Aptera Motors reaches end of the road

Start-up EV manufacturer Aptera Motors has announced it is going out of business. The brainchild of former Chrysler brand manager and CEO of ASC Inc, Paul Wilbur, the company had gained approval for a $150 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy's advanced vehicle fund, but was unable to find further backing.

Aptera's first foray into the EV market came in the shape of the tear-drop shaped three-wheeled 2e concept, penned by Porsche GT designer Jason Hill. Following lengthy delays and eventually returned deposits, the 2e never surfaced beyond a few corporate outings. Just over a month ago, Aptera launched a new mission statement of ‘Aptera 2.0'; with plans of a sub-$30k Camry sized plug-in EV.

In an email to supporters and investors of Aptera, Wilbur said: "We were well on the way to satisfying the vision of efficiency on which the company was founded and we are confident that with time and capital we could still achieve our goal."

Wilbur concluded by saying that the company had contributed to the future of efficient driving and despite the loss of 30 jobs at the firm, still believed that the technology created in the company's short existence would make it to market one day.

Sadly that day has come and gone.

By John O'Brien