Sumitomo Corporation announces alliance with Bell in air mobility

Sumitomo Corporation announced today its alliance with Bell, a Fort Worth, Texas-based company known as the premier provider of vertical lift aircraft and one of the leading companies in the up-and-coming air mobility industry. Together, Sumitomo Corporation and Bell will conduct market research, improve upon existing technologies and build new businesses to provide high-quality services at affordable prices within the air mobility space.

The air mobility industry is expected to improve the current transportation infrastructure and logistics of commercial air space. Once implemented, air mobility will reduce transportation time within urban cities and improve access to remote areas. This change is also expected to improve emergency transportation and change the way goods are shipped. Today, the majority of air travel is done via traditional rotorcraft; however, by supplying low-cost air mobility, there exists the possibility to change how we think of our daily transportation.

Bell was established in 1935 and has led the aviation industry by producing aircraft for over 80 years. Bell is globally recognized as the leading company and has the record of acquiring the very first civil certification for a commercial helicopter. Furthermore, Bell has entered the air mobility industry from the early stage by using their knowledge in the development of electric Vertical Take Off and Landing Aircrafts (eVTOL).

Sumitomo Corporation and Bell will soon begin discussions for launching Bell's drone “APT (Autonomous Pod Transport)” and Air Taxi “Nexus” services by the mid-2020s. In order to develop this business, Sumitomo Corporation and Bell aim to integrate various technologies from several companies without limitation in industries. The goal of this business is to provide new value to society by creating new logistics and transportation service with eVTOL.

In the aim to develop the innovative transportation service, Sumitomo Corporation will work hard to invent new technology and the next generation mobility service.

This announcement relates to the Sumitomo Corporation Transportation & Construction Systems Business Unit.