LIFT Aircraft has announced that the Austin, TX-based company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Marubeni Corporation, one of Japan’s largest so-called “sogo-shosha”, or general trading companies. Investor Warren Buffet, through Berkshire Hathaway, has amassed a stake in Marubeni approaching 8%. Marubeni’s share price has more than quadrupled since the end of August 2020, when Berkshire disclosed its ownership.
Under the terms of the MOU, Marubeni says it intends to partner with LIFT to commercialise its HEXA personal aerial vehicle in Japan – including jointly undertaking market research, regulatory engagement, and a pre-order option up to 100 aircraft subject to approval by the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). The two companies report they are in the process of gaining permission from JCAB to offer training and pay-per-flight rentals of HEXA, which is classified as an ultralight vehicle under FAA regulations, so does not require a pilot’s license or type certification to fly.
In March, in the Japanese cities of Osaka and Ehime (Niihama and Imabari), LIFT and Marubeni collaborated to perform public demonstrations in Japan. Marubeni was one of the Japanese companies selected by the organisers of Expo 2025 Osaka to operate eVTOL aircraft between two ports connecting the ports inside and outside the venue of the Expo.
For more information
https://www.liftaircraft.com/post/marubeni
(Image: Lift Aircraft)
