SkyDrive Appoints Taiji Ono and Gonzalo Ramos to Senior Executive Roles to Drive Global eVTOL Commercialization
Why It MattersThe hires signal SkyDrive is building out dedicated global commercial leadership as it moves toward international certification and market expansion ahead of eVTOL service entry.
Japanese compact eVTOL manufacturer SkyDrive Inc. has appointed Taiji Ono as executive vice president and head of global business, and Gonzalo Ramos as global commercial officer, as the company accelerates preparations for commercial operations in Japan and internationally.
Ono spent nearly 17 years at Toyota Motor Corporation across sales planning, government affairs, and battery electric vehicle strategy, and later served as chief strategy officer and general manager of business development at a data platform company before joining SkyDrive. In his new role he will oversee global business strategy, commercial models, and sales worldwide, and will lead public-private partnerships and government affairs in Japan.
Ramos brings over 22 years of experience in commercial aviation, aircraft leasing, and advanced air mobility, including almost 18 years at Airbus in aircraft customization engineering, customer support, and a sales director role based in Miami, Florida, followed by stints at Griffin Global Asset Management, Overair, and Supernal. At SkyDrive he will lead commercial expansion across the United States, Middle East, Europe, and Australia.
SkyDrive is pursuing type certification for its SD-05 eVTOL with Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, targeting a commercial service launch in 2028, with pre-orders and letters of intent totaling 451 aircraft across partners in 10 countries. Production began in March 2024 at a plant owned by Suzuki Motor Corporation, and in 2025 SkyDrive showcased demonstration flights at the Osaka Expo over a one-month period. SkyDrive is headquartered in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, and is led by CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa.
