Limited. “This collaboration with SkyDrive and Suzuki reflects our shared ambition to explore 21st century solutions to address real-world challenges while shaping the future of mobility. The potential application of eVTOL aircraft for medical air logistics is particularly compelling because it combines technology and purpose, helping to reduce critical transit times when every minute can make a difference. We are pleased to contribute to this feasibility study with our operational expertise, airport infrastructure knowledge, and stakeholder relationships to help evaluate and develop a framework for safe, reliable, and scalable eVTOL operations.”
The initiative marks a targeted effort to deploy next-generation aerial mobility directly into the public healthcare supply chain, focusing on the transport of high-value, time-critical medical supplies where ground transport is delayed by chronic congestion.
“Since our founding, SkyDrive has been dedicated to transforming the future of transportation through the aerial mobility revolution,” said Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Founder and CEO of SkyDrive Inc. “We are incredibly proud to partner with Air India and Suzuki to take a step toward medical logistics—a sector where every second counts and lives can be saved. In India, where chronic congestion is a pressing issue, utilizing eVTOLs for advanced medical logistics—including the transport of high-value, time-critical medical supplies—will reshape medical infrastructure. We will work dedicatedly to contribute to saving as many lives as possible.”
Suzuki is already engaged in an ongoing business and technology collaboration with SkyDrive for the development of their eVTOL aircraft. This latest tri-party agreement aligns the vehicle manufacturing expertise with India’s leading global airline to evaluate the practical frameworks required for regional operational deployment.
“The eVTOL aircraft being developed by SkyDrive, with which Suzuki is engaged in business and technology collaboration, represents a new form of mobility that embodies Suzuki’s philosophy of ‘Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi (Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, and Neater)’,” said Masao Fujitani, Executive General Manager, Next Generation Business Development of Suzuki Motor Corporation. “We believe it has the potential to play a role in supporting medical infrastructure in urban areas. Under our corporate slogan, ‘By Your Side,’ Suzuki will continue to provide diverse mobility options tailored to customers’ needs and contribute to regional development. By collaborating with a wide range of mobility companies, including SkyDrive and Air India, Suzuki aims to realize ‘infrastructure mobility closely connected with people’s lives.’”
