Aptera Refunding Deposits: Run While You Can!
It’s been over a year since we’ve herd anything from the California EV startup Aptera, and the last we’d heard the firm was watering down its product and waiting for more funding. But apparently that’s not been panning out as Greencarreports.com hears that the firm is returning deposits due to delays in the production rollout. According to the firm
Our path to production has been longer than anticipated, which has complicated our reservation administration to the point that we have decided to return your deposit. … [Our credit-card processing system] is designed for transactions to be completed in a six-month window. Since most of Aptera’s deposits have been in reserve for more than six months, maintenance of the account has become problematic for our credit card processor and administratively cumbersome for Aptera.
Aptera says that existing depositors will be moved to a “new VIP database,” and
as our production date approaches, we will use the database to direct you to your local retailer so you can be among the first to own an Aptera vehicle.
But will anyone stick with a company that has lost its founders, made ill-advised product changes, has been overpromising since nearly the get-go and has already invited questions about its reservation escrow account? Methinks not so much. Thanks for the memories, Aptera!
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Indeed, if they're lacking in funds, you'd expect them to ask for more deposit!
Such a shame. I still hope they pull through, but honestly, we'v probably heard the last of them. It is sad when real world economics get in the way of innovation.
I'm not surprised in the least. I was expecting problems a year ago, I am surprised they held out as long as they did. Another case of pie-in-the-sky greenwash fueled by ambitious ideas but let down by the reality of production, engineering, and real-world cost. I still believe such energy should be devoted to emergent technologies to increase efficiency of existing tech, like the now forgotten HCCI cycle gas engines. Many solid possibilities for efficient and economical petrol engine redesigns were tossed out the window in favour of flashy new ideas like hybrids, hydrogen, electric and one-off super-eco-cars like the Aptera. The funding and the brainpower will go wherever the latest fad is. To be fair, I do think we need to come up with a light, efficient and SMALL (not new Mini small, not Fiat small, I mean Tata small or Original Mini small) vehicles. Problem is the whole safety aspect, where many hundreds of pounds of dead weight must be added for sound proofing, crumple zones, air bags, et cetera. Imagine if we could produce a car like the original Mini, tiny but with amazing packaging and fly-weight specs, but with a modern high-efficiency gas or diesel engine.
Depressing. I liked the design; the original car was technically interesting and looked like fun.