Image: Samson Sky
US flying car developer Samson Sky has secured an $80m investment from Dubai-based Matin Group to build its first production facility for its road-going aircraft, the Switchblade.
The 180,000 sq ft facility will be located in an undisclosed US location and is part of a new joint venture between the two companies. Samson Sky said a further $20m still needs to be raised to reach full production funding.
The Switchblade is a two-seat hybrid-electric vehicle designed to be driven on roads to an airport before transforming into an aircraft. Its wings and tail fold into the vehicle while it is in driving mode, with the company saying the transformation takes about three minutes.
Samson Sky Founder and CEO Sam Bousfield said the companies had “quickly advanced to a position of trust” after Matin Group identified the potential of the Switchblade.
“We are proud to have such a forward-thinking partner as we roll the Switchblade out to the world,” Bousfield added.
The investment comes nearly three years after the Switchblade completed its first flight in November 2023. Samson Sky says it has almost 2,700 reservations from more than 50 countries and all 50 US states, representing more than $500m in potential future revenue. The company estimates a price of around $200,000.
Getting those vehicles to customers will involve more than conventional automotive production. The Switchblade is classified as an experimental aircraft in the US, meaning owners will need a private pilot certificate and must build at least 51% of the aircraft themselves under Federal Aviation Administration rules.
Samson Sky plans to have customers complete that portion of the build during a week at its Builder Assist Center, after which company employees will finish the vehicle.
The company has spent years developing a vehicle that combines road and air travel in a single platform. Its approach differs from the electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft being developed by air taxi companies, which are designed to operate as aircraft rather than as dual-purpose road vehicles.
The latest investment gives Samson Sky capital to establish dedicated manufacturing capacity, but the remaining $20m funding requirement leaves the full production programme still to be financed.
