Despite it’s odd external shape, it had a lot of potential. Just like the also quirky-looking G-Wiz, the Aptera 2E could have been a revolutionary vehicle. It would have been ultra efficient, very sleek, and able to be taxed at the often-cheaper motorcycle rate.

But then there was a boardroom coup at Aptera, and the still-warm ashes of the 2E hybrid-electric vehicle have been virtually scattered to the wind. The company is now scraping together a shadow existence, with only a few months estimated before it either receives a massive pile of funding to stay alive, or dissolves and goes underground permanently.

Automotive News China reported that Aptera might manufacture cars in China and send them to the U.S. To those of us outside the USA it means very little. To the target audience of Americans it’s a death blow. Patriotic everyday Americans are not going to want to buy a small, quirky, Chinese-made car.

Then according to Autoblog Green, Aptera’s CEO Paul Wilbur added that Aptera might build cars in China – but then only for the Chinese market! So now nobody knows whether they’re coming or going, and with a car so unusual as the Aptera in today’s EV-ready climate, they can’t afford any unknowns.

Aptera need to make up their minds on their target market, their manufacturing locale, their release dates, and – most importantly – where they’re going to get funding from to survive.
If company plans on surviving the electric car plans of Nissan, Mitsubishi and General Motor’s, then they’re going to have to act fast.

Almost all major auto manufacturers have opened their eyes, realised hydrogen’s a dead horse, and are making plans to jump on the electric vehicle bandwagon. These same manufacturers are aiming to have real-world electric cars in all their showrooms before the end of this decade – and all at realistic prices.

There is still a market for the Aptera 2E, but only if it can beat the big boys to it. This would also mean selling their car for much less than the major auto makers. Aptera have announced a buy price of between $25000 and $40000 USD per vehicle. They’ll have to halve those figures before people run into their showrooms with their checkbooks.

As unusual as it looks, I like the Aptera 2E. Providing the stars align and the vehicle somehow makes it to market, the ultimate question would be if the public likes it.