Move Over, Elon: Flying Car Startup Taunts Tesla With Jaw-Dropping Stunt Over Cybertruck and Tesla Vehicles

A flying car has just soared over a Tesla Cybertruck and several other Tesla models in a cheeky challenge to Elon Musk, as Silicon Valley startup Alef Aeronautics steals the spotlight from the billionaire's futuristic sports car reveal.

Alef Aeronautics released footage of its Alef Model A lifting vertically from the ground and gliding over the parked vehicles, delivering a pointed message to Elon Musk's automotive giant.

The timing was striking. Tesla had showcased its next-generation Roadster on 15 October, demonstrating a prototype equipped with rocket-style thrusters capable of briefly lifting the car into the air.

But while Musk's company grabbed headlines with its dramatic display, Alef had a milestone of its own to celebrate: the startup said the demonstration marked its 1,000th recorded flight.

The company also made clear that it does not consider itself a newcomer to the flying-car race.

'Welcome, Tesla, to the flying car race; we've been here alone for eleven years,' Alef chief executive Jim Dukhovny said.

'It Looks Like a Drone': Viewers Question Whether Alef's Flying Car Is Really a Car

Not everyone was impressed by the futuristic machine, with some viewers questioning whether the vehicle looked more like an oversized drone than a conventional car.

One line of online reaction focused on its unusual appearance and the exposed technology beneath its bodywork.

'It looks like drone with car bodywork skins on it, skinny tires and you could see right through it'

Another commenter was equally sceptical about the company's description of the vehicle.

'So what they have here a big drone with car body panels and bicycle tires on it and they are calling it a flying car'

A third viewer compared its appearance to something cobbled together for a science-fiction film.

'That looks like a drone surrounded by cardboard'

And one reaction turned the debate into a playful challenge, referencing the spectacular mid-air manoeuvres demonstrated by Tesla.

'But does it Kickflip?'

The comments underline the challenge facing flying-car developers: proving that their machines can do more than produce impressive footage, while convincing the public that the technology could eventually become practical.

Two Very Different Ways To Conquer Gravity

The two cars may look alike, but they take off in very different ways.

Alef's Model A uses lots of small electric propellers spread around the vehicle, instead of wings and a single main engine. Unlike a conventional car, Alef's flying vehicle uses multiple electric propellers to lift off vertically. Its design is intended to let it travel through the air as well as drive on roads.

Tesla's Roadster does it differently. The optional Rocket version uses cold-gas thrusters, which release stored compressed gas through nozzles to push the car along.

Tesla's demo showed some eye-catching airborne moves. But that doesn't mean a flying car is ready to buy. Roadster production is planned for 2028, and Tesla's website says the Rocket version isn't approved for public roads.

A David-Versus-Goliath Battle for the Skies

For Alef, having Tesla in the game could be a big win. More attention on flying cars means more attention on Alef.

Dukhovny says competition from a giant carmaker shows people want this technology. It also gives the young industry a yardstick to measure itself against.

The two companies have more in common than you might think. Both have electric, all-wheel-drive powertrains in their concepts, and both were backed early by venture capitalist Tim Draper.

But Alef's flight milestone isn't the same as being cleared to fly anywhere. The company calls the Model A street-legal, but being allowed on the road doesn't mean being allowed in the sky.

The bigger challenge is still ahead: making these vehicles safe, affordable and practical, while following the rules for both roads and airspace.

For now, Alef has sent Tesla a clear message. Tesla has the spectacle, the headlines and the famous founder, but the startup wants a place in the race.

Musk brought the rockets. Alef brought the receipts — all 1,000 flights of them.