A flying car straight out of science fiction has taken to the skies for the first time, proving that the future of transport is closer than ever, New York Post reports.
US automaker Alef Aeronautics has released the first-ever footage of a roadworthy electric vehicle lifting off vertically, an achievement the company calls a major milestone in aviation and automotive history.
The test flight, conducted on a closed-off road in California, began with the black prototype driving like a regular car before suddenly soaring into the air, gliding over another vehicle. Unlike previous airborne cars that required a runway or were tethered, this was the first time a roadster had both driven and taken off straight up. “This is the first publicly released video of a car driving and taking off vertically,” said Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny, likening the moment to the Wright Brothers’ iconic 1903 Kitty Hawk flight.
The prototype in the video is an ultralight version of Alef’s Model Zero, with the commercial Model A set to follow. This two-seater vehicle will have a flying range of 110 miles and a driving range of 200 miles, with autopiloting flight capabilities. The innovative design includes eight independently spinning rotors hidden beneath a mesh layer, enabling smooth and stable flight. For ground travel, four small engines inside the wheels allow it to move and park like a regular electric car, though its top speed is just 25 mph—hardly suited for Germany’s Autobahn.
Unlike eVTOL aircraft developed by companies like Honda and BMW, which function more like helicopters, the Model A is designed as a street-legal vehicle. It also comes equipped with an obstacle detection system, glide landing capability, and a ballistic parachute for emergencies.
Customers can reserve their own flying car with a deposit of just $150, though the full price is expected to be around $300,000. So far, Alef has secured 3,300 pre-orders. The company plans to launch a larger Model Z sedan by 2035, capable of carrying four passengers with a 200-mile flying range and 400-mile driving range.
