World’s First Flying Car Begins Hand Assembly in California

The world’s first flying car has officially entered production. Alef Aeronautics has started hand-assembling its Alef Model A in California, marking a major milestone in personal mobility. Built in Silicon Valley, the vehicle represents the first consumer-ready version of a flying car designed for real-world use, testing, and future scalability.

Alef Aeronautics Starts Production of Its Flying Car

Alef Aeronautics confirmed that production of its flying car, the Model A Ultralight, began on schedule following the vehicle’s first successful flight in early 2025. Each unit is currently being assembled by hand at the company’s California facility, with only a limited number produced in this initial phase.

Early customers will play a critical role in testing the flying car under real conditions. Alef will oversee training, regulatory compliance, and safety validation, using feedback to refine the design before expanding to larger-scale manufacturing.

Safety and Engineering Behind the Flying Car

The production of the flying car is intentionally slow and precise. Each vehicle takes months to complete and undergoes extensive testing, including individual component checks and flight tests. Parts are manufactured using a mix of robotic systems, industrial machinery, and manual assembly.

The Model A features Distributed Electric Propulsion, meaning power is spread across multiple units to reduce the risk of failure. The system includes up to eight layers of redundancy for critical components and monitors over 1,000 diagnostic points in real time. Safety features include obstacle detection, automatic avoidance, glide landing mode, and a full-vehicle ballistic parachute for emergencies.

A Personal Air Vehicle Designed for Cities

Unlike traditional aircraft, the flying car can take off vertically and does not require a runway or vertiport. It functions as a road vehicle and can transition directly into flight when needed. Fully electric, it operates without fuel and is designed to consume less energy per trip than conventional electric vehicles or air taxis.

The Model A evolved from Alef’s experimental Model Zero, a research platform used to test and refine flight systems. The final vehicle offers an estimated driving range of 200 miles and a flying range of approximately 110 miles. Its cabin uses a gimbal system to remain level during flight, while an elevon control setup manages aerial movement. Notably, the design avoids exposed propellers, improving safety, reducing noise, and supporting dense urban environments.

Alef Aeronautics has not yet announced an official delivery date.

Written by Otávio Santiago, a designer crafting visual systems that move between the tactile and the digital. His work combines motion, branding, and 3D exploration with a poetic sense of structure.