Hundreds of Buyers Are Lined Up for Alef's Flying Car
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The maker of the first-of-its-kind “flying car” to be deemed airworthy by federal aviation regulators says it has already taken in more than a quarter-billion dollars worth of pre-orders for its debut vehicle.
Alef Aeronautics announced in early July that it had received a special airworthiness certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA has given that designation to other electric vertical takeoff (eVTOL) and landing vehicle developers — of which there are many — before. Still, Alef’s is the first vehicle to receive one that could also travel on conventional roadways.
The FAA certification doesn’t clear the Model A for broader air travel but does allow the California company to fly it for research, product development, or exhibition purposes. That stipulation, however, apparently hasn’t stopped people and companies from lining up for one.
Alef officials told Business Insider that since the company began accepting pre-orders last fall, potential buyers have plunked down refundable deposits of $150 — or $1,500 for a “priority queue” — for vehicles worth more than $250 million combined. At an estimated price tag of $300,000, that would reportedly amount to about 834 flying cars, although businesses also made some pre-orders.
The Model A would be able to transport one or two passengers for more than 100 miles in the air or 200 miles on the road — provided federal highway regulators clear its car capabilities. It would, however, reportedly only be able to drive at about 25 miles per hour; any faster, the vehicle would need to take to the air.
Alef anticipates the first deliveries of the Model A to customers in 2025.
