Based in California, Alef Aeronautics has released a new video showing its electric flying car soaring over a Tesla Roadster, welcoming the automaker to what the company describes as the “flying car race.” The demonstration marks another milestone for Alef as it continues to develop a vehicle capable of both driving on roads and flying through the air. The company stated that the flight marked its 1,000th logged flight, further showcasing its progress toward bringing flying cars into practical use.
The latest demonstration follows an earlier video showing Alef’s Model Zero Ultralight driving and flying, including a flight over a Tesla Cybertruck. Through these demonstrations, the company has been working to highlight the capabilities of its aircraft while also drawing attention to the growing interest in electric transportation technologies. Alef has used the latest footage to compare its approach to flight with Tesla’s proposed thruster-equipped Roadster, which is expected to incorporate a different method of becoming airborne.
“Welcome, Tesla, to the flying car race; we’ve been here alone for eleven years,” said Jim Dukhovny, Alef’s CEO.
The company also claimed that the Tesla Roadster had become the second flying car in history, following Alef. However, the two vehicles differ significantly in how they are designed to achieve flight.
Both vehicles use electric powertrains and all-wheel drive, according to Alef, and share an early investor, Tim Draper. Alef’s aircraft utilizes distributed electric propulsion, which allows multiple electric motors to generate the thrust needed for flight. Its design incorporates a wing-forming body and a rotating cabin, allowing the vehicle to transition between road travel and flight. The company has also stated that its vehicle uses air for liftoff rather than relying on stored compressed gas.
In addition, Alef claims that its relatively low vehicle weight allows it to incorporate a full-vehicle ballistic parachute. This system is intended to provide another safety measure in the event of an emergency during flight. The company’s approach focuses on combining several aircraft systems into a single vehicle in order to provide both ground transportation and vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.
Alef began developing its first flying-car prototype in 2019 before unveiling its full-size Model A prototype in 2022. Around that time, the company announced a driving range of 220 miles and a flight range of 110 miles for the vehicle, which had never been done previously.
In 2023, Alef received a Special Airworthiness Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, marking an important step in its development process. Thus far, the company has continued to release public footage of its vehicles operating on the ground and in the air, using these demonstrations to showcase its progress toward commercial use.
Dukhovny has also emphasized the importance of competition in establishing the flying car industry. According to the CEO, competition could help attract investors, encourage technological comparisons and establish benchmarks for measuring progress. It could also help create an industry capable of supporting the development of regulations specifically designed for flying cars.
As of now, Alef has reported receiving more than 3,600 pre-orders valued at approximately $1 billion, with its first flying car expected to start at $299,999. The company began hand-building its first customer vehicles in December 2025 at its Silicon Valley facility in California.
Alef is targeting deliveries to a limited number of early customers by the end of 2026. These vehicles are intended for testing in real-world environments under controlled conditions, allowing the company to evaluate their performance outside of demonstrations. The company plans to increase production in 2027 while also providing training and support to early adopters.
Through continued testing and the gradual expansion of production, Alef hopes to make flying cars a more practical transportation option. Although regulatory requirements, safety considerations, and manufacturing challenges remain, its latest demonstration highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to develop a vehicle capable of operating on both roads and in the air.
