Türkiye’s AirCar pre-sales begin: Priced at $200K-250K

AirCar, Türkiye’s domestically developed flying car, will be available for pre-sale by the end of the year with a price range of $200,000 to $250,000. The vehicle is currently undergoing manned test flights at Türkiye’s Informatics Valley Technology Park, with an official first flight expected in 2025. Users will also have the opportunity to invest in this innovative project.

Test flights and development

AirCar’s founder, Eray Altunbozar, reported conducting over 300 test flights so far, starting with manned tests four months ago. “We’ve conducted more than 10 manned flights. Although we cannot yet perform unmanned flights due to the lack of regulations for autonomous vehicles in Türkiye, we are ready to proceed as soon as the Civil Aviation Authority gives the green light,” Altunbozar said. He also mentioned ongoing efforts with the Civil Aviation Authority and Istanbul Airport (IGA) to establish flight routes.

Production and sales plans

AirCar is fully autonomous and currently on its seventh prototype. The design of the vehicle accommodates two passengers, boasting a range of 50 kilometers and a top speed of 90 kilometers per hour.

According to Altunbozar, “We plan to open pre-orders in 2024 and start deliveries in 2026. Our initial production goal is 500 units per year. There is incredible demand; we could sell at least 100 units immediately if we launched today. With 30 hours of flight training, anyone can operate the AirCar under aviation regulations.”

Citizens’ investment opportunities

AirCar, as well as air taxi services, will be available for private ownership. Altunbozar announced that citizens can invest in AirCar through the AirCar Venture Capital Investment Fund, which has a total fund size of $3 million to $5 million. Individuals can participate with investments ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.

“We have received significant interest from abroad, especially from the U.S., Europe, and Dubai, but we prefer to keep the investment within Türkiye,” Altunbozar said. The project has already secured a $500,000 grant from Türkiye’s Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK).

Baykar’s Cezeri Flying Car

Baykar, the company behind Türkiye’s successful drone programs, is also developing its own flying car, Cezeri. Designed with a range of 80 kilometers and a cruising speed of 100 km/h, this fully electric vehicle completed its first flight in 2020. Eight electric propellers, AI systems, and a triple-redundant smart flight system will equip Cezeri, enabling it to fly up to 2,000 meters at a maximum speed of 100 km/h. It will have a flight duration of approximately one hour and require one hour for a full recharge.