world’s first flying car is currently being assembled in california

Alef Aeronautics starts producing world’s first flying car

Alef Aeronautics begins the production of the dubbed world’s first flying car, which is currently being hand-assembled by its team in California. Announced months after the vehicle took its first flight in early 2025, the mobility firm says that the production of the Alef Model A Ultralight, which is the first version meant for users, has started on schedule. It is made by hand at the Alef manufacturing facility in Silicon Valley, and only a small number of early customers are expected to receive these first personal hovering cars. These customers are set out to help Alef test the vehicle in real-world situations, and the firm adds that it will train the users and check that all rules and safety conditions are followed. The production process takes time because the dubbed world’s first flying car goes through thorough steps, with its parts being built by robotic systems, industrial machines, and hand assembly.

Each car needs months to complete, with tests necessary on each piece, including test flights, to ensure safety after the build. This helps the team improve the design before the shift to larger-scale manufacturing in the future. So far, the Model A comes with Distributed Electric Propulsion, meaning the power system is split across several units to prevent failures. The car also includes up to eight layers of backup systems for key components as well as real-time checkups on a thousand points of diagnostics. It also features an obstacle detection system, automatic avoidance, and a glide landing mode, as well as a full-vehicle ballistic parachute installed for emergency use.

all images courtesy of Alef Aeronautics

Personal air vehicle with no exposed propellers

Alef says the Model A Ultralight can take off vertically and doesn’t need a runway or a special landing space like a vertiport. It can drive on the road like a normal car, then lift into the air when needed. It is also fully electric, so it doesn’t need fuel. The mobility firm adds that the dubbed world’s first flying car uses less energy per trip than other electric vehicles or air taxis. The design of the flying car comes from earlier experiments with another model, the Model Zero, which is a research vehicle used for updates and tests.

The Model Zero’s goal is to evolve into the final Model A product, which is the one currently being hand-assembled and produced after the team announced its production phase. The Model A has a driving range of about 200 miles and a flying range of about 110 miles. The cabin design uses a gimbal system, which allows it to stay steady while the rest of the body changes position during flight. The dubbed world’s first flying car uses an elevon setup for movement in the air, and as seen in the video, there are no exposed propellers, which helps keep the vehicle safe and quiet and supports space efficiency in cities. So far, the firm hasn’t indicated the delivery date yet.

Jim Dukhovny, CEO of Alef, near the flying car during a flight test