USA: Alef Aeronautics prepares to deliver first flying car

The American company Alef Aeronautics has reached the final stage of development of the world's first fully electric flying car Model A. The vehicle is being tested at Half Moon Bay and Hollister airfields in California, marking a new step towards integrating aviation and automotive technologies.

Work on the project started in 2015, and two years later the first prototype was presented, which attracted the attention of venture investors. In 2022, the Model A received a certificate of airworthiness from the US Federal Aviation Administration, becoming the first such project to be approved in less than a year.

The Model A combines the functions of a car and an aircraft. The vehicle can cover up to 354 kilometers on public roads and make flights of 177 kilometers in length. The design supports vertical take-off and landing, which makes it adapted to work in conditions of limited urban infrastructure. In February 2025, the company unveiled a video showing a lightweight version of the car taking off right off the road, demonstrating the ability to overcome obstacles in heavy traffic.

During the current tests, the developers check the operation of the machine in real air traffic conditions. In the future, it is planned to use the Model Zero Ultralight modification and the commercial Model A series for testing. Airports are considered as possible bases for future operations, which opens up the prospect of the first fleets of flying cars.

Market interest in the new product is extremely high: more than 3,300 pre-orders have already been collected. The cost of the Model A is about 300 thousand dollars. There are two deposit levels available for booking: $ 150 for a standard queue and $ 1,500 for priority car pickup. Alef has already started assembling pre-production samples and intends to start deliveries in 2026.