Watch: Elon Musk’s Tesla Flying Car Just Got TROLLED by Alef (Alef Flying Car vs Roadster
California flying-car startup Alef Aeronautics has “welcomed” Tesla to the flying car race by flying its electric flying car over a Tesla Roadster, in a video released on October 15, 2026 that the company says marked its 1,000th logged flight.
The cheeky clip came on the same day Elon Musk unveiled Tesla’s long-delayed next-generation Roadster at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas, where the car was shown hitting 60 mph in under a second and jumping over a row of vehicles with the help of thrusters.
“Welcome, Tesla, to the flying car race; we’ve been here alone for eleven years,” Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny said. The company added that the Roadster “today became the second flying car in history, following Alef.”
Ghana Trends Media has a video breaking down the face-off, from Alef’s flyover to Musk’s Roadster reveal and a light-hearted look at what flying cars could look like on African roads.
Alef flying car flies over Tesla Roadster on 1,000th flight
Alef said the flyover was its 1,000th logged flight, turning a technical milestone into a marketing jab at the world’s best-known electric carmaker.
It is not the first time Alef has used a Tesla as a prop. A 2025 video showed its Model Zero Ultralight driving and then flying over a Tesla Cybertruck.
Dukhovny said the competition is “a good thing” because it helps establish flying cars as a category, supports lobbying for regulations and gives the industry a benchmark.
Tesla Roadster reveal: under 1 second 0–60 mph and thrusters
At the livestreamed October 15 event, Musk claimed some versions of the new Roadster can go from 0 to 60 mph in under one second, with a top speed of more than 230 mph.
The car uses cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX, which Tesla says produce “4–5x the force the tires can.” In demonstrations, the Roadster launched off a ramp, flipped in mid-air, and cleared a row of cars and a semi-truck before landing.
Tesla executives said production would begin in 2028. No price was announced, but Tesla’s website lists reservation payments of $50,000 for a “Performance” version and $250,000 for a “Thrust” version.
Alef Model A vs Tesla Roadster: how they compare
- Alef Model A: full-size prototype unveiled in 2022; 220-mile driving range and 110-mile flight range
- Alef lift system: distributed electric propulsion using air, with a full-vehicle ballistic parachute
- Alef price: expected to start at $299,999, with more than 3,600 pre-orders worth about $1 billion
- Tesla Roadster: claimed 0–60 mph in under 1 second and top speed above 230 mph
- Tesla lift system: SpaceX-developed cold-gas thrusters
- Tesla timeline: production targeted for 2028, about eight years after the 2020 delivery date given at the 2017 prototype reveal
Both vehicles use electric powertrains and all-wheel drive, and both counted investor Tim Draper among their early backers.
Who is winning the flying car race?
On paper, Alef has the regulatory head start. In 2023, its vehicle received a Special Airworthiness Certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration, allowing limited test flights. That is not full type certification or approval for unrestricted customer use.
Tesla’s Roadster would still need FAA type certification to be treated as an aircraft, a process that can take several years. Tesla’s performance claims were also shown at its own event and have not been independently tested.
Alef began hand-building its first flying cars at its Silicon Valley facility in December 2025. You can follow updates on the official Alef Aeronautics website.
What it means for car buyers and tech fans in Ghana
For now, flying cars remain expensive, tightly regulated and far from African roads. But the rivalry is pushing the idea from science fiction into real products with prices and delivery dates.
Ghana’s growing interest in new vehicle technology, from electric cars to high-performance models such as the BYD U9 electric supercar, shows there is a local audience watching closely.
What happens next
Alef plans to deliver a first batch of flying cars to a limited number of early buyers by the end of 2026, for testing “in the real-world environment, under very controlled conditions.” It plans to ramp up production and train early adopters in 2027.
Tesla is taking reservations for the new Roadster, with production slated for 2028.
Summary of story: Alef Trolls Tesla Roadster With 1,000th Flying Car Flight
- Alef flew its electric flying car over a Tesla Roadster in a video released October 15, 2026.
- Alef says the flight was its 1,000th logged flight.
- CEO Jim Dukhovny: “We’ve been here alone for eleven years.”
- Tesla unveiled the new Roadster the same day at SpaceX’s McGregor, Texas site.
- Tesla claims 0–60 mph in under 1 second and a top speed above 230 mph.
- Roadster production is targeted for 2028; Alef’s first deliveries are planned for late 2026.
- Alef’s flying car is expected to start at $299,999.
FAQs: Alef Trolls Tesla Roadster With 1,000th Flying Car Flight
Can the new Tesla Roadster really fly?
Tesla showed the Roadster using SpaceX-developed thrusters to jump over cars and flip in mid-air at its reveal. It does not yet have FAA certification as an aircraft.
How much is the Alef flying car?
Alef’s flying car is expected to start at $299,999. The company says it has more than 3,600 pre-orders worth about $1 billion.
When will the Tesla Roadster be released?
Tesla executives say production of the new Roadster will begin in 2028.
Alef’s flyover turned Tesla’s big Roadster night into a public rivalry, with the startup pointing to 11 years of work, 1,000 flights and FAA test approval, while Tesla answers with sub-one-second acceleration and SpaceX thrusters. Watch the Ghana Trends Media video above for the full breakdown.
