Alef Aeronautics Brings Electric Flying Car Tests to Hollister in Bid to Commercialize Urban Air Mobility

Alef Aeronautics, a San Mateo-based startup developing a 100% electric flying car, has secured a testing agreement with Hollister Municipal Airport, marking a critical step toward commercialization in the emerging urban air mobility sector.

The company’s flagship vehicle, the Model Zero, is designed to operate both on public roads and in vertical flight—taking off to bypass ground traffic when necessary. Since 2015, Alef has tested scale models, moving to full-size prototypes in 2020. By May 2025, the company sought a controlled airport environment to expand testing and engage investors and media.

Operational Framework: Defined Through CONOPS

Alef collaborated with airport officials and Fixed Base Operator Hollister Jet Center (HJC) to formalize a Concept of Operations (CONOPS), later incorporated into the official Airport Use Agreement.

Testing will initially focus on “Rotorcraft Mode”, which includes vertical takeoff up to 50 feet and forward flight under 200 feet. Each test involves a three-person team: a pilot/driver, visual observer monitoring CTAF 123.0000 for air traffic deconfliction, and a ground station operator. Standard procedures include a 15-minute inspection and a 5-minute system warmup. Full flight termination is required upon any observed conflict with traditional aircraft, which maintain operational priority.

Vehicle specifications include:

• Dimensions: 17 ft (L) x 7 ft (W) x 6 ft (H)

• 8x propulsion redundancy, enclosed systems

• “Return to home” auto-recovery, immediate kill-switch

• Rotorcraft Mode flight speed < 15 knots

The CONOPS also outlines future expansion into “Biplane Mode”, where the vehicle’s exterior rotates 90 degrees to form lift-generating wings. Under this phase, Model Zero could take off from Runway 24 East and land on Runway 31 South at speeds below 75 knots.

Terms of Agreement and Testing Limits

Under an agreement approved by the Hollister City Council on October 20, 2025 (Resolution No. 2025-XX), Alef is authorized to conduct testing:

• Up to 2 days per week

• No more than 8 hours per day, capped at 16 hours weekly

• One-month trial period for noise and debris assessment

• Continuation thereafter on a month-to-month basis, with a one-year maximum term ending October 24, 2026

Alef will pay $150 per facility use, with $50 retained by HJC and $100 remitted to the City monthly.

Strategic Outlook

Positioning Hollister as a testing hub gives Alef a controlled environment to advance investor demonstrations and regulatory engagement while progressing toward full certification in a competitive electric air mobility space dominated by larger VC-backed entrants. The agreement also aligns with municipal strategies to position regional airports as innovation testbeds with low operational impact thresholds.

Alef’s Hollister program represents a critical test of whether ground-to-air hybrid mobility can scale beyond concept models and into a commercially viable category.