Aptera Marketing Rep

[futura]

This guy was just hired. (http://www.socaltech.com/aptera_hires_marketing_exec/s-0015990.html)
Evidently been "with" them in some capacity for awhile (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060211/news_1b11fambro.html) as a consultant.

From 2006 Article:
Tony Kirton, who has been involved in marketing for Volkswagen, Audi and BMW and provides occasional consulting for the Aptera project, said one meeting with Fambro and Kotseroglou convinced him they weren't “crackpots.”

“It's a madcap idea, but they seem really grounded and really smart,” Kirton said.

He also noted the example of Rutan rocket plane and the developers of Google.

“But what I have said from the beginning is that they have to complete the prototype,” Kirton said. “Until they can get someone in their car and say, 'drive it,' they don't have anything.”

Think this is where the Survey came from?:rolleyes:

[ciege]

It is common prudent practice for all companies to conduct 'customer surveys'. Especially for one attempting something on the scale of what Aptera is doing. Selling a cutting edge vehicle at a price in competition with established products. Talk about risk and a tough road ahead. I would assume that we will be seeing more of the marketing / survey type of request such as the one sent out yesterday. At least I would hope. It's just that these things take time.

[ciege]

Tony Kirton has been added to the Aptera home page listed under About Aptera - Management

[victoly]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but doesn't this guy seem a little bit superfluous? I don't think Aptera has much of a marketing problem; if anything, they're victims of their own success, with a production problem. The first year's, and probably the second year's production line are basically already spoken for. If this was GM or Toyota, trying to find creative ways to push minor changes in new model years, it'd be an entirely different story, but the Aptera really sells itself, doesn't it?

[ciege]

Well, actually to answer your question.......................No it doesn't. Sure there has been a very enthusiastic 'first response' to the Aptera but 3 to 4 thousand is a very small number. Since the number of competing products will only increase it is imperative the company has a plan, vision and leadership in place. As we move further into the future Aptera will be meeting some stiff competion and to stay viable, competitve, and continue to sustain sales marketing leadership is imperative.