Alef Aeronautics introduced the Alef "Model A", a flying car with street driving and vertical take-off. The Alef Model A flying car fits within existing urban infrastructure for driving and parking. The company plans to begin production and initiate first deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The first Alef flying car is available for pre-sale to consumers now for $300,000.
The Alef "Model A" flying car has a driving range of 200 miles and a flight range of 110 miles. It has a distributed electric propulsion system, no exposed propellers, extensive software flight stabilization, and safety system, elevon stabilization system and all-wheel driving. Key safety components include triple to octuple redundancy of all key components, real-time thousand-point diagnostics, pre-flight reject start diagnostics, obstacle detection, and avoidance among others.
The Alef founding team of Constantine Kisly, Pavel Markin, Oleg Petrov, and Jim Dukhovny has more than 70 years of experience in engineering and technology development and has been working on the Alef flying car since 2015. It earned early support from investors and industry veterans, led by Tim Draper (who, among others, was one of the first venture capitalists to invest in Tesla), former head of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Ford Aerospace Dr. Anthony Tether, NBA star Luis Scola, Bugatti designer Hirash Razaghi and others.
"The Alef Model is a modern solution for both urban and rural transportation needs in the 21st century because it is the fastest and most convenient transport ever created from the point of origin to the final destination. By enabling consumers to choose driving or flying mode, the Alef flying car allows the optimal path depending on road conditions, weather, and infrastructure," said Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny.
"I accepted Tim Draper's invitation to a private demonstration of the Alef prototype vehicle in the Fall of 2021. I watched the car lift straight up like a drone, then rotate into a biplane, and immediately fly on. I felt like I was witness to a Kitty Hawk moment," said Eric Ball, Impact Venture Capital Founding General Partner.
Alef has been test-driving and test-flying the Alef full-size prototype since 2019.
With additional models in development, Alef is working towards the four-person sedan, Alef "Model Z" scheduled for introduction in 2035 priced at $35K. It will be capable of flying 300+ miles with a driving range of 220+ miles.
