(Free premium article) This article was published by Adam Schupak for Jetstream Magazine.

California-based aviation startup Alef Aeronautics has stated that it has received more than 3,200 pre-orders for its under-development, two-seater flying car, the Alef Model A. 

The first working prototype of the Alef Model A was unveiled in September 2023 at the Detroit Auto Show. The car is one of the most promising attempts at creating an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft available to the public.

Several other companies are racing alongside Alef Aeronautics to develop flying cars and eVTOL aircraft. Compared to its competitors, Lillium and Joby Aviation, Alef Aeronautics is unique because of the fledgling company's funding source for research and development.

Alef is backed by investor Tim Draper, who previously funded Tesla and SpaceX when both companies were in their infancy, helping propel Elon Musk into the limelight and popularizing electric cars. Draper's belief in the success of Alef could prove promising for the success of the startup despite its fierce competition.

Preorder and Release

At the Mobile World Congress in February 2024, Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny stated in an interview with CNBC that the company had achieved "...a little bit more than 2,850 pre-orders … deposits down ..." Dukhovny noted that the number of pre-orders for his company's flying car makes it the bestselling aircraft in history, "more than Boeing, Airbus, Joby Aviation, and most of the eVTOLs [electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing vehicles] combined." 

Dukhovny stated in the same CNBC interview, "... it's gonna be very slow … one then more and then more … if everything goes right, we plan to, and if we have enough funding … we plan to start production of the first [Alef Model A] by the end of 2025."

The Model A is currently available for pre-order on the Alef Aeronautics website, with two pre-order options available. The cheaper, $150 option is for the "general queue," while those wishing to pay $1500 for the "priority queue" will receive their flying cars first. The company will charge customers $299,999 for the Model A when it is commercially available. This translates to a total potential order value exceeding $960 million.

The Alef Model A

Unlike other eVTOL vehicles, the Alef Model A is mainly designed to drive on roads, with a top speed of between 25 and 35 miles per hour (40 and 56 kilometers per hour). Despite its design resembling that of a conventional car, the Model A has a flying range of 110 miles (177 kilometers). After liftoff, the vehicle turns on its side while the seating area rotates so the driver can face forward and fly the vehicle. The futuristic mesh design on the top and bottom of the car serves as an air intake for the car's eight propeller motors in the front and rear of the vehicle.

The Alef Model A weighs only 850 pounds (386 kilograms). This means that in the United States and Canada, the car is classified as an "ultralight" aircraft, affording it the same category as golf carts and other small electric vehicles. In 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Alef Aeronautics a special airworthiness certificate, allowing the vehicle to begin its rigorous field-testing process. The cars are currently in this testing phase. 

Dukhovny has stated that Alef's target demographic for the car is commuters in congested cities. Still, there are valid concerns about what the car will do for air safety in and around these cities. 

Alef Aeronautics is also currently developing a four-person flying sedan, the Model Z, which it hopes to launch by 2035 for $35,000 — the same price as a lower-end electric car or hybrid vehicle today.

The Alef Model A represents a bold step toward a future where personal transportation can break free from the limits faced by ground vehicles. While the flying car's classification as an ultralight aircraft marks a promising milestone, questions about air safety and regulatory infrastructure remain unanswered. As Alef continues testing its aircraft, the coming years will be crucial in determining whether flying cars can move from science fiction to an accessible and practical reality.