SkyDrive, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer based in Japan, today announced that its eVTOL SD-05 has been awarded the iF Design Award in the Professional Concept category. The SD-05 was selected from almost 11,000 entries from 56 countries in 2023.

The iF Design Award is considered to be one of the world's largest and most prestigious design awards, along with the Red Dot Design Award and the International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA).

This time, the award recognises the concept of ‘The Most Accessible Flying Car’ and its unique and elegant design that sets it apart from other eVTOL aircraft.

The SD-05 is a compact flying vehicle that aims to be integrated into society in 2025, offering versatile solutions to address urban traffic congestion, transport challenges in sparsely populated areas and emergency medical needs. In contrast to the trend towards larger and heavier eVTOL aircraft, the SD-05 offers efficient last-mile transportation, emphasising short distances. Users can take off and land nearer to their final destinations, work or homes, thus eliminating the need to travel to an airport. Additionally, it boasts a unique and attractive design, departing from the conventional aerodynamic design of typical aircraft while preserving function.

Takumi Yamamoto, design director at SkyDrive Inc. comments: “SkyDrive has been at the forefront of exploring new horizons in the skies. In an unprecedented environment with little prior knowledge or experience to draw from, we blaze a trail with every step of our developing process. I want to give my utmost respect to the team, who are pushing forward with a pioneering spirit to develop this product.

“I'm thrilled that our eVTOL has been awarded the design award following our cargo drone SkyLift. I strongly believe that design can contribute significantly to the future of the sky we aspire to create. It's both inspiring and gratifying to receive such recognition, and I'm truly grateful. We'll continue to work diligently as a team to realise our vision of a future where everyone has access to eVTOLs as their daily transportation.”

The iF Design Award was established in 1953 to promote industrial design and has since become one of the most prestigious international design awards. The competition involves a rigorous review process conducted by a panel of 133 experts, including top-class designers and design leaders from companies around the world.