Electric flying car maker Alef secures mass manufacturing deal as pre-orders top 3,200
Flying cars are no longer just from sci-fi movies. Electric flying car maker Alef Aeronautics is one step closer to launching the new tech after signing a mass manufacturing deal this week for aviation-grade parts.
Although it may sound like something from the Jetsons, Alef has been advancing its flying car technology since 2015.
Alef set out to build an electric car that can actually drive and has vertical takeoff abilities. It also needs to be affordable.
After showing a scaled prototype, the startup attracted Tim Draper, a prominent venture capitalist known for his early Tesla investments. Draper became the lead investor with $3 million in seed funding.
We first saw the flying car, dubbed “Model A,” in October 2022. According to Alef, the Model A can drive up to 200 miles with a 110-mile flight range. It also has a $300,000 price tag.
Alef kicked off pre-orders the same month and had 440 reservations by the end of 2022. Less than a year later, Alef’s electric flying car became the first vehicle of its kind to receive a Special Airworthiness Certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration.
Alef signs mass electric flying car manufacturing deal
Last summer, Alef announced that pre-orders for its flying car had reached over 2,500. That would amount to $750 million in revenue once delivered. Reservation holders can reserve a spot in the “regular” queue for $150 or “priority” for $1,500.
The company also became the first to secure pre-orders to sell a modern aircraft through a car dealership last year. Alef signed a deal to sell its flying cars through a dealership in California.
As it prepares to launch one of, if not the world’s first, 100% electric flying car, Alef hit another milestone this week.
Alef announced it signed a mass manufacturing agreement with PUCARA Aero and MYC for aviation-grade parts for its electric flying car. The companies produce parts for industry leaders, including Boeing and Airbus.
As pre-orders top 3,200, Alef is now lining up manufacturing agreements to mass-produce its Model A flying car.
Alef’s CEO, Jim Dukhovny, said the company chose PUCARA Aero and MYC “for their impeccable safety record and compliance with major aviation authorities.”
PUCARA Aero proposed to build a subset of aviation-grade parts specifically for Alef’s vehicle. The parts will be “high grade” and certified by the FAA, EASA, and other aviation authorities.
Alef plans to begin Model A production in Q4 2025, with deliveries starting shortly after. The company is already working on its second vehicle, deemed “Model Z.” According to Alef, the four-door electric flying car is expected to launch in 2035 and start at just $35,000.
You can pre-order your electric flying car or learn more about the company and its tech on Alef’s website.
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Tesla’s retro-futuristic diner with Superchargers and giant movie screens is ready to open, and I have to admit, it looks pretty sick.
This project has been in the works for a long time.
In 2018, Elon Musk said that Tesla planned to open an “old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in Los Angeles.” It was yet another “Is he joking?” kind of Elon Musk idea, but he wasn’t kidding.
A few months later, Tesla applied for building permits for “a restaurant and Supercharger station” at a location in Santa Monica. However, the project stalled for a long time, apparently due to local regulations.
Nevertheless, Tesla still moved forward with a Supercharger at the location, but it had to move the diner project to Hollywood. In 2022, Tesla filed the construction plans with the city, giving us the first look at what the automaker intends to build.
In 2023, the automaker broke ground on the site of the diner.
7 years after being originally announced, the project appears now ready to open:
Musk said that he ate at the diner last night and claimed that it is “one of the coolest spots in LA.” He didn’t say when it will open, but Tesla vehicles have been spotted at Supercharger and people appear to be testing the dinning experience inside.
A Tesla Optimus Robot can be seen inside the diner on a test rack. It looks like Tesla might use one for some tasks inside the diner.
Earlier this year, Tesla integrated the diner into its mobile app – hinting at some interaction through the app – possibly ordering from it.
Electrek’s Take
I think it looks pretty cool. I am a fan of the design and concept.
However, considering the state of the Tesla community, I don’t think I’d like the vibes. That said, it looks like Tesla isn’t prominently pushing its branding on the diner.
You can come and charge there, but it looks like Tesla is also aiming to get a wider clientele just for dining.
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Hyundai’s electric minivan is finally out in the open. The Staria EV was caught without camo near Hyundai’s R&D center in Korea, giving us a closer look at the electric minivan undisguised.
Hyundai’s electric minivan drops camo ahead of debut
The Staria arrived in 2021 as the successor to the Starex, Hyundai’s multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). Although the Staria has received several updates throughout the years, 2026 will be its biggest by far.
Hyundai will launch the Staria EV, its first electric minivan. Like the current model, the 2026 Staria will be available in several different configurations, including cargo, passenger, and even a camper version.
We’ve seen the Staria EV out in public a few times already. Last month, we got a glimpse of it while driving on public roads in Korea.
Despite the camouflage, new EV-like design elements were visible, including updated LED headlights and a full-length light bar. Although it’s still unclear, the electric version appears to be roughly the same size as the current Staria from the side, but slightly wider from the front.
New images posted on the South Korean forum Clien reveal a test car, expected to be Hyundai’s Staria electric minivan, without camo.
Like most Hyundai test cars, the prototype has a black front and a grey body. It still features a similar look to other prototypes we’ve seen, but you can clearly see the new facelift.
Earlier this year, a Staria EV was spotted in a parking lot in Korea, featuring a similar look. The electric version is nearly identical to the Staria Lounge, but with an added charge port and closed-off grille.
The Hyundai Staria EV is expected to make its global debut later this year. Technical details have yet to be revealed, but it’s expected to feature either a 76 kWh or 84 kWh battery, providing a range of around 350 km (217 miles) to 400 km (249 miles).
Hyundai’s electric SUV arrives after Kia introduced its first electric van, the PV5, which launched in Europe and Korea earlier this year.
In Europe, the Kia Passenger PV5 model is available with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh and 71.2 kWh, providing WLTP ranges of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo version has a WLTP range of 181 miles or 247 miles.
Source: TheKoreanCarBlog, Clien
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