Facing urban traffic congestion, the initiative targets faster emergency medical transport while bolstering India’s healthcare infrastructure.
Air India, SkyDrive and Suzuki Motor Corp. have signed a memorandum of understanding to study the feasibility of using electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for medical logistics in India. The partnership aims to assess how aerial mobility can help deliver time‑critical medical supplies in congested urban environments, combining SkyDrive’s technology, Air India’s operational expertise and Suzuki’s market insight.
With major Indian cities struggling with traffic bottlenecks, the initiative seeks to create faster emergency medical transport solutions while strengthening the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
Ramesh Mamidala, Head of Cargo at Air India, said, “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.”
Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Founder & CEO of SkyDrive, added, “Since our founding, SkyDrive has been dedicated to transforming the future of transportation through the aerial mobility revolution… In India, where chronic congestion is a pressing issue, utilising eVTOLs for advanced medical logistics—including the transport of high‑value, time‑critical medical supplies—will reshape medical infrastructure.”
Masao Fujitani, Executive General Manager, Next Generation Business Development of Suzuki Motor Corp., said, “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). We believe it has the potential to play a role in supporting medical infrastructure in urban areas.”
India has been actively exploring eVTOL’s potential to deliver faster, more sustainable mobility, particularly in underserved regions. A World Economic Forum-Kearney study suggests that the world’s fastest‑growing major aviation market could become one of the largest opportunities for advanced air mobility.
Global aerospace companies such as Airbus, Boeing and Embraer, alongside Indian startups, are developing electric aircraft and eVTOL platforms, with India emerging as a promising future market. InterGlobe Enterprises, promoter of IndiGo, has partnered with Archer Aviation to launch an all‑electric air taxi service in India.
Several eVTOL prototypes are undergoing flight testing and certification, with commercial service expected once approvals are secured from regulators such as the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), European Union Safety Agency (EASA) and India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).