World’s first fully electric flying car approved by FAA and accepting preorders

Preorders are mounting for the $300,000 flying electric vehicle that just got FAA approval for test flights.

Alef Aeronautics, the Californian startup that's developing the car, told Insider on Monday that customers had preordered more than $250 million worth of the Model A since October. "Most orders are from individuals, but there are several B2B agreements also," the company told Insider.

This puts the number of individual cars preordered at at least 834, though Alef did not share exact numbers.

Alef previously said that 440 vehicles were pre-ordered in the fourth quarter of 2022, including an order placed by what it said was a "large Hong Kong-based aviation technology company."

The Model A went on pre-sale in October, and buyers can put down a $150 deposit, or a $1,500 deposit to join what it calls its priority queue. Alef said at the time that it planned to deliver its first vehicles in the last three months of 2025.

Alef said last week that it had received a Special Airworthiness Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for the car. The certificate has strict limits for the locations and purpose for which the car is permitted to fly, Alef told Insider.

"This is more for R&D and exhibition purposes," the company said, adding that "certification to drive is separate."

The Model A, which is fully electric, has a driving range of 200 miles and a flight range of 110 miles and can fit within the existing urban driving and parking infrastructure, Alef says.

Ref: World’s first fully electric flying car approved by FAA and accepting preorders (foxbusiness)