California-based startup Alef Aeronautics claims it’s the world’s first real electric flying car. After completing over 1,000 flights, including hopping over a Tesla Cybertruck, Alef is preparing to begin customer deliveries later this year.
Alef prepares for first electric flying car deliveries in 2026
Alef says its flying car, dubbed the Model A, is “100% electric, road drivable, and has vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.”
In December, the company announced it had begun building the first flying cars to be delivered to customers at its facility in Silicon Valley, California.
The first batch, expected to be delivered by the end of 2026, is being hand-made and will be limited to a few early buyers. According to Alef, they will be “for the purpose of testing flying cars in the real-world environment, under very controlled conditions.”
Alef said it will train and assist early adopters as it ramps up production into 2027. “We are happy to report that production of the first flying car has started on schedule,” CEO Jim Dukhovny said.
After unveiling the first prototype 10 years ago, the startup secured backing from Tim Draper, an early Tesla and Bitcoin investor. Draper became a pioneering investor and mentor, helping Alef get off the ground.
In 2022, the company revealed its first full-size prototype, the Model A, a 100% electric flying car with a driving range of 220 miles and a 110-mile flight range.
Shortly after, Alef became the first of its kind to receive a Special Airworthiness Certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration while receiving its first pre-orders from a car dealership in California.
The electric flying car has completed over 1,000 flights, including what Alef calls the “first-ever video in history of a car driving and vertically taking off,” which happened to be a Tesla Cybertruck. The prototype was an ultralight Model A.
Alef now has over 3,500 pre-orders worth $1 billion. With over 5,000 requests to purchase its shares, the startup is now allowing anyone to own a piece of the company.
To meet the growing demand as it ramps up production, Alef announced on Tuesday that it has publicly listed its securities on the Wefunder platform.
“Allowing members of the public to directly invest in Alef will greatly expand our community, which is critical at this early stage,” Dukhovny said in a statement, adding, “If you own the shares, it’s your company now.” To learn more about investing in Alef, you can visit wefunder.com/alef.aero.
While an electric flying car sounds fun and all, it won’t be cheap. Alef’s flying car is expected to start at $299,999. You can pre-order one on Alef’s website with a $150 deposit, or you can secure a spot in the priority queue for $1,500. The first batch of early models is expected to be delivered by the end of 2026.
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