Aptera: From the outside looking in

[1051]

I was in San Diego with my wife this weekend and went by the factory today Sunday (it is about 10 minutes off of the 5 freeway) just to take a look-see knowing they would be closed. you could look through the windows and it looked like any corporate office with many cubicles and Dell computers. In one of the offices you could see a lot of different Aptera configurations on the wall most of them were of different 4 door cars that looked awesome, their were also pictures of the 2e that looked like the one we have been looking at for months. You could also see one of the original prototypes thorough the window. All of the window blinds were open and they were not trying to hide or cover up anything.

The reason for this post is to let everyone know from the outside looking in it looks like they are going about their every day business. After reading some of the recent post I wanted to take a look for myself since I was just down the street from them, I look forward to locking in my 498h order once I can drive it and have a firm price along with some crash results and a delivery date. Hopefully they will have some updates for us in October.

:logo:

Cheers

[paddler13]

Did you take photos through those windows?

[NeilBlanchard]

4 door cars? Do try to describe in whatever detail you can remember...

[1051]

4 door cars? Do try to describe in whatever detail you can remember...
Sorry no camera, all of the 4 door cars also had 4 wheels some with the wheels outside the body like the 2e and some with the wheels inside the body. Almost like a Austin Martin with the 2e doors. Sorry they were really hard to see through the windows.

[paddler13]

We've got to equip our spies better...

[jstdadd]

We've got to equip our spies better...

I think the folks at Aptera need to close the blinds. Personally, I consider peeking through the windows, even at a business, to be rather rude; maybe even illegal.

[Matthijs]

I think the folks at Aptera need to close the blinds. Personally, I consider peeking through the windows, even at a business, to be rather rude; maybe even illegal.
I don't think it is illegal to look inside a building. If it is public property surrounding the facility. A lot of people even make a living of spotting new prototypes and other car news. Even pictures from inside a factory are placed online with well known car sites. If Aptera wants to be more secretive they need to do a better job imho. It's nice of you to warn them about it though: Link (http://twitter.com/JSTDADD/statuses/4149429603)

[jstdadd]

I don't think it is illegal to look inside a building. If it is public property surrounding the facility. A lot of people even make a living of spotting new prototypes and other car news. Even pictures from inside a factory are placed online with well known car sites. If Aptera wants to be more secretive they need to do a better job imho. It's nice of you to warn them about it though: Link (http://twitter.com/JSTDADD/statuses/4149429603)

You would have to walk far into private property to look into the windows at Aptera.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jstdadd/2919214818

[roflwaffle]

So there's a private parking lot?

[jstdadd]

So there's a private parking lot?

Yes. If you tried to park there they could ask you to leave.

[SEGsby]

Hmm, wonder if they're secretly switching to 4 wheels, to get funding, mass acceptance, narrow the front track, etc.?

I mean, it's not like they ever secretly redesigned the entire drivetrain and waited a FULL YEAR LATER, to mention the huge design change... ;)

BTW: Trespassing and Espionage are criminal offenses. Documenting it could be actionable.

http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/laws-government-regulations/343764-1.html

[KarenRei]

I'd be disappointed. Extra weight, extra drag, extra maintenance, extra build costs. And the first two mean more energy per mile, which means longer charge times per mile.

Probably easier to register, but technologically an inferior solution. Not like I wouldn't gladly snatch one up, mind you ;) I eagerly await my 2e and will likely get a 4-series down the road.

[Apt3448]

It is more likely that they are working on (or just toying with the idea) of what will be next. They have been thinking 4-wheel/4-door for the future at least since we heard 'Palomar'. So nothing new there, is my guess. At the same time, if at least some people at Aptera are having time to play with /design that idea, that must also mean the the 2e/2h is definitely out of the design phase, no?

Any 2e/2h reservation holders suddenly wondering if they jumped too early? Karen is of course correct in predicting worse performance of such a 4/4 vehicle. I am still holding out for the 2e. We're that close...

(I would like a September newsletter from Aptera with an actual progress report).

[OC-LA driver]

Fisker just got a $529 million loan. You don't suppose Aptera has tasked a person or two to see if their 4-wheeler can be made far enough along to feed a little bit at the green trough, in the event the expansion of rules to include 2e fails? I would if I were they.

[turbo wing]

You would have to walk far into private property to look into the windows at Aptera.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jstdadd/2919214818


I believe the building Aptera is in is a rented building in a business park which means the property surrounding it is not there's and not privately owned nor do trespassing comments apply, also the term "window shopping" is used to describe people who look thru the windows of millions of businesses across North America who have uncovered windows in there businesses allowing the public to see inside, If Aptera had any thing to hide you can bet there windows would be covered, The boy's at Aptera obviously don't care if you look thru there windows.

[turbo wing]

Yes. If you tried to park there they could ask you to leave.


If you know anything about Business parks they can not tell you to leave, all they can do is suggest you leave, I would tell them to call the cops LOL

[Pablo]

I would guess that if there was really something secret inside the room you looked at, the blinds would have been closed. Think about it.

[nader]

time to break out the 800mm telephoto lens!

[Airgetlam]

Hmmm. Maybe it is time to take a day off of work, and park in the street outside their office with a camera in hand.

OTOH, I figure when they're ready to tell me something, I'm sure they will. Speculation and rumour mongering has never helped any industry I'm aware of. :)