Alef Aeronautics released a new video showing its electric flying car flying over a Tesla Roadster, a stunt the California startup said was intended to welcome Tesla to what it called the flying car race.
Alef noted the flight marked its 1,000th logged flight and said the Roadster happened to be beneath the aircraft during that milestone.
The company emphasized technical differences with Tesla, saying Alef uses distributed electric propulsion while reports suggest Tesla may employ thrusters, a detail that has not been verified publicly.
Alef described its vehicle as having a wing-forming body, a rotating cabin and a lift system that uses air rather than stored compressed gas, and it said the design is light enough to allow a full-vehicle ballistic parachute.
The startup pointed to earlier viral footage showing a Model Zero Ultralight flying over a Tesla Cybertruck, and it said its full-size Model A offers roughly a 220-mile driving range and a 110-mile flight range.
Alef said it received an FAA Special Airworthiness Certification, becoming the first flying car the company describes as recognized by the US government.
The company reported more than 3,600 pre-orders worth about $1 billion and said it has begun hand-building the first units at a Silicon Valley facility.
Alef said the first limited deliveries will go to early buyers by the end of the year, with broader production ramping up the following year, and it gave a price starting around $299,999 with deposit and priority-queue options available on its website.
Roadster Claims Meet Wider Scrutiny And Political Backdrop
Footage and social claims that the Tesla Roadster is now a flying car have circulated ahead of Tesla’s presentation, but independent verification of true flight capability is lacking, according to reporting ahead of the event.
Tesla’s chief executive has teased technology that could briefly lift a vehicle, and reporting in The Information suggested a Roadster variant might use thrusters developed with SpaceX, though such details remain unconfirmed.
Observers say the reveal comes as Tesla and its founder face broader reputational pressure from unrelated controversies, including reporting about limitations on Starlink service, criticism from foreign officials over that service and scrutiny of political spending tied to the CEO.
The New York Times reported large political donations and activity tied to the CEO’s groups, while CNN and other outlets have highlighted concerns about political messaging by associated organizations.
Coverage by the Washington Post and Bloomberg Government has also examined the CEO’s public roles and the consequences for government contracting and oversight, and a new documentary about the CEO opened in the US market, adding to media attention.
Industry and political reporting together suggest the Roadster reveal will be judged both on its technical claims and on how it lands amid intense public scrutiny of the company and its founder.
