Alef Aeronautics, an automotive & aviation startup based in California, has announced that it has received 2,500 pre-orders for its battery electric vertical take-off & landing machine (eVTOL). The aforementioned orders for the zero-emissions eVTOL machines, which are commonly known as flying cars, represent $750 million in revenue upon delivery of the vehicles to pre-order holders.

The Californian startup also revealed that that 2,100 pre-orders were placed by individual customers, while the remaining 400 orders came from various business entities. The company also signed an agreement with a California-based car dealership that will purportedly sell Alef’s eVTOLs when the flying vehicles will become available sometime in 2025.

Pre-order books for the $300,000 Model A eVTOL were opened in the month of October last year with two options to choose from – a $150 deposit for the so-called “regular” line or $1,500 for the “priority” line.

Alef Chief executive Officer (CEO) Jim Dukhovny said, “We're excited to see such strong initial demand for the Alef flying car. We're thankful for the notes of gratitude and inspiration we received with some of the pre-orders. We still have a road to go before starting deliveries, but where we're going, we don't need roads."

According to the company’s claims, the fully-electric flying vehicle can theoretically take off from anywhere, thanks to its wingless design. It can fly horizontally for up to 110 miles (roughly 177 km) on a full charge. Alternatively, it can drive on the roads (ground) for up to 200 miles (roughly 322 km) before requiring recharge. The eVTOL is question is capable of carrying up to two people – one driver or pilot and one passenger.

However, Alef didn’t reveal any technical details about the Model A eVTOL’s propulsion system. In other words, the company remains tight-lipped about the upcoming flying car’s battery type, battery capacity, and electric motors etc.

The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has awarded a limited special airworthiness certificate to the Model A eVTOL, which allowed the Californian startup to boast that it is the first-ever conventional electric car to be certified by the FAA in this manner.

Founded in the year of 2015, Alef is backed by a number of prominent investors, including Draper Associates, Draper B1, Bronco Ventures, and Impact VC. Recently, the company announced the opening of a new fundraising round. If it becomes a reality, the Model A will be the flying car that many of us have been waiting for the last several decades.