FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC APTERA 2e PUSHED BACK TO 2010
| Tue, 2009-11-24 11:26 — David Herron |
In September 2008, when fledgling vehicle
manufacturer Aptera named Paul Wilbur president and CEO, the 27-year Detroit auto
executive set forth a series of financial goals and product deadlines. “Aptera’s
production and delivery will be tied directly to funding,” said Wilbur.
During the past 12 months, the company’s initial offering – the aerodynamic Aptera 2e,
an all-electric, three-wheeled two-seater that gets the equivalent of 200-plus mpg – has
evolved from concept to near reality. Companies including Google and IdeaLab have
made significant investments in the southern California auto manufacturer, and numerous
potential private and public backers are in the process of doing their due diligence.
However, according to Wilbur, the vehicle development progress has been outpacing the
rate of fundraising.