Tech Mahindra to help drive and fly company ASKA meet commercialization target

Tech Mahindra has signed a collaborative agreement with ASKA, a California-based drive and fly company, with an aim to address the global problem of traffic congestion with a viable drive and fly electric drive and fly vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL).

As part of the agreement, the Indian tech company will expedite ASKA’s development, testing, and certification process to meet its commercialization target for 2026.

ASKA is engaged in developing a new generation commuter vehicle by combining the benefits of an automobile, with the safety, ease and efficiency of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and short take off and landing (STOL) flight.

The company has developed a four-seater electric flying vehicle named ASKA that can drive like a car and take off vertically to fly like an aircraft. On a single charge, ASKA electric flying vehicle can deliver a maximum flight range of 250 miles.

Tech Mahindra to help drive and fly company ASKA meet commercialization target. Photo courtesy of ASKA.

Guy Kaplinsky — Co-founder and CEO of ASKA said: “We are confident that our engagement with Tech Mahindra will boost ASKA’s development, testing and certification process to meet ASKA’s commercialization target for 2026.

“Tech Mahindra’s aim to deliver tomorrow’s experiences today, solidly supports our mission to solve the worldwide problem of traffic congestion and improve people’s quality of life.”

The partnership will make use of Tech Mahindra’s expertise in the engineering space which has been driven by its experience of working with major aerospace and automotive customers. Through the engagement, the Indian firm will support ASKA in the design, analysis, development of composites and advanced materials, crash dynamics, battery and structural testing.

Lakshmanan Chidambaram — President of Tech Mahindra Enterprise Americas said: “The development of drive-and-fly vehicles is an emerging area of innovation globally, which can play a great role in creating best travel experience with minimal infrastructure investment and low environmental impacts.

“We look forward to creating synergies with ASKA by working on the engineering design and analysis of fly and drive eVTOL, and thereby delivering tomorrow’s experience today, which forms the core objective of our NXT.NOW strategy.”