Matthijs
04-14-2010, 03:04 PM
http://www.leftlanenews.com/aptera-secures-financing-to-move-forward-with-2e.html
California electric car manufacturer Aptera suffered a nearly catastrophic funding issue late last year (http://www.leftlanenews.com/aptera-delays-2e-to-2010.html), but the small company says that it has secured enough private funding that it hopes to launch a full-volume production vehicle next year.
Aptera says that it has secured funding from New Jersey-based NRG Energy, and while the company specified neither the amount of support it received nor the details of the arrangement, it says that its only remaining hurdle is waiting to hear back on the $184 million Department of Energy loan it applied for last year.
Aptera applied for the same Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program that has already lent money to Ford (http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford.htm), Nissan (http://www.leftlanenews.com/nissan.htm), Tesla and Fisker.
The company says it plans to eventually hire about 2,500 workers between its San Diego-area assembly plant and various other company facilities across North America. In addition, Aptera President and CEO Paul Wilbur confirmed that almost 90 percent of the 2e’s construction materials are sourced from North American suppliers.
After making the announcements today at a press conference in San Diego, Aptera loaded up its 2e prototype to send it to Michigan, where it will be judged to compete in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE competition.
California electric car manufacturer Aptera suffered a nearly catastrophic funding issue late last year (http://www.leftlanenews.com/aptera-delays-2e-to-2010.html), but the small company says that it has secured enough private funding that it hopes to launch a full-volume production vehicle next year.
Aptera says that it has secured funding from New Jersey-based NRG Energy, and while the company specified neither the amount of support it received nor the details of the arrangement, it says that its only remaining hurdle is waiting to hear back on the $184 million Department of Energy loan it applied for last year.
Aptera applied for the same Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program that has already lent money to Ford (http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford.htm), Nissan (http://www.leftlanenews.com/nissan.htm), Tesla and Fisker.
The company says it plans to eventually hire about 2,500 workers between its San Diego-area assembly plant and various other company facilities across North America. In addition, Aptera President and CEO Paul Wilbur confirmed that almost 90 percent of the 2e’s construction materials are sourced from North American suppliers.
After making the announcements today at a press conference in San Diego, Aptera loaded up its 2e prototype to send it to Michigan, where it will be judged to compete in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE competition.