Flying cars are here: Alef flies a car in a city
February 19, 2025
Marking a groundbreaking achievement in transportation technology, Alef Aeronautics, a sustainable mobility company, announced today that it has successfully conducted a flight test of its flying car in an urban environment. The test marks a significant milestone in the development of flying vehicles and showcases the potential future of personal transportation.
The company released a video capturing the event—the first-ever publicly available footage of a car driving and then taking off vertically. While previous videos have shown cars using a runway to achieve flight, tethered flights, or eVTOL flying taxis, this marks the first instance of a car seamlessly transitioning from driving to vertical takeoff in a city setting.
The test was conducted under strict safety measures. The road was closed off to traffic, and no pedestrians or bystanders were present in or near the flight path. The area selected for the test was not densely populated, and safety personnel were on-site to oversee operations. The flight was executed without incident, further reinforcing the viability of Alef’s technology.
A specially designed ultralight version of the Alef Model Zero was used for the test. Over the past year, Alef has achieved significant advancements in weight reduction and structural integrity, allowing for a more efficient and safe test flight.
“This drive and flight test represents an important proof of technology in a real-world city environment,” said Jim Dukhovny, CEO of Alef Aeronautics. “We hope it will be a moment similar to the Wright Brothers’ Kitty Hawk video, proving to humanity that new transportation is possible.”
Alef’s flying car is fully electric, designed for public road use, and features vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities. The company’s achievement highlights the growing feasibility of flying vehicles and could pave the way for a new era of urban transportation.
With this successful test, Alef Aeronautics moves one step closer to making flying cars a reality.
