Some News - on-schedule to deliver this year

[Marc]

I just got a response to an email I sent weeks ago. Apparently they are on-schedule to start delivering THIS YEAR - still! I'm not counting this as "official" notification, but - it's more than I've had for a while, it's November, and the story hasn't changed

That's quite encouraging, considering they are under all kinds of new pressures, not to mention new money.

My unqualified advice to the company: Don't miss the window. Sell early, revise often, and cater to your enthusiasts/early adopters who will put up with just about anything to see the company succeed. Big money tends to encourage swinging for the fences, which means trying to go "mainstream", which means delays trying to make a "car". I think that would be a mistake. Get the product in the market early, and to the "motorcycle+" segment. Get revenue. Take your lumps. And keep Steve Fambro around for pete's sake! In all seriousness, I don't know Steve, but we all know what pressures founders come under when the road gets just a little bumpy, and while he's no car exec, I admire his brass ones, and those of his team - :happy0025:

[n_dawg]

Good to hear! Could you post the full text of the email?

[esmith]

I got an email from Aptera too. They will start delivering on Thanksgiving, MSRP is lowered to $12,000, it will go 600 miles on one charge, and it will recharge in 2 hours from a 110V/15A outlet. Their production line allows them to build 12 units a day and they expect to fill all reservations in a few months. First 100 units come autographed by Barack Obama.

What? You don't believe me?

[aptera1213]

i'll take 2

[3wheelingfreek]

Well that would be something wouldn't it!

[Marc]

"We apologize for the late response as we have been receiving a massive amount of emails and are replying as quickly as possible.

Production slot 1734 is reflective of your position on the all electric list, which is sequential in regards to all electric vehicles only.

We are on track to release our first unit before the end of the year. We will produce in limited volumes initially and then gradually ramp up production throughout 2009. We will provide an approximate build schedule future and additional information regarding test drives in the future, so stay tuned.

We will keep you updated with our plans and progress as we near production and delivery. All future correspondence will be sent from family@aptera.com, news@aptera.com, and sales@aptera.com. In the meantime, if you have any additional comments or questions please contact family@aptera.com.

Thank you"

[MegaAutoBit]

"We will keep you updated"

LOL, ya sure. :sick0026:

[Lscoop]

esmith, are your #s really right? I was reading that MSRP is mid $20k range for the E, and close to $30k for the EH. Did you really mean $12k or $22k?????

[Lscoop]

ooops, dumb me....reading again your entire post is a spoof. sowwy.....

[Lscoop]

I just saw the $12k part and didn't read the rest since I got all excited and was hoping that maybe you even meant $22k, which would have been cool and not inappropriate in this very "cooled-down" market!

[esmith]

Sorry bro :-P

[Lscoop]

It's sis, actually :-)

[Ricky Ray]

I read where when Henry Fords production line first got started he was producing a completed car every 90 minutes:jumping0010:

[A1phaGeek]

"We are on track to release our first unit before the end of the year. "


I could not help but notice that that is in the singular. So my take is that there will be ONE production car released on new years eve of 2009.

If I was to be even more pessimistic, I would also wonder if the 1st car will be sold to Mr Fambro, and they hope that no one notices when he pushes it down the street, because it is not quite fully functional yet :scared0011: A week later, steve will quietly sell the car back to Aptera, to be used for their crash tests.



I'm not actually pessimistic, but it was a funny vision I had when I noticed the singular "unit". Personally, whenever they actually roll out my electric Aptera, I will be happy to buy it. :happy0025: