Soratobu Taxi, also known as SkyTaxi, a Japanese air transport business aiming to make air taxis as easy to use as ground taxis, has completed an investment in Plana US, headquartered in California.

While the investment amount is undisclosed, this investment further strengthens the relationship between the two companies, establishing a system for more accurate and timely sharing of Plana's development progress and technical information. This foundation allows Soratobu Taxi to formulate and promote a more certain and realistic business plan for its eVTOL operations within Japan.

Plana is an advanced mobility company developing the CP-01, a hybrid-electric, medium-range eVTOL aircraft, which has garnered global attention for its long range and high operational efficiency. Soratobu Taxi previously announced on June 2023 its plan to purchase up to 50 Plana hybrid eVTOL aircraft by 2040. This recent investment enables closer cooperation in areas such as aircraft specifications, operational design and regulatory compliance.

Plana, originally founded in South Korea, is an eVTOL manufacturer that has been developing its own designed and planned eVTOL aircraft. A key feature of its aircraft, the Plana CP-01, is its ability to achieve an air range of over 500 km (310 miles) and carry up to seven people, including the pilot. The company began its activities in the US this year, conducting aircraft development under the ‘Made in USA’ designation to facilitate the attainment of type certification. Soratobu Taxi had previously maintained a close collaborative relationship with Plana's Korean corporation, but decided on this investment to further support Plana's vision of transferring all major business and development activities to the US.

Moving forward, Soratobu, under its vision of ‘bringing air travel to everyday life’ will deepen its technical and business collaboration with Plana and accelerate efforts toward social implementation in fields such as local government services, tourism and disaster relief. The two companies will jointly move forward with the goal of achieving the early practical use of medium-range eVTOLs in Japan and establishing an extremely qualified and safe aerial mobility network.

Takuto Hojo, CEO of Soratobu, comments: “When considering our goals, transportation for tourists and inbound visitors, and use in business settings, an aircraft that can fly 500 km and carry more than four passengers is supremely attractive. We intend to use Plana's CP-01 aircraft to provide the on-demand regional air travels that everyone is seeking.”

Braden Kim, founder and CEO of Plana, adds: “The investment from Soratobu Taxi, our key partner in Japan, is more than just fundraising; it represents an opportunity to jointly expand the market in the Asia region. Above all, by introducing aircraft for inter-regional travel and the tourism industry as a competitive air service in Japan, where rail travel is well-established, we will be able to create a flexible air mobility market.”