[CES 2024] SK Telecom, Joby Aviation share plans for UAM in Korea

SK Telecom's CEO Ryu Young-sang, left, and Joby Aviation CEO JoeBen Bevirt meet at CES 2024 in Las Vegas on Wednesday. [SK TELECOM]

The heads of SK Telecom and Joby Aviation, a U.S. aviation startup, shared the latest updates in the upcoming test flights of Joby aircraft scheduled for this year in Korea.

It’s the third consecutive year that SK Telecom’s CEO Ryu Young-sang and Joby Aviation’s CEO JoeBen Bevirt met at the trade show.

The two companies’ main goal this year was to check up on their plans for the K-UAM Grand Challenge, an urban air mobility commercialization road map launched by Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in February 2023.

The initiative aims to deploy UAM by 2025 to reduce traffic congestion and popularize carbon-free vehicles to reach net zero.

SK Telecom and Joby Aviation have forged a close partnership, with the Korean company investing $100 million in the latter to exclusively utilize its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft back in June.

Joby aircraft model Joby S4 is scheduled to be brought to Korea for test flights later this year.

The two heads also discussed ways for bilateral cooperation on AI technologies to advance UAM services and to enter the global market based on their experience in Korea.

“We confirmed the two parties’ strong determination to successfully carry out the upcoming test flight and prepare for the rollout of a safe UAM service in Korea through this meeting,” Ryu said. “Through continuous cooperation with Joby Aviation, we will lead the global UAM market.”

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]