Alef Aeronautics, a San Mateo-based startup founded in 2015, has begun producing what it describes as the world’s first road-legal flying car. While autonomous ground vehicles continue to face reliability challenges, Alef points out that controlled aerial mobility is both feasible and practical; the company’s original goal of building a flying car in six months proved unrealistic, but steady development resulted in a full-size prototype by 2019 and the start of production in early December 2025.
Alef’s flagship vehicle, the all-electric Model A, can be used as both a standard road vehicle and a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. It can drive on public roads and fit into standard parking spaces, as well as take off vertically like a helicopter. Alef claims that this makes it the first road-legal passenger vehicle with VTOL capability, setting it apart from previous concepts like the Samson Switchblade, which requires a runway.
The Model A has a top speed of 25 mph on the ground, with higher speeds intended for air travel. The vehicle has eight propellers integrated into a mesh structure that surrounds the cabin. During flight, the entire vehicle rotates, transforming its sides into wing-like surfaces, and the driver’s seat transforms into a cockpit-style configuration.
The Model A is manufactured in a lengthy process that combines robotic systems and manual assembly. Before completion, each vehicle goes through individual component testing as well as multiple test flights. Alef reports receiving approximately 3,500 pre-orders at the current listed price of $299,000. If mass production is successful, the company claims that costs will eventually fall to compact-car levels.
Initial deliveries will be restricted to early backers, who will serve as beta testers to help improve manufacturing and deployment. Pre-orders are available on Alef’s website, with refundable deposits. A major unresolved challenge is regulation, as there is currently no clear legal framework governing vehicles that can function as both cars and aircraft, raising concerns about licensing, classification, and operational rules.
Alef Model A: Meet The First Road-Legal Flying Car
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