The Mobile World Congress opened its doors this Monday in Barcelona, becoming the great global showcase of new developments in the mobile telephone sector until February 29. The almost 100,000 attendees who are expected to pass through the Fira de Barcelona venue during these days will also be able to learn about other technological innovations that are exhibited in the pavilion of the future. Among them, the flying car prototype presented by the American company Alef Aeronautics and which in a few hours has already become one of the big claims among congressmen, almost eclipsing the SU7 Max, Xiaomi's first electric car.
The car exhibited by the North American startup is the Alef Model A, the first flying passenger car in the world, according to the company founded in 2015 in Palo Alto (California, USA). The vehicle has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the highest aviation authority in the United States, after carrying out rigorous flight tests that are still being developed.
With the green light granted by the FAA, the first units are expected to be available for sale at the end of 2025. Before, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States must give its approval for the car to flying is a reality.
The car seats two people and is designed for both flying and driving on the road. The firm already has 2,850 reservations for its flying car, which is currently only authorized to carry out test flights. The sale price of each copy is around 300,000 euros (about 275,000 euros).
The Alef Aeronautics prototype is exhibited in pavilion 6, called Journey to the Future, where visitors will get an idea of the mobility to come. All the cars that the congressmen have the opportunity to see up close are electric, such as the Xiaomi SU7 Max, the spectacular car with which the Chinese brand debuts in the world of four wheels.
However, the specimen that attracts the most attention of visitors is the Alef Aeronautics Model A as it is a flying car. The prototype on display is designed with a vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) system, so it does not require a runway to perform transformation maneuvers. “It is equipped with technology similar to that used by drones. In fact, the car, although it has the appearance of a normal vehicle, has 8 drones inside, four large and four small, which are what allow it to get up and fly," a spokesperson for Alef Aeronautics explained to the program 'Tot es mou', from TV3.
Alef's Model A is a 100% electric car. It reaches a maximum speed of 56 kilometers per hour and has a driving range of 320 kilometers. In airplane mode, its radius of action is more limited, about 110 miles (around 170 kilometers), enough to escape traffic congestion at specific times.
From an aesthetic point of view, Alef's two-seater stands out for its elegant design, which combines aerodynamic lines and futuristic details. Its 5.20 meter length evokes a feeling of great luxury that is normally associated with vehicles with a spacious cabin. In this case, however, the generous dimensions of the car serve to hide under its body the set of propellers that allow it to rise to escape congested traffic.
With the aim of guaranteeing maximum safety for its occupants, the North American startup has developed an advanced electronic system that continuously monitors more than a thousand critical points in real time, thus ensuring comprehensive protection at all times and in any situation. In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a parachute system that is activated automatically in an emergency.
