Is everything ok @ Aptera motors?

[Matthijs]

I just received some messages from someone who wants to stay anonymous but it pretty disturbing news and I really hope it's not true.

Paul Wilbur has just sacrificed the company to line his own pockets. Crap, I'm crying

This is exactly what he did to Saleen. Why did they hire him with a history like that? I'll never understand.

He's marching around the place like a peacock and firing everyone. The design still needs work to make production numbers. What is he doing?

I am trying to get further news and responses but to me if this is true it doesn't make any sense. And is it even possible with Aptera company structure that a CEO can fire employees at will?

[randyd]

Originally Posted by Matthijs

And is it even possible with Aptera company structure that a CEO can fire employees at will?

I am not fanning the rumor flames. I post this answer Matthijs' question.

From http://research.lawyers.com/Californ...alifornia.html

In California, employees are presumed to be "at will." At-will employees may be terminated for any reason, so long as it's not illegal. Generally, employees that work under an employment contract can only be terminated for reasons specified in the contract.

The list of illegal reasons for termination is short, and only includes reasons like race, sexual preference, and similar. So unless employees are working under a contract (very, very unusual) they can be terminated at any time for any reason.

Again, I have no direct or indirect information about this rumor.

[Matthijs]

Here is more:

Seems to think suspending operations til govt$$ come in will make him a rich man. So sad for Steve Fambro, he's a great guy being ruined.

I'm panicked someone like the Chinese could make an offer and PWilbur wld take it just to get rich and move onto destroy the next innovation

Management directors in a meeting now. Still waiting for the hatchet to finish falling.

[aptera1213]

mmm,

one...i would likely not give much more over the forum as what was said would be easy enough already to trace back to the source...the quotes are very specific in tone and style...

if you feel comfortable talking more to karen, i would do it through private messages for now...


two...this could be a lot of things (and nothing too)...

a) it could be a couple of people let go and one of them or a friend of theirs is upset...

b)it could be more massive "work force time off" if Aptera is waiting for the government funds and wants to temporarily decrease staff till more money rolls in. keeping the company lean and running till the money flows in in a few months...

c) it could be worse...but that seems unlikely

it could be nothing...that is more likely, but if your source is good, then i would go with a or b long before i believe c

[aptera1213]

ah, i was writing during your last message...

so B looks to be the answer (according to the source)...

i can see aptera scaling back til the money hits, but, of course, i would prefer they keeping working full (electric ) throttle...

[aptera1213]

Originally Posted by c0mp13x

Put Steve back at the helm...

+1


i know little to nothing about running a company...and i know everybody says you can't have the designers and dreamers run a company...

but there must be exceptions to that rule...a designer who can also run a company?

[KarenRei]

Seems to think suspending operations til govt$$ come in will make him a rich man. So sad for Steve Fambro, he's a great guy being ruined.

Not to talk about the veracity of the rumors, but that makes no sense. If Wilbur is going to somehow make a ton of money, it's going to be through some sort of equity stake in the company. Which would make Steve rich as well.

[KarenRei]

Originally Posted by aptera1213

but there must be exceptions to that rule...a designer who can also run a company?

Then they can't be an effective designer. It takes too much time to run a company -- especially the larger it gets.

[aptera1213]

you can make lots of money and still be "ruined"...basically if the poster thinks steve's car will be greatly delayed by this, greatly changed by this, or just out and out sold to china or wherever by this, then steve's dream could be ruined...

just trying to understand the poster...he/she seems very upset by all this...

i hope he/she is wrong and just overly emotional...

i also hope they don't scale back too much while they wait...i think they should go full speed ahead so the car is completely done...so when the money comes in they (aptera) and quickly ramp up and quickly move to other states

[Matthijs]

Originally Posted by randyd

I am not fanning the rumor flames. I post this answer Matthijs' question.

From http://research.lawyers.com/Californ...alifornia.html


The list of illegal reasons for termination is short, and only includes reasons like race, sexual preference, and similar. So unless employees are working under a contract (very, very unusual) they can be terminated at any time for any reason.

Again, I have no direct or indirect information about this rumor.

That really very different from Holland. Here most people work under contract and you can only be fired because of work related issues or illegal practices. Or off course when your contract isn't extended.