Aptera Sighting Tour Update
Monday, 30 March 2009 | by
We have heard your concerns and we are working to accommodate each and every one of your requests. Please bear with us. To be honest this event filled up faster than anyone could have imagined (more than 450 people in less than 45 minutes). Please keep in mind the San Diego event is only one of 6 that will be taking place over the next few months. All of this before our major launch event in the fall, to which all depositors will be welcome. Rest assured, you will be accommodated.
No. 1 — March 30th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
The website that you set up to collect RSVPs was used by people from all over California to respond to every event. You need to look at the responses to see who is RSVP’ing to the San Diego Event. I would guess that 1/2 of the responses were for events outside San Diego.
No. 2 — March 31st, 2009 at 11:43 am
It would be great if you gave us tour dates and cities at the same time, that way people in SD will be the only ones in SD same for LA, OC and the Bay area.
No. 3 — April 2nd, 2009 at 7:09 pm
My husband & I would like to see and test drive the 2e. We have a deposit on one, but we live in San Jose, CA and we have jobs. My job involves Sundays. We can’t just pick up and fly to San Diego.
No. 4 — April 5th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Just wondering when you are going to hit the San Francisco bay area.
No. 5 — April 6th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Do you know the dates that you will be in the San Francisco Bay area (or Sacramento)?
gg
No. 6 — April 9th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
please advise:
1. power of car, electric only or what powers car
2. any place to test drive near car
3. how to buy one of these cars
dave
No. 7 — April 11th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
when are you coming to chicago – we’re working with coulomb technologies building the electric car highway and would like to demo the car
ps i have a deposit please verify
No. 8 — April 14th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Hal
You better talk with someone at Aptera since they are only accepting deposits from those folks that reside in California. Also what’s the purpose of people asking questions here if no one is going to answer them (it goes without saying that I won’t get an answer)?
No. 9 — April 15th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Dear Laura,
“Aptera Chief Financial Officer Laura Marion, said, “Tesla is the Ferrari and we’re the Honda.”
For the record, as someone who has a deposit on an Aptera, the three cars I was choosing between were a Ferrari, a Tesla and an Aptera. I chose the Aptera because I liked it’s design, as much as I liked the Ferarri’s (my first choice) and I didn’t want to spend all my money and time visiting the Ferrari dealership to get my car serviced. Ferrari’s don’t have the best service record, and a gas guzzler is clearly not the responsible path forward.
I chose the Aptera OVER the Tesla because I liked the Aptera design BETTER than the Tesla. I love the Lotus Elise (also on my list of contenders), but I don’t like what Tesla did in conjunction with the folks at Lotus. In fact here is the problem with the Telsa, it looks like a Honda! Honda has had many convertibles that look a lot like the Tesla (the Honda S2000 comes to mind).
All this to say, I do not want, nor have I ever considered buying a Honda. And to compare Aptera to a Honda is an insult to both your company and those of us who are about to buy your car.
I would cut you some slack because you are in Finance, and not Marketing, but we all know (and you point out in the article I reference) that Aptera doesn’t have any real marketing.
The good news is that the designer of your car did a fantastic job and I am confident your engineers will as well.
Aptera = Ferrari
Tesla = Honda
Practice saying it at home.
No. 10 — April 20th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Would like to see the Aptera. Any upcoming demos/shows near Milwaukee, WI?
No. 11 — April 22nd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Please inform on when the Sacramento showing will occur….
#159 2e
No. 12 — April 22nd, 2009 at 10:01 pm
I was introduced to the Aptera by Eloise Martindale. I would like to retire my motorcycle that I use to travel to solar PV system site visits and proposals and use the Aptera but I need the Hybrid version. When, where and how do I sign up for a test drive in the Bay Area?
No. 13 — April 26th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I turned on the news last Thursday, and there was the car in San Francisco creating a huge buzz and great news coverage.
But I am wondering why we didn’t get a chance to be there? I was probably 45 minutes away and very disappointed.
No. 14 — April 27th, 2009 at 5:31 am
The Aptera is soo awesome!!!! You should bring it to Jacksonville Florida!!!!
No. 15 — April 29th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Can we get a list of California showings, irrelavant of when or where? What is the cost? How are the insurance companies looking at it? Cool car!
No. 16 — April 29th, 2009 at 9:56 am
PLEASE keep the East Coast in mind! Western MA would be a great spot for a show!
No. 17 — April 30th, 2009 at 7:12 am
where and when are the 6 sighting tours?
No. 18 — April 30th, 2009 at 7:14 am
where and when are the 6 sighting tours
No. 19 — April 30th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Please bring your tour (and ability to reserve ad buy!!!) to Raleigh/Durham, NC. Its home of Research Triangle Park home of the high tech, and bio tech. I this area holds a large precentage of folks who would be interested in this type of transport.
No. 20 — April 30th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
We apologize for not being able to get back to everyone’s comments/questions, but thought we’d try to catch up a bit.
First off, MA, Sean, Hal, Scott, and Linda we’ll be doing other Aptera Sighting Tour events other than just our San Fran and San Diego events, but cannot release the dates or specific cities until closer to the actual events. Most of this is because of the logistical side of locking in dates, venues, and other things such as that.
Lee, you bring up good points about what it means to be an American and support American companies. We aren’t trying to single ourselves out or say we’re better, just let people know that we also are proud of being an American run company.
Dave, the website’s your best bet for getting all of this info, but the Aptera 2e is all electric and you can put a deposit down for it through our website.
Verne, we’re sorry we can’t put more time into answering questions here, but if you’ve got a question you need answered and you haven’t heard through here, we’d suggest emailing customerservice@aptera.com – they work hard to get back to you as soon as they can.
Matt, thanks for thinking of us as a Ferrari. It is true that our vehicle is unique in it’s form factor, yet at a price point of between $25,000 to $40,000 (which is a lot less expensive).
Bryan, the hybrid powerplant will be released after the all-electric Aptera 2e (which will be released in the 4th quarter of 2009).
Joanne, sorry to hear that you missed out on our SF event and street tour. A great way to hear about these events is through our Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/aptera). We post quick updates there often, such as our location in SF.
Joseph, thanks!
Linda, to your other questions, the Aptera 2e will be between $25,000 and $40,000. Insurance-wise we are in talks right now to get a better idea about rates and to raise awareness to Aptera and our vehicle’s safety.
Stephan and Tim, thanks we’ll remember your suggestions when we get out that way.
Thanks. /Reed
No. 21 — May 7th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
“The Aptera 2e will be between $25,000 and $40,000.” Are you nuts?! You guys come out saying it will be around 25K and now have the nerve to say up to 40K. I would not pay a penny over 25K for this Motorcycle.
No. 22 — May 7th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
The odds strongly suggest that the Aptera will join Tucker and Empire and the thousands of other defunct vehicle makers in history’s graveyard”it’s nothing personal, plenty of brilliant cars rest there. Yet should this be its fate, we feel it would be more tragic than most: In trying to envision a future without the use of fossil fuels, it may be necessary for us to redefine the very art of basic transportation. This could mean abandoning standards like the coupe or the sedan. In this respect, the Aptera is full of daring unafraid of looking odd, out-of-place, even ridiculous to some eyes in an attempt to look into the future, in a way only visionaries can.
No. 23 — May 7th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
–Specifications–
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 3-door hatchback
ESTIMATED BASE PRICE: $25,000–$40,000
ENGINE TYPE: single electric motor with 360-volt lithium battery pack
Power (SAE net): 70 hp
Torque (SAE net): 110 lb-ft @ 0 rpm
TRANSMISSION: single speed with 10:1 gear reduction
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 111.0 in Length: 173.0 in Width: 91.0 in Height: 53.0 in
Curb weight (mfr’s est): 1700 lb
PERFORMANCE (MFR’S EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 10.0 sec
Top speed (governor limited): 90 mph
VEHICLE RANGE
Full charge: 100-plus miles
Car & Drivers Review:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/latest_news_reviews/2010_aptera_2e_first_drive_review
No. 24 — May 7th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
-Various Unrelated Quotes-
1) “Last year, EcoGeek brought you a little story about a 330-mpg, three-wheeled car. The guy who was building it said that it they were indeed going to build and sell them, indeed…for less than $20,000. We were skeptical, and rightly (the price has risen). But they’ve done it. The prototype has hit interstates, and they’re taking reservations for delivery in “approximately 12 months.”
2) “Its basically, the 8,000 kit car.
I saw it in a magazine….its basically a really expensive go cart, that somehow got road certified…….and they put a lot of weight and fiberglass on it….yeah it gets 300 mpg, but thats because it has a LOUD suzuki crotchrocket engine…
Did i mention how bad it performs in a crash test…..
For 20,000, you can actually buy a car that will save your life in a crash, not end it… ”
3) “Being classified as a motorcycle, any driver would need a motorcycle endorsement on their license, and both driver and passenger would be required by many states to wear helmets.”
4) “I think they need to build a 4 wheel vehicle.
Most 3 wheeler never last long on our freeway system or stay in production for too long in history. A Los Angeles mini cooper driver can tell you how bumpy the freeways are today with a clearance of 6 inches off the ground.”
5) “Because the Typ-1 has only three wheels (two in front and a single drive wheel in the rear), most states in the United States would classify the vehicle as a motorcycle. This configuration also means that the Aptera will not face the same battery of tests for safety and emissions as would be required were the vehicle introduced under the requirements for an automobile. ”
6) “According to the pre-order page, Aptera Motors has set the price at $26,900 for a an electric version with a 120-mile range, and $29,900 for the diesel-electrical series hybrid. This places the car above the initial target price.”
No. 25 — May 8th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Where can I find details on this car? Asking Price? Expected roll out? Where to view?
Thanks.
PS Our website will be live June 1, 2009
No. 26 — May 9th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
keep up the good job. Please hurry. Thanks Matt 858 484 5065
No. 27 — May 9th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
keep up the good work. Let me know when you go public. Please Hurry. Matt 858 484 5065
No. 28 — May 11th, 2009 at 3:24 am
We need this kind of innovation in S.C. Bring it soon…..but if your
pricing hits more than 25-27k its going to be a much harder sell.
No. 29 — May 11th, 2009 at 3:30 am
in addition why not build them here in SC where the labor and cost of
doing business is much less and the UAW is nothing more than the UA nothing.
No. 30 — May 11th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Hope the Aptera people are close to announcing a release date. The longer Aptera takes to get its product to market, the more competition there will be. If Aptera doesn’t make a big splash before Chevy gets its Volt out there, then it will probably never more more than a niche car — and that would be a shame because I am a huge fan.
No. 31 — May 12th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Thanks Bill, we’re getting closer to our release date (4th Quarter of this year), and are really excited to get our vehicles out on the road. /Reed
No. 32 — May 12th, 2009 at 10:42 am
I’m a solar installer in SLC, and can’t wait to plug one of these into a PV array! I have cash in hand and want to buy- please please come to Utah!
note to previous poster: helmets or motorcycle endorsements will not be required because the “trike” is 2 in front, not 2 in the rear- to my knowledge this is the case in CA, NY, and MA- arguably the states with the strictest of such laws…
No. 33 — May 12th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Thanks Matt, we are getting closer to the production launch for the Aptera 2e in the 4th quarter of this year, stay tuned!! -Ray
No. 34 — May 12th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Going Green Film Fest, For details on the Aptera 2e vehicle, you can visit the Aptera website and check out the Aptera 2e brochure on the bottom right of the page. We are getting closer to production launch for the Aptera 2e (4th quarter of this year). The price range is from $25,000 to $40,000 depending options and power train. We are arranging our production facility at this time. Once we have our operations in place, we will offer public tours of our facilities. -Ray
No. 35 — May 12th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Thanks Mike, at this time we can’t provide a timeline or map expansion. We would love to make Aptera available to everyone, but must work on our delivery, support, and service locally so we will better prepared to provide Apteras regionally and nationally. Trust, though we won’t make you wait for long. -Ray
No. 36 — May 19th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Still waiting to be accomodated….Would love to see the car I bought months ago…
Hay …I got an idea…give me a call and let me know when I can come and see it…
thanks Byron 619-850-6199
No. 37 — May 21st, 2009 at 6:08 pm
It is a shame that in a time when the Government has thrown BILLIONS and dinosaur companies who can’t keep up with today’s technology, that the cash isn’t provided to help get something like the Aptera on the streets. A diesel hybrid sounds like just the car for long drives accross the country.
I know that it will be years before Aptera could reach the Florida market if at all. But, it is wonderful to know that there are Americans that have a vision for the future.
No. 38 — June 1st, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Momma Want! I’ll be waiting in Sedona.
No. 39 — June 2nd, 2009 at 9:04 am
Will the Aptera be ready for sale before the tax credits run out or down before October 1, 09? If not, will there be a way to purchase the Aptera and lock in the tax credit?
No. 40 — June 9th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Just wondering when there will be an updated newsletter or status report. Haven’t seen either in a while. Thanks. Looking forward to the vehicles finally rolling off the assembly line!
No. 41 — June 13th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Diesel Hybrids keep you tied to oil. There are better batteries out there, so use them. Extend the range to 200 miles and sell them at $25,000 and you will be successful.
No. 42 — June 23rd, 2009 at 3:31 pm
It’s now getting on to the end of June and we still haven’t gotten any kind of Aptera update. I think the company should do a better job keeping the appetites of the faithful down to a dull roar.
No. 43 — June 24th, 2009 at 11:07 am
The Aptera may not even make it out of the starting gate when compared to Tesla’s amazing Model S @ $49,900.
http://www.teslamotors.com/models/index.php
* – 300 mile range
* – 45 minute QuickCharge
* – 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds
* – Seats 7 people
* – More cargo space than sedans
* – 2X as efficient as hybrids
* – 17 inch infotainment touchscreen
Aptera is crazy to ask anything over $25,000 for this current space pod. It can barely go over 100 miles per charge or past 90 mph.
I sure hope their engineers get a clue that this is already a sub-standard vehicle before it even becomes released.
Good Luck Aptera!
No. 44 — June 28th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
The Aptera is beautiful, aligning yourself with Obama is alienating a lot of people. Obama is a fraud.
No. 45 — July 13th, 2009 at 11:16 am
The Tesla Model S sounds great, but it’s still a long way from drawing board to street ready. Also, there are several all electric vehicles that will be introducing themselves to the public within the next 18 to 24 months. As I’ve stated before, It’s imperative that the good people at Aptera keep their stakeholders well informed about developments and readiness of the Aptera 2e. The absolute worst thing they can do is lose the goodwill of the people who have plunked down cash for the honor of being Aptera trailblazers. The clock is ticking and the longer it takes Aperta to get their vehicles out on the road, the greater the competition is going to be.
No. 46 — July 17th, 2009 at 8:51 am
We are putting on a cutting edge garden show at Cornerstone, Sonoma on September 18-20, 2009. We are all about drought, global warming and sustainability. Aptera 2e sounds perfect for our show. We expect between 7,500-10,000 people over a three day period. May I talk to some one in Marketing.
No. 47 — July 17th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Please Hurry! I can’t wait forever. But I’ll still try.
No. 48 — July 20th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Why not start advertising on progressive radio shows such as Thom Hartmann, Ed Schultz (TV as well), Stephanie Miller (right there in CA), Bill Press (in Wash DC)? These individuals cater to your target market of those who are concerned about the environment and think different than most “typical” Americans, who watch far too much Fox “News” (entertainment). I would suggest and have before that you do a live demo on one of their shows.
No. 49 — July 30th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
I live in walla walla Washington and I have been watching you guys from the first time you got the website put up and started talking about it. I have been VERY excited, I Really would like to buy one but since it is not offered in washington state yet I guess I will have to wait. I can’t wait to hear when you all are going to be here, Spokane is 3 hours away and seattle 5 hours away. I hope you consider Seattle with a satalite sales/repair branch in spokane..can’t wait to get my hands on one! Just wondering, my father mentioned that back in the 70’s i think someone tried to make one like this but it didn’t go well especially with gas prices at 90 cents and he remembers that they dumped them in the ocean, is this vehicle a take off That 3 wheeled 300mpg vehicle? Just wondering, It’s a great idea though especially in todays economy, keep up the good work Aptera Corp!
No. 50 — July 30th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Also, there are 3 in my family, mem my wife and my child, will this particular model cater to a childs seat and 2 parents or will I need to wait for a different model to get those accomodations, if so I hope the new ones also get 300 mpg. I won’t buy a model that gets less than that no matter what. I want the best as far as milege when it comes to an alternative energy vehicle, a prius doesn’t cut it for me. I can’t wait to sit in the drivers seat!
No. 51 — August 7th, 2009 at 11:37 am
can you tell me when can i pick up my new aptera
No. 52 — August 7th, 2009 at 11:38 am
can you tell me when can i pick up my new aptera
No. 53 — August 7th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Is aptera behind the new 230 commercials?
No. 54 — January 31st, 2010 at 12:10 pm
I have been following Aptera for approx 3 yrs. In all of that time the presented information about the auto continues to be ego driven BS. What are the SPECS of the auto that I think you are selling to the public. Such as; engine(1 or 2),Engine HP,battery(type-how many-useful life-how charged-full charge time), Air conditioning, tires(sizes), radio, visual instumentaion, steering, driving range on full charge(under what conditions), speed range, anti theft devices, carrying capacity(wt-storage volume). If there are options in each catogory they should be noted. What it amounts to is a SPEC sheet just like other auto manuf’s. If you have published one and I missed it, I apologize for the blountness. After all you must have all of the info IF you plan to manuf more than one of a given configuration. Please drop the EGO stuff and get serious. In my opinion the Aptera auto philosophy is consistant with the future transportation needs of this country.You have done a good job. Thanks for your efforts(. P.S. Why is management leaving the co.(please, the real reason).
No. 55 — April 27th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
The past few weeks I’m seeing ads for the Nissan Leaf. It’s a real disappointment that Aptera is not available for purchase or driving yet. And, I must say, I’m getting tempted to check out the competition – the Leaf.
The longer Aptera lags behind in beginning sales of an electric vehicle, the harder it will become to deal with competetors and reservation holders (like myself – waiting now a year and a half now) will switch.
Please, at least give us updates about availability. THANKS