Alef Aeronautics Takes Off: First True Flying Car Begins Operations in Silicon Valley

By Tobbias Mutunga

The Common Pulse | August 2025

History was made in late August 2025 when Alef Aeronautics, a Bay Area startup, officially began test operations of its much-anticipated electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flying car. Described as the world’s first true flying car, the vehicle is now operating at Half Moon Bay Airport and Hollister Airport in Silicon Valley.

Unlike previous prototypes that blurred the line between car and plane, Alef’s creation is designed as a road-legal passenger car with full VTOL capabilities, meaning it can drive on the highway like any other car and then take off vertically without needing a runway.

What Makes It a True Flying Car?

Alef’s test flights demonstrate a wide range of capabilities that blend everyday driving with futuristic aviation:

Driving on the road like a conventional electric car
Vertical takeoff from a standstill, no runway required
Forward flight once airborne
Vertical landing back onto roads or airport grounds
Safe maneuvering alongside other aircraft in active airspaces

This dual functionality, seamlessly shifting between car and aircraft, marks a milestone no other company has yet achieved at an operational scale.

Range and Design

The eVTOL car is powered entirely by electricity, offering a road range of about 200 miles and an airborne range of roughly 110 miles. Classified under the FAA’s ultralight category, it doesn’t require full commercial aircraft certification but comes with certain limitations, such as daylight-only operations and restrictions against flying over dense urban centers.

Alef’s entry into airport operations signals more than just a technical milestone, it’s the first step toward integrating flying cars into real-world air traffic systems. By conducting these trials at airports, the company is stress-testing not just the machine, but also the logistics of flying cars sharing skies with planes and drones.

The achievement cements Silicon Valley’s reputation as a hub for futuristic mobility, and places Alef at the forefront of a race that has included competitors like Slovakia’s Klein Vision AirCar, the Netherlands’ PAL-V Liberty, and the U.S.-based Samson Switchblade.

The Road (and Sky) Ahead

While it may take years before commuters can summon flying cars as easily as rideshares, Alef’s milestone shows the future is closer than many imagined. For now, the company’s flying car is a pioneering example of what transportation may look like in the 2030s, a world where traffic jams might finally be solved by simply taking off.

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