Skip to Content

Aptera motors


Spy Shots: Aptera prototype spotted wearing peculiar modifications

It certainly hasn't been smooth sailing for the Aptera crew over the last few months. From the news that cash is running low and the company's original founders are taking an extended leave from their duties, questions about Aptera's ability to deliver its aerodynamic three-wheeler are running rampant. Still, there's obviously something going on out there in California, as evidenced by this a new spy shot. We're not entirely sure what exactly we're looking at here, but one guess is that this is a mule for either a gas-powered model or ... Read more →

Speak No Evil: Latest Aptera newsletter stays mum about company turmoil Sebastian Blanco

Aptera Motors has been in the news recently because there's been a lot of trouble behind the scenes, with company founder Steve Fambro being let go and the vehicle being pushed back to 2010. The ...

Aptera Update: Backstory uglier than we knew? Sebastian Blanco

Electric automaker Aptera has had a very tough week, starting with news of a boardroom showdown last weekend over money troubles – which were then walked back a bit. During the week, we've ...

Aptera update: Vacation instead of ousters? Sebastian Blanco

We're still waiting for an official response from Aptera Motors on the ouster of top company members Steve Fambro, Chris Anthony and others, but Popular Mechanics has been able to get a bit more ...

More on the trouble at Aptera, cash may be running out Sam Abuelsamid

While Aptera has yet to respond to our request for a comment about about the reported turmoil there, Darryl Siry has apparently been able to talk to some people close to the situation. Reporting ...

Aptera officially resubmits application for DOE loan 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

Not that it comes as a shock or anything, but word comes from Aptera (by way of Green Car Advisor) that it has officially resubmitted its application for DOE loans. The hopeful manufacturer of three-wheeled electric vehicles had previously submitted an application for funds from the DOE's ...

President signs bill expanding ATVM program to three wheelers 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

When congress established the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) program in the 2007 energy bill, it explicitly said that it applied to making cars that come under the federal motor vehicle safety standards. Those safety standards apply only to vehicles with four or more wheels, ...

Production Aptera 2e leaked again on forum 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

Just about a month ago, a rendering of what appears to be the final production-spec Aptera 2e showed up at apteraforum.com. As interesting as that image was, it only showed the futuristic machine from the rear three-quarter view, leaving us to wonder what changes had been made to the front ...

Washington debates if the Aptera 2e should be considered a car 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

For some time now we have been discussing the status of vehicles like the Aptera 2e. While Aptera's tear drop-shaped creation promises to be highly efficient, there are concerns about the safety of vehicles like this and others, like the Zap Alias. The problem lies in federal rules that define ...

Aptera newsletter reveals production interior, doesn't answer all questions [UPDATED w/IMAGE] 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

The newsletter that was promised from Aptera HQ has been released. The news from the missive is a tiny sneak peek of the interior of the production version of the 2e (above) and that a new Aptera e-store will open at the end of this month. The store won't sell you any cars, yet, but you will be ...

Apterans to Mothership: Phone home! 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

Apparently, all is not well in Aptera Motors fandom land. After something of a sustained burst in marketing and promotional appearances earlier this year that included a visit to TED and to Washington D.C., it seems a recent lack of announcements and unresponsiveness to customer emails is ...

New Aptera video offers a look under the skin 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

Aptera hasn't formally announced what company it's getting the components that make up its electric drivetrain from, but there's been speculation that Azure Dynamics is the supplier. We still can't be 100-percent certain, but a new video from America.gov (pasted after the break, of course) ...

Aptera rebuts safety concerns of its three-wheeled 2e 9 months ago on Autoblog Green

We recently opined about the fact that the Department of Energy Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Incentive Program excludes vehicles not covered by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The subject specifically came up because Aptera is supporting a bill that would amend the rules of the ...

Here are all 4,000+ Aptera vehicles ordered thus far, but federal law needs to be changed for DOE loan 9 months ago on Autoblog Green

ApteraForum member HadleyRille generously let us see one of the renderings he made recently of a few hundred Aptera 2es on an apparently endless plane. But, considering that over 4,000 of these vehicles have been pre-ordered thus far, it only makes sense to get a glimpse of what that many of ...

BREAKING: Full Aptera specs released at TED 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

The Aptera Forum is buzzing with excitement today as the official set of specifications for the upcoming 2e have been released at the Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) conference that's taking place right now. Early measurements of the car's very wide front track and comparatively short ...

Aptera's pre-production 2e rolls out of the factory 11 months ago on Autoblog Green

We asked Aptera earlier this week about whether or not they met their self-imposed deadline to have the first production 2e vehicle (formerly known as the Typ-1) out the door by January 16th. To refresh your memory, Aptera committed to delivering "the first production [2e]' by that date. We ...

Aptera's Job One deadline comes and goes without a word 11 months ago on Autoblog Green

The problem with setting (or at least publicly announcing) deadlines is that they have a way of sneaking up on you. Aptera has already missed their self-imposed deadline that was set at the end of 2008 and pushed retail deliveries back to October 2009. When the company announced that delay, ...

Aptera pushes back retail deliveries to October 2009, looks for cash 11 months ago on Autoblog Green

As expectant Aptera buyers are obviously aware, the company failed to meet its self-imposed end of 2008 deadline to start delivering vehicles. In fact it wasn't even close. The company does expect to have a "production-intent" vehicle completed by the end of next week but that one isn't leaving ...

Aptera switches to front-wheel drive, delivery date still unknown 12 months ago on Autoblog Green

Yep, just after posting a story that Aptera seems extremely unlikely to get its first production model shipped before the end of 2009 comes news that essentially seals this fate. Aptera is now saying that all production models will be front-wheel drive, a major change to say the least. ...

Aptera likely to miss end-of-year delivery date 12 months ago on Autoblog Green

Well, here it is the end of the year and Christmas is upon us once again. Wouldn't it be a great gift to get a brand-new electric car? For those individuals that have placed deposits with Aptera, which has been working towards a goal of making its first deliveries by the end of 2008, things are ...

Aptera grows management team with racing, production veterans 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Aptera is making more changes than adding side mirrors to the 2e. The company announced two new members of the management team today: Tom Reichenbach, formerly of Ford, and David Oakley, formerly at Callaway Golf. Aptera's official statement says these men fit the plan to hire "the brightest ...

Aptera adds side mirrors, reduces number of back-up cameras 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

The Aptera vehicle, an official X Prize contender, is going through changes. As hinted at back in September, the Aptera-2e (the Typ-1's new official name) is going through some design changes, including the addition of side mirrors. The mirrors allow a single camera to show what is directly behind ...

For the 2e, Aptera nabs former Saleen and Chrysler executive 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

I'm not sure how much of a plus it is right now to have the word Chrysler on your resumé, but Aptera apparently thinks that former Chrysler (and Saleen) executive Marques McCammon is the right person to help bring the Typ 1 to the world in his new position as Chief Marketing Officer. One of ...

Aptera wins breakthrough award from Popular Mechanics 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Now that we're so close to the end of the year, perhaps it is finally fitting to ask: What's the biggest automotive breakthrough of 2008? Popular Mechanics has done just that, and their choice is the Aptera Typ-1e. This is the car that looks like a spaceship and is powered by electricity (with is a ...

Aptera has some questions for you 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

The Aptera Typ-1 asks a lot of questions of the car-buying public. Are you ready for a flightless bird vehicle? Do you know the difference between the legal crash test requirements of a three-wheeled versus a four-wheeled vehicle? Do you like the new design Oh, and did we mention the 230 mpge of ...

Google invests $2.75 million in Aptera, ActaCell 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Click above for more images of the Aptera Typ1 e Way back in September of 2006, Google.org, the philanthropic part of the Internet giant, announced that it would be investing in PHEVs. The following year, Google followed that bit of news up by launching its RechargeIT initiative which would begin ...

Top 20 green cars we wish we could buy today, Number 6: Aptera Typ 1 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

We've been following the progress of the Aptera Typ-1 since the beginning and it has been great to watch the car move from an early drawing to rough prototype to pre-production thing of beauty. We've watched it being test driven by Popular Mechanics (we're still jealous) and the L.A.Times (our ...

New York 2008: Best rumor heard at the show = Aptera in Star Trek 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Out of the 60+ teams signed up to potentially participate in the Progressive Automotive X Prize, there were four teams that brought cars to the big announcement at the New York Auto Show last week. One team we would have liked to see was Aptera with their Type I three-wheeler. But the vehicle was a ...

Interview with Steve Fambro from Aptera Motors 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

If you read our previous update regarding the Aptera, you already know that the company is now taking deposits on their futuristic three-wheeled machine. I was able to get in contact with Steve Fambro, the man behind the Aptera, and I'll share some design and technical details in this post. With ...

Aptera Is Now Accepting Orders for Their Three-Wheeled Car, With Videos 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/tech_news/Aptera_is_now_accepting_orders_for_their_three_wheeled_car'; The last time the three-wheeled Aptera was featured on our site, we promised to keep you abreast of any new information that we found. Thanks to a tip from a reader named Matthew, we are pleased to ...


Featured Galleries

  • RWE's Smart Ed
  • Smart Ed
  • Battery electric Volvo C30
  • Aston Martin Cygnet
  • Rinspeed UC?
  • BMW Concept ActiveE
  • Kepler Motion
  • Toyota Prius PHEV
  • Audi A1 teaser
  • Toyota Hybrid Concept Teaser
  • i-MiEV
  • Smart Ed and B-Class F-Cell

Categories

Autoblog

Daily Finance

Download Squad

Engadget

Joystiq

Autoblog Spanish

Switched.com

FanHouse

Asylum