"It Just Flies, So Why Keep Blasting Air?"... Startup Says Tesla Is Still No. 2

Alef Demonstrates Its Flying Car in Flight
"Will Help Establish the Flying Car Market"

U.S. electric vehicle maker Tesla recently showed off the performance of its new Roadster, while Alef, a startup developing flying cars, has drawn attention by demonstrating vehicle maneuvers that outdid the Roadster.

Gizmodo, an overseas tech publication, reported on October 17 (local time) that Alef had released a video of its self-developed flying car soaring over a Tesla Roadster.

The video shows the flying car taking off vertically and hovering (a flight mode in which it remains stationary in the air) above several Tesla vehicles, including a Cybertruck and a Roadster. Alef said the flight demonstration was held to mark the 1,000th flight of one of its vehicles.

In a statement, Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny said, "We welcome Tesla's entry into the flying car market. We have held a unique position in this field for 11 years. Competition is a good thing, especially when a large company like Tesla joins the competition."

He added, "Competition will help prove that a market exists and establish flying cars as a new field. It will also provide a basis for lobbying to develop relevant regulations, attract investors' interest, and help compare technologies and set benchmarks." Alef also emphasized that the new Tesla Roadster would become "the second flying car in history," after its own flying car.

The Roadster demonstrates its flying capabilities. Screenshot from Tesla's X account.

Meanwhile, Tesla held a "flight demonstration" of the Roadster on October 15 at a SpaceX test site in Texas. The Roadster unveiled that day performed a stunt in which it jumped over five cars at once, rotated its body in midair, and then landed. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said, "Flying cars have become a reality," and announced plans for mass production in 2028.

However, the Roadster flew using a propulsion system that expels compressed air. This technology is typically used in aerospace applications, including at SpaceX.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.