Maruti Suzuki Wants To Build Drones And Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
Maruti Suzuki, India's largest carmaker, is gearing up to break new ground - literally and figuratively. With its board formally approving a proposal to manufacture drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and even electric air taxis, the company is laying the foundation for a dramatic expansion of its business model. The move could mark a pivotal moment in Maruti's 43-year history as it eyes a future far beyond roads.
Board Clears Sky-High Ambitions
The big development came on July 31, 2025, when Maruti’s board greenlit an amendment to its Memorandum of Association (MoA). This revision paves the way for the company to manufacture aerial vehicles and the associated propulsion and control systems. The move is not merely symbolic. It signals a bold pivot towards what could become a crucial new frontier: air mobility.
The company will now seek shareholder approval at its Annual General Meeting scheduled for August 28, 2025. If cleared, the amended charter will authorise Maruti to manufacture vehicles that operate not just on land, but also on water and in the air.
From Cars to Copters
The idea of Maruti building flying machines may sound like science fiction, but the groundwork has already been laid. Thanks to its parent company Suzuki’s partnership with Japanese startup SkyDrive Inc., the carmaker has a foot in the door of the eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) market.
SkyDrive's SD-05, a compact three-seater eVTOL aircraft, is being manufactured at a Suzuki plant in Japan. With a top speed of 100 km/h and a current range of 15 km, the SD-05 is designed to serve short intra-city routes, with future upgrades expected to increase its range up to 40 km.
Ground Trials and Gujarat Link
India may see its first SkyDrive trials sooner than expected. The SD-05 has already made its presence felt at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, where a scale model was displayed at Maruti’s booth. Suzuki officials confirmed their intent to begin local feasibility studies in Gujarat by 2027.
While the aircraft’s performance specifications are modest compared to helicopters, they come with key cost advantages. Electric propulsion reduces the number of parts drastically—down to a tenth of a conventional helicopter—which helps keep maintenance and manufacturing costs in check. According to Suzuki executives, for the aircraft to succeed in India, it must be priced well below traditional rotorcraft.
Regulator Readiness
The regulatory climate appears to be shifting in favour of aerial mobility. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) introduced a regulatory framework in 2024 for certifying eVTOL aircraft. The rules cover everything from design to pilot interface and even propose standards for vertiports—dedicated take-off and landing zones.
Existing drone rules under the Drone Rules 2021 already support aircraft up to 500 kg, which would include most eVTOLs. Reforms have made it easier to operate drones in India, with simplified paperwork and slashed fees, making the prospect of launching air taxi services more feasible.
Competition and Market Dynamics
Maruti won’t be alone in the sky. InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent of IndiGo, has already placed an order for 200 eVTOLs from US-based Archer Aviation. These aircraft are expected to enter service on short routes like Delhi to Gurugram, promising to cut travel time to under 10 minutes.
However, Maruti’s advantage lies in its manufacturing expertise, dealer network, and brand familiarity. If it can achieve cost-effective production of eVTOLs or drones in India, it may become one of the first large-scale players in the domestic urban air mobility space.
More Than Just Flying Cars
The MoA changes cover a lot more than flying vehicles. Maruti is also aiming to expand into EV charging infrastructure, carbon credit monetisation, hydrogen and biogas energy trading, and vehicle leasing. These additions hint at a broader transformation; Maruti is evolving from a carmaker into a full-fledged mobility service provider.
Its future product mix may include vehicles powered by everything from petrol and diesel to electricity, hydrogen, and compressed biogas. The company is also exploring services like end-of-life vehicle recycling, logistics management, and subscription-based vehicle usage models.
What Lies Ahead
Manufacturing aircraft is a vastly different proposition from building cars. The costs, safety standards, and public perception hurdles are high. But with regulatory backing and a global tech partner in SkyDrive, Maruti is taking its first real step into a sector that could define the next generation of mobility.