美國新創公司Alef Aeronautics近日正式對外宣布，其研發的全球首款純電動飛行汽車Model A已經在加州的半月灣與霍利斯特兩座機場展開測試運營。這款車的售價高達30萬美元，卻依然吸引市場的高度關注，目前已接獲3300份訂單，並預計將在明年開始交付給首批客戶。由於SpaceX創辦人馬斯克是該公司的投資人之一，Model A甚至被外界暱稱為「馬斯克的新車」。

與傳統飛行汽車的設計不同，Model A保留汽車的基本外觀與四個輪子，全車採用黑色塗裝，看起來更接近一台未來風格的汽車，而非迷你飛機。最大的突破在於它並沒有外露的螺旋槳，而是透過隱藏式的垂直起降技術完成飛行。根據官方數據，Model A在滿電狀態下能夠實現177公里的水平飛行距離，而在地面行駛時的續航則可達322公里。這樣的設計使它能夠靈活切換陸地與空中模式，在高速公路交通堵塞、重大事故封鎖道路等突發情況下，駕駛者可以啟動飛行模式越過障礙，再安全降落繼續前行，這種「雙模式」的機動性大大提升未來城市交通的可能性。

Alef Aeronautics創立於2015年，總部設於美國加州，並在 2022年開始全力開發 Model A。令人矚目的是，該公司在不到一年的時間內便獲得美國聯邦航空局（FAA）的特殊適航認證，成為全球首個拿到此類許可的飛行汽車項目，這也為它後續的商業化鋪平道路。

儘管如此，馬斯克對飛行汽車的態度仍帶有矛盾。他作為投資人給予Model A支持，但他本人長期以來對飛行汽車的普及持保留意見。他認為飛行汽車雖然充滿想像力，但實際應用會面臨不少挑戰，例如噪音過大、飛行時產生的強烈氣流可能影響地面環境，還有更嚴重的安全隱患——萬一機件脫落或墜落在人口密集區，後果不堪設想。此外，飛行交通也極易受到惡劣天氣影響，一旦遇到暴風雨或颶風便必須停運。相比之下，他更推崇自己主導的 地下隧道交通計畫，認為地下通道沒有這些安全與氣候問題，穩定性更高。

這則新聞不僅顯示出 飛行汽車技術的突破與商業化加速，也再次引發社會對「未來交通形態」的討論。一方面，Model A的出現讓人們看到飛行汽車終於從科幻概念走向現實，但另一方面，如何在安全性、噪音、法規與基礎設施之間取得平衡，仍是這項新興產業必須跨越的重大門檻。

U.S. startup Alef Aeronautics recently announced that its Model A, the world’s first all-electric flying car, has begun test operations at two airports in California: Half Moon Bay and Hollister. Priced at a hefty $300,000, the Model A has already received 3,300 pre-orders and is expected to be delivered to customers starting next year. Since SpaceX founder Elon Musk is one of the company’s investors, the vehicle has also been nicknamed “Musk’s new car.”

Unlike traditional flying car designs, the Model A retains the basic look of a car with four wheels, featuring a sleek all-black exterior and no exposed propellers. Instead, it utilizes concealed vertical take-off and landing technology. According to official data, the Model A can achieve up to 177 kilometers of flight range on a full charge and 322 kilometers of driving range on the ground. This dual capability allows drivers to switch between land and air modes seamlessly. For example, in cases of heavy traffic or highway closures due to accidents, the car can take off, fly over the obstacle, and land safely to continue the journey.

Alef Aeronautics, founded in 2015 and headquartered in California, began developing the Model A in 2022. Remarkably, within less than a year, it obtained a special airworthiness certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), making it the first flying car project in the world to secure such approval.

Despite being an investor, Musk himself remains cautious about flying cars. While he supports the project, he has long expressed skepticism about the practicality of airborne vehicles. He argues that flying cars tend to be noisy, create disruptive air currents, and pose significant safety risks—particularly in densely populated areas, where falling parts or crashes could be disastrous. Moreover, flying transportation is highly vulnerable to bad weather, which often forces operations to stop. In contrast, Musk favors his underground tunnel transportation project, which avoids these issues and offers greater stability.

This development highlights not only a major technological leap in flying cars but also reignites debate about the future of urban mobility. On the one hand, the Model A marks a turning point, moving flying cars from science fiction into commercial reality. On the other, challenges remain in ensuring safety, managing noise, and establishing regulatory frameworks and infrastructure to support widespread adoption.