From Road to Sky: Alef Begins Production of the World’s First True Flying Car
Alef Aeronautics has officially begun production of the Alef Model A, a groundbreaking electric vehicle that can both drive on roads and take flight. Slated for limited customer delivery by early 2026, the Model A represents a major leap forward in transportation, blending science fiction with real-world engineering to tackle urban congestion in an entirely new way.
The idea of flying cars has long lived in the realm of futuristic fantasy, but Alef Aeronautics is now turning that vision into reality. The California-based startup has announced that production is underway for the Alef Model A Ultralight, widely described as the world’s first true flying car.
“Our production is officially taking off,” said Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny, confirming that manufacturing has begun on schedule at the company’s Silicon Valley facility. The complex build process is expected to take several months per vehicle, reflecting the Model A’s advanced design and dual-function capabilities.
The Model A is a fully electric vehicle capable of both vertical takeoff and landing, allowing it to lift off directly from streets without the need for runways or heliports. Designed with dense urban environments in mind, it can bypass traffic by flying—then land and continue driving like a conventional car. The vehicle is also street-legal, blurring the line between automobile and aircraft in a way no previous model has achieved.
Unlike electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft being developed by major automakers and aerospace firms, the Model A is not limited to flight alone. Its ability to operate seamlessly on both land and in the air places it in a unique category. The vehicle achieves this through an array of eight independently controlled rotors that enable multi-directional flight, alongside four electric motors embedded in the wheels for road travel.
In terms of performance, the Model A offers an estimated driving range of 220 miles and a flight range of 110 miles on a single charge. Priced at $300,000 during the presale phase, the flying car will initially be made available to a select group of customers. These early adopters will rigorously test the vehicle in real-world conditions before Alef moves toward mass production.
This milestone follows nearly a decade of development. Alef unveiled its first prototype almost ten years ago, introduced the Model A in 2022, and earlier this year released the first public footage of the vehicle flying over traffic—an image that quickly captured global attention.
Demand for the sky-bound car is already strong. Alef reports more than 3,500 pre-orders, representing an estimated $1 billion in potential sales. As production begins, the company’s ambitious vision of redefining personal mobility is no longer just a dream—it’s taking flight.
