Yes, AirCar Is Real — But It’s Not a Mass‑Market “Flying Car” Yet

Yes. The AirCar, developed by Slovakia’s Klein Vision, is a real, transforming roadable aircraft that has completed multiple public flights and drives, including an intercity flight in 2021, and received a certificate of airworthiness from Slovakia’s aviation authority in 2022. However, it remains a prototype program: it requires a runway and a licensed pilot, and it is not yet commercially available or fully certified for broad consumer use.

What AirCar Is — And What It Isn’t

AirCar is a dual‑mode vehicle designed to drive on roads and transform into a light aircraft with folding wings and tail. Unlike vertical takeoff “air taxis,” it needs a runway to take off and land. It is best understood as a roadable airplane rather than a hover-capable car of science fiction.

How We Know It’s Real

The project’s credibility rests on documented milestones, public demonstrations, and formal regulatory steps that go beyond concept renderings or private lab tests.

• June 2021: AirCar completed a 35-minute flight between Nitra and Bratislava in Slovakia, then folded its wings and drove into the city.
• January 2022: Slovakia’s Transport Authority granted a certificate of airworthiness to the prototype after more than 70 hours of flight testing and over 200 takeoffs/landings, with testing conducted to EASA CS‑23 standards.
• Ongoing: Klein Vision has showcased transformation from car to aircraft in roughly two to three minutes in multiple public videos and demonstrations.
• 2024: Klein Vision announced a licensing deal for manufacturing and distribution in China with Hebei Jianxin, signaling intentions to industrialize the design for a specific market.

Taken together, these milestones show a functioning, road‑capable aircraft that has flown repeatedly under regulatory oversight—far beyond a concept or mock‑up.

What It Can Do Today

AirCar’s current capabilities reflect its status as a light aircraft that can legally operate within test programs and controlled conditions, and that can drive on public roads as part of its development regime.

• Transforms between driving and flying configurations in about 2–3 minutes.
• Seats two occupants and uses a gasoline engine driving a pusher propeller.
• Has demonstrated cruise around 160–170 km/h (100–106 mph) in flight, with company claims of up to roughly 190 km/h (118 mph) top speed aloft.
• Has taken off and landed on conventional runways; takeoff roll is on the order of a few hundred meters.
• Reached altitudes around 2,500 m (≈8,200 ft) in testing.
• Company literature has cited a potential flight range up to around 1,000 km (subject to engine, load, and conditions).

These capabilities place AirCar squarely in the light-aircraft category, offering credible performance for regional hops between airports or suitable airfields, with the convenience of driving to the final destination.

What It Cannot Do (Yet)

Some common expectations for “flying cars” do not apply to AirCar, at least for now, and potential buyers should be aware of real-world constraints.

• No vertical takeoff or landing: a runway (or comparable strip) is required.
• Not a certified production product: the prototype has airworthiness for testing; full type certification and mass production are still in progress.
• Requires a pilot’s license and adherence to aviation rules, airspace permissions, and airport operations.
• Operations remain limited to suitable weather and daylight/IFR rules depending on equipment and approvals.
• Road homologation is limited; the prototype has operated on public roads in Slovakia during testing, but broad, multi-country road certification is not established.

In short, AirCar is practical within the envelope of light aviation—rather than a plug‑and‑play commute machine for city centers.

Regulatory Status

AirCar’s development pathway is aligned with conventional aviation certification rather than experimental exemptions alone, a significant marker of seriousness in this sector.

• Slovakia (2022): The prototype received a certificate of airworthiness following a formal test program aligned with EASA CS‑23 standards for small aircraft.
• Europe-wide: The company has signaled plans to pursue broader EASA certification for a production‑intent version with increased power and safety systems.
• International: As of the latest public updates, full type certification and mass-market approvals outside Slovakia have not been finalized. Regulatory timelines depend on flight‑test data, design maturity, and authority reviews.

Certification beyond a single prototype is rigorous and multi-year; progress in Slovakia is a meaningful step but not the finish line for global operations.

Commercial Outlook

AirCar has drawn notable investment and licensing interest, but customers cannot buy a certified, production AirCar off the lot yet.

• Klein Vision continues work on a more powerful, production‑intent model with targeted safety features (such as a ballistic rescue system) and EASA‑aligned certification goals.
• In 2024, a licensing agreement with Hebei Jianxin in China was announced, aimed at manufacturing and distribution in that market.
• No firm public timeline or price for general consumer availability has been confirmed by the company.

The business trajectory suggests AirCar could enter limited, regulated markets first—likely for trained pilots and specialized use—before any wider rollout.

How It Compares to Other “Flying Cars”

AirCar is one of several roadable or air‑mobility projects, each with distinct trade‑offs in certification strategy, performance, and practicality.

• PAL‑V Liberty (Netherlands): A gyroplane that converts for road use; pursuing full EASA certification with an emphasis on conventional aviation compliance.
• Samson Switchblade (U.S.): A kit‑built roadable aircraft concept that has flown; certification pathways and timelines differ from factory‑built, type‑certified aircraft.
• Alef, and various eVTOLs: Focus on vertical flight; many hold experimental or special airworthiness approvals for limited testing, not full commercial certification.

AirCar stands out for its demonstrated door‑to‑door transformability and conventional fixed‑wing flight, but it shares the broader industry’s challenge: turning prototypes and test approvals into scalable, certified products.

Key Takeaways

AirCar is neither hype nor a consumer product today—it is a functioning prototype with real flights, real driving, and early-stage certification milestones, moving toward (but not yet at) commercial readiness.

Bottom Line

AirCar is real. It flies, it drives, and it has cleared meaningful regulatory steps in Slovakia. For now, it remains a prototype program for trained pilots operating from runways, with broader certification, manufacturing, and market availability still to come.

Summary

Klein Vision’s AirCar is a genuine, transformable roadable aircraft that has flown between cities, driven on public roads, and earned a Slovak certificate of airworthiness following extensive testing. It is not yet a mass‑market product, lacks vertical takeoff, and requires a pilot’s license and runways. The company is pursuing expanded certification and has announced a 2024 licensing deal in China, but full production and global availability timelines remain unconfirmed.

Is the Tesla flying car real?

No, Tesla does not currently make or sell a flying car; the widespread claims circulating are false and originate from misinformation, possibly from fake news or misleading videos. While Elon Musk has discussed the possibility of a “flying Roadster,” such a vehicle has not been released, and the company has not confirmed any development of a production flying car. 
Misinformation and Scams

• Fake News Videos: Opens in new tabMany YouTube videos and social media posts claim to show a “$6,789 Tesla flying car” or a new production line at Giga Texas. These are not real; they misrepresent other concepts or present pure fantasy as fact. 
• Misinterpretations of Musk’s Statements: Opens in new tabClaims about a “Tesla flying car” often stem from misinterpretations or false extensions of Musk’s past comments about the future of vehicles, such as a potential “flying Roadster,” according to PolitiFact. 
• Levitating Cybertruck: Opens in new tabThe existence of a magnetically levitating 1:24 scale model Cybertruck has also led to false claims that Tesla is producing flying vehicles. 

Other Flying Car Developments

• Alef Aeronautics: While Tesla is not involved, another company, Alef Aeronautics, is developing an electric flying car called the Model A. This vehicle received a Special Airworthiness Certification from the FAA, the first of its kind, and offers both driving and flight capabilities. 
• Industry Buzz: The concept of flying cars and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are gaining traction, but these are not Tesla products. 

Is the AirCar real?

Yes, the AirCar is a real, certified flying car that is moving toward production, with customer deliveries expected in early 2026. Developed by Slovak company Klein Vision, the AirCar is a two-seat vehicle that can drive on roads and fly using a standard runway. It has undergone extensive flight testing and is scheduled to become the first mass-produced flying car.
 
You can watch this video to see a demonstration of the AirCar transforming from a car to an airplane: 59sVisual FuturistYouTube · Apr 11, 2025
Key Features and Capabilities

• Dual-Mode Operation: The AirCar transforms between a road-legal car and an aircraft with a push of a button, unfolding its wings and extending its tail in a matter of minutes. 
• Performance: In the air, it can cruise at speeds up to 155 mph, while on the road it reaches a top speed of 124 mph. 
• Infrastructure: It requires a short runway (around 300 meters) for takeoff and landing. 
• Engine: The production model will offer different engine options, including a 340 horsepower twin-turbocharged version, and runs on regular gasoline. 
• Safety: The vehicle includes a parachute system and a lighter, stronger monocoque frame for safety. 
• Availability: Klein Vision is targeting customer deliveries in early 2026, making it the first commercially available flying car. 

Development Status

• Certification: The AirCar has received a certificate of airworthiness from European authorities. 
• Testing: The fifth-generation prototype has completed over 500 test flights. 
• Production: The company is preparing for mass production, with the fifth-generation prototype serving as the basis for certification and manufacturing. 

This video shows the prototype and discusses its production plans: 59sGlobal UpdateYouTube · May 12, 2025
Future Plans 

• Klein Vision is also developing different versions of the AirCar, including three-seater and four-seater models, as well as a version designed for water landings.

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How much does an AirCar cost?

The “AirCar” by Klein Vision is a flying car that is expected to cost between $800,000 and $1 million when it goes on sale in 2026. Alternatively, if you are looking for the “Air” model electric vehicle by Lucid Motors, prices for the 2025 model start around $70,000 for the Pure RWD trim and go up to about $249,000 for the Sapphire AWD trim. 
Klein Vision AirCar 

• Type: A flying car that transforms from a car to an aircraft.
• Price: Expected to range from $800,000 to $1 million.
• Availability: Production is planned for 2026.

Lucid Air

• Type: A luxury electric vehicle (EV) sedan. 
• Price:
  • 2025 Pure RWD: Around $69,900. 
  • 2025 Touring AWD: Around $78,900. 
  • 2025 Grand Touring AWD: Around $110,900. 
  • 2025 Sapphire AWD: Around $249,000. 
• Availability: Widely available now. 

Other Flying Car Concepts

• Alef Aeronautics Model A: Expected to start at $299,999. 
• CFC AirCAR: A concept for a street- and air-legal vehicle with a projected price range of $75,000 to $175,000, but with an initial production start date of January 1, 2023. 

It’s important to note the difference between the two, as they are distinct vehicles with very different purposes and price points.