TOYOTA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 30, 2026--
SkyDrive Inc. (“SkyDrive”), a leading compact eVTOL (*1) aircraft manufacturer based in Japan, announced the appointments of Taiji Ono as executive vice president and head of global business, and Gonzalo Ramos as global commercial officer.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260929818508/en/
Under this new executive leadership structure, SkyDrive will accelerate its preparations for commercial operation and service launches in Japan and around the world, specifically advancing route development and establishing operational frameworks.
Background
SkyDrive has been accelerating aircraft development — including successful high-speed flight tests (*2) — and type certification activities with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (*3). Concurrently, commercialization initiatives are gaining momentum globally.
To date, SkyDrive has partnered with airlines, operators, local governments, and business partners across 10 countries to develop routes and evaluate specific use cases. Aircraft sales efforts are also advancing, with pre-orders and letters of intent (LOIs) totaling 451 aircraft for the SKYDRIVE (SD-05 model).
In the next phase of its expansion, SkyDrive is focusing on establishing specific operational routes across target regions, strengthening strategic partnerships, driving commercial sales contracts, and building post-delivery operational support systems alongside its ongoing aircraft development and certification efforts.
To lead these initiatives, SkyDrive has reinforced its management structure by appointing Ono as executive vice president and Ramos as global commercial officer, both of whom bring extensive track records in global business development and commercial expansion.
Roles and Executive Profiles
Taiji Ono
Executive Vice President, Head of Global Business
Gonzalo Ramos
Global Commercial Officer
Comment from Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive Inc.
"As our aircraft development and certification processes steadily advance, interest and expectations from airlines and operators worldwide are growing rapidly. The coming year represents a pivotal phase for SkyDrive as we convert this momentum into firm commercial orders, sales contracts, and definitive commitments toward commercial operations. We are thrilled to welcome Taiji, who has demonstrated powerful leadership in global business development and public-private collaboration, and Gonzalo, who brings an outstanding commercial track record in the global aviation and mobility sectors. With their leadership, our entire team — including development, certification, and manufacturing — remains dedicated to pioneering new air mobility experiences and accelerating commercialization in Japan and globally."
About SkyDrive Inc.
SkyDrive is a Japanese compact eVTOL company aiming "to take the lead in the once-in-a-century mobility revolution." The company began testing eVTOL prototypes in 2014 prior to official incorporation in 2018. Under its future vision for urban transportation, flying in eVTOLs will become a regular part of city life. In 2019, SkyDrive became the first company to fly a crewed eVTOL in Japan. In 2025, the company successfully showcased SKYDRIVE, the company's first commercial eVTOL product, with demonstration flights at the Osaka Expo witnessed by thousands of visitors over a one-month period. SkyDrive began production of SKYDRIVE in March 2024 at a plant owned by Suzuki Motor Corporation, SkyDrive's official production partner. SkyDrive has been working with civil aviation authorities in Japan and the U.S. to obtain certification for SKYDRIVE, with the aim of launching the aircraft into service in 2028. SkyDrive is headquartered in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture and led by CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa, an engineer and entrepreneur.
For more information, please visit: https://skydrive.co.jp/en/
Editor’s Notes:
(*1) eVTOL is an abbreviation for electric vertical takeoff and landing. As the name suggests, eVTOL aircraft can take off and land without a runway. eVTOLs are powered by electricity and incorporate advanced, automatic, flight control technology.
(*2) Related Press Release: SkyDrive Reaches 100 km/h Milestone
https://skydrive.co.jp/en/news/71605/
(*3) Related Press Releases:
SkyDrive Reaches Agreement with Japan’s Civil Aviation Authority on its General Certification Plan, a Core Element of the Type Certification Process
https://skydrive.co.jp/en/news/17834/
SkyDrive Commences Formal Familiarization Meetings with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
https://skydrive.co.jp/en/news/72613/
Taiji Ono (Left) and Gonzalo Ramos (Right)
HOUSTON (AP) — From 100 losses to their first playoff series win in two decades, these scrappy Chicago White Sox just keep outdoing themselves.
The White Sox used a big first inning and a three-run homer from Chase Meidroth to propel them to a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday to sweep their AL Wild Card Series.
“I’m proud of the guys and certainly happy for them as they’re probably the only ones in this country that believed that they could be in this spot," manager Will Venable said. “And they maintained that belief in the beginning of the season and went throughout the season maintaining that, and they made it happen. So it’s awesome to get to this point.”
It's the first time Chicago has won a playoff series since beating Houston in the World Series in 2005. Under the direction of Venable, the second-year skipper, and with a letter of support from Pope Leo XIV, the White Sox advanced to face AL Central champion Cleveland in the AL Division Series beginning Saturday in Cleveland.
“It means everything for our fans,” Meidroth said. “They have been incredible all year. So the main thing was getting back to Chicago for some postseason baseball, and so we’re really blessed that we get to do that.”
The White Sox, who lost 100 games in each of the last three seasons, are the only team in major league history to follow consecutive 100-loss seasons with a playoff berth.
The AL West-winning Astros went 81-81 to become the first team to reach the postseason without a winning record. Their recent playoff woes in Houston continued Wednesday as they dropped their ninth straight home playoff game in a ninth trip to the postseason in the last 10 years.
Chicago pounced on the Astros for four runs in the first inning a day after scoring three in the first two innings of a 6-3 win. Houston ace Hunter Brown was lifted after getting just two outs and wasn’t helped by a sloppy defense which committed two first-inning errors.
He was 6-0 with a 2.39 ERA in six career starts against the White Sox before Wednesday’s debacle.
The Astros clawed their way back into it with solo home runs from Jeremy Peña, Cam Smith and Jose Altuve to trail by 1 entering the sixth inning.
AJ Blubaugh, who opened Game 1, and Peter Lambert, pitching on two days’ rest, combined to retire the next 13 batters after Brown exited. Chicago’s next baserunner came when Lambert walked Andrew Benintendi to start the sixth and then walked Tristan Peters.
Bryan Abreu came in, and Meidroth smashed his fifth pitch off the wall in left field to push the lead to 7-3. He yelled on his entire trip around the bases to the delight of a patch of White Sox fans seated near the visitor’s dugout.
“I was looking for something middle up,” Meidroth said. “He’s had my number all year, really good fastball, so I got something middle up and I was able to cash in for the team. So, yeah, that was awesome.”
Houston faced boos for a second game in a row from an unusually thin crowd. It’s a second straight playoff trip where the Astros have been swept at home in the wild card after losing both games to Detroit in 2024.
Now they’ll face an uncertain future with manager Joe Espada’s contract set to expire at season’s end after general manager Dana Brown was fired last month.
“We fought back and we set our goal to win this division and we accomplished that,” Espada said. “We wanted to play deep in October. We came short on that. But just the way our guys stayed together and were able to get this far, extremely proud of our team.”
It was a disappointing series for Houston slugger and AL MVP-favorite Yordan Alvarez, who managed only a single with two strikeouts in eight at-bats in the series.
Altuve’s shot to the seats in left field in the fourth inning got the Astros within 4-3. It was the 28th postseason homer of his career, which is second in MLB history behind Manny Ramirez (29).
“We’re all sad,” Altuve said. “We wanted to go to the World Series and win it. But today is sorrow for the final day of the season."
The Astros had a shot to take the lead before Meidroth’s homer. They loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth, but Anthony Kay retired Altuve on a fly out to end the inning.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Chicago White Sox players celebrate after winning baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami celebrates after winning baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Chicago White Sox players and staff pose for a photo after winning baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Chicago White Sox's Brenton Doyle celebrates after winning baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth (10) celebrates after hitting a 3-run home run during the sixth inning in Game 2 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Houston Astros' Cam Smith hits a solo home run during the second inning in Game 2 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) reacts after a RBI-single hit by Chicago White Sox's Tristan Peters during the first inning in Game 2 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Houston Astros' Jose Altuve reacts after hitting a fly out to end the bottom of the fifth inning in Game 2 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth (10) celebrates after hitting a 3-run home run during the sixth inning in Game 2 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth (10) celebrates while running the bases after hitting a 3-run home run during the sixth inning in Game 2 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
