Bringing the Switchblade closer to production, Samson Sky engages Italian automotive designer Luigi Memola, Founder of EPTA Design, to elevate its interior design
Prineville, Oregon
Samson Sky, makers of the Switchblade Flying Car, has engaged famed Italian automotive designer Luigi Memola to create the interiors of the driving and flying vehicle. Memola is Founder and Head of Design at EPTA Design, whose team has gained global recognition for their designs with such auto makers as Alfa Romeo and Automobili Estrema.
Switchblade Flying Car (rendering)— The Switchblade is a highway-capable, hybrid electric vehicle that is high-performance both on the road and in the air. You park the Switchblade in your garage and drive it from there to a nearby airport. You fly to the airport nearest your destination, then simply land, transform back to driving mode – the wings and tail fully enclosed and protected – and drive the last few miles to your destination.
“Working with someone of Luigi Memola’s caliber has given us an even higher level of inspiration,” said Sam Bousfield, Founder and CEO Samson Sky. “He is bringing out the essence of this vehicle and establishing visual DNA.”
Having recently secured an $80 million investment for its first U.S. production facility, Samson Sky officials state that interior design work has now begun on the flying and driving vehicle. The Switchblade has gathered nearly 3,000 orders from over 50 countries worldwide, including all 50 U.S. states. EPTA’s design team has been tasked with producing interiors that can be used in either right- or left-hand drive countries. Company officials emphasized that they are adding this level of luxury while still maintaining the affordability of their flying sports car.
“The Switchblade represents a genuine leap forward in personal transportation—a convergence of automotive freedom and aviation performance. Collaborating with Sam and the Samson Sky team is a thrilling challenge,” said Memola. “Combining high-performance design with dual-use engineering requires pushing traditional boundaries to define a truly new class of vehicle. We are excited to contribute our vision to a project that is actively shaping the future of mobility.”
Blending the demands for both flying and driving in this unique vehicle is a joint development of Samson and EPTA, with Samson providing the control and gauge requirements, and EPTA bringing an aesthetic feel that functions exactly as intended. Memola and team are designing the elegant shape of the dash and its elements, the center console, seats and all the trims and detailing. Samson will provide an instrument display that automatically shifts between driving mode and flying mode, to show the operator exactly what they need to reference.
“As an interesting backstory, we are now coming full circle with Italian design elements,” said Bousfield. “Back in the early stages of the Switchblade, I took my first design cues from Italian sports car designs.”
Luigi Memola is an Italian automotive and transportation designer with over two decades of professional experience. For the past decade, he has served as Founder and Head of Design at EPTA Design, a Torino, Italy-based design consultancy focused on high-performance supercars, special vehicles, advanced product design, and concept development for the entertainment and automotive sectors.
Beyond his design practice, Luigi has taught at prestigious design universities in both Italy and Singapore, hosting specialized masterclasses and seminars for students and professionals to share his signature design workflows. An avid kitesurfer and skydiver with a lifelong passion for speed and aviation, his personal connection to flight uniquely informs his design philosophy for next-generation mobility.
About Samson Sky
With seating for two plus luggage, the Switchblade Flying Car is a hybrid-electric driving and flying vehicle with sports car performance on the ground and high performance in the air. It runs on premium auto gas, fits in a standard garage and is driven to a nearby airport using highways or local roads. Samson Sky has designed, built, and tested the industry-leading Switchblade to solve the problems of Regional Travel (200-500 miles). For safety and insurability, all flying surfaces are enclosed within the vehicle while in driving mode. The Switchblade transforms from driving to flying mode in three minutes at the push of a button. The Switchblade Flying Car had its successful official First Flight in November 2023. Samson Sky is now bringing their world-class vehicle into production to satisfy the global demand.
For more information about the Switchblade and to follow its progress into production, visit: www.SamsonSky.com
Additional Hi-Res images available by request
Media Contact Details
Gail Gallegos
Samson Sky
Email: Send Email
Phone: 916-769-6979
Website: www.SamsonSky.com
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