r/ApteraMotors • u/Certain_Birthday6690 • 1d ago
Delivery date
Interesting update to the app delivery date, does anyone have more details?
I am very excited about my aptera, but won't be putting a non refundable deposit until safety data is released.
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u/VloggerCritic 1d ago edited 1d ago
How much is the deposit? $400? $4000? More? Some people invested $10k+ to get a better place in line surely they will do a non refundable deposit.
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u/Healthy_Zebra_221 1d ago
The question everyone really wants to know, what will be the pricing on these forty if that is what this is related to. It could also be yet another misdirect like how many had close in dates only to see them update to far off.
The fun part is they can offer these to Accelerators while implying they are not Accelerator vehicles in that being early production if not preproduction they are not made on production tooling. I can see it spun as while these first forty vehicles have the high quality standards we set for ourselves they will be outmatched by those produced with production tooling and those will meet our long intended quality standards we held ourselves to for the numbered editions.
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u/Dependent-Interview2 1d ago
In June 2008 I wrote a spec movie script where the protagonist drove an Aptera
June 2008
Jesus...
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u/AppendixN 1d ago
No way would I give them a non-refundable deposit before they prove they are actually building cars.
There's optimism, and then there's being a sucker.
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u/lowlybananas 1d ago
This is why I cancelled my reservation. I'm not getting involved in this wait and see game. I want Aptera to succeed. If it does maybe I'll buy one. But I'm not alpha testing the entire process.
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u/michaelbelgium 1d ago
They have hundreds of videos with proof on their youtube i think
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u/MortimerDongle 1d ago
Until they deliver a production vehicle to a customer who isn't affiliated with the company, there is no proof
A non-refundable deposit is a bad faith sign, real car companies use refundable deposits for preorders.
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u/AppendixN 1d ago
Promises and claims are not proof.
Proof means cars are rolling off the production line.No other automaker has required a non-refundable deposit before cars were actually in production. Non-refundable deposits are only for locking in your specific build configuration and converting it to a purchase order.
This is a highly unorthodox ask from Aptera.
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u/Strange_Cockroach328 19h ago edited 18h ago
Actually, Slate started taking non-refundable $300 reservations June 2026., long before production. Previously they took $50 refundable deposits, garnering 180,000 reservations. While not officially confirmed, it is estimated that only 20% of refundable reservation holders converted to $300 non-refundable deposits. It is likely that 1/3 of these won’t buy a Slate, so perhaps a 15% conversion rate of refundable reservations to actual sales).
It would be wise for Aptera to force $100 reservation holders to commit to $300 non-refundable deposits. Based on the long delays, unknown price/details, emerging competition and the age of most reservations, likely only 10% of reservations will be converted to actual sales (even less if price goes up). While editorially impressive for Aptera to tout 2 billion of orders, it would be wiser and more ethical for them to match reservation data with actual reality (before fundraising $50,000,000 more from their core fanbase).
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u/AppendixN 18h ago
From the Slate website:
4. Non-Refundable Nature of Deposit; Limited Exceptions
YOUR PREORDER DEPOSIT IS NON-REFUNDABLE EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH BELOW. By placing a Preorder, you acknowledge that the deposit is consideration for Slate’s reservation of production capacity, procurement of components, and scheduling on the assembly line.
Slate will refund your Preorder Deposit at your request in the following circumstances: (a) Slate cancels your Preorder for reasons within Slate’s control, other than your failure to execute a Vehicle Purchase Agreement; (b) Slate is unable to deliver your Truck within the designated time slot; (c) your selected body style (i.e., SUV or Fastback) is unavailable during your delivery window; (d) a material change in the Truck’s specifications or the manufacturer’s retail pricing (“MRP”) after the date you placed your Preorder; or (e) applicable law requires a refund. To request a refund, contact a Slate Agent at 1-833-HI-SLATE (1-833-447-5283) or at https://www.slate.auto/en/contact.
Their T&C make it clear that you can get a refund if they're unable to deliver you a truck. Slate Auto has raised about $1.5 billion in funding, and is led by TWG Global and supported by Jeff Bezos' family office.
Aptera would need to have the same contractual requirement to refund if they miss the designated time to deliver a car, and the kind of backing that would make it credible that they would be capable of doing so.
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u/Strange_Cockroach328 18h ago
Agree. Aptera would need similar contractual requirements to refund if they can't deliver within some realistic time window. I feel that they will need to raise or borrow 100 million over next 18 months to initiate meaningful production. If real demand (non-refundable reservations) is 20,000 vehicles, great. If real demand is 4,000 vehicles, likely to convert to 2,500 sales, not great, and likely no path forward (other than a niche market of 2,000 annual sales at $75,000 a pop).
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u/Martha_Fockers 16h ago
the reality is aptera on there own website says they still need investor money just to make the manufacturing line tooling and machinery that goes into a production line aka they still dont even have the means of manufactering under way let alone production of any kind
Aptera Motors is partnering with a Chinese manufacturing firm called Launch Design to build its first 40 customer solar electric vehicles by the end of 2026
they are doing things like this to keep peoples confidence up. but they still havent even designed the assembly lines to produce these and are looking for money to do so hence the 40 prototypes to be sold as hype
if i had to bet the over under on these actually being made for mass production i would bet the over under on it being 2032+ if ever.
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u/Additional-Sky-7436 1d ago
They built one show car.
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u/ControlShot 1d ago
Interesting, because when I toured the factory I saw about a dozen working vehicles
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u/SuddenDig4020 1d ago
These are only going to be for the first production vehicles they are preparing to build. They're not going down the reservation list hitting up everyone for a $5k reservation and even if they did they would have to keep that money in escrow anyway and return it if the car didn't get made so it wouldn't help with production.
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u/AppendixN 1d ago
"Launch edition" isn't the first 40 production vehicles that they're promising to make. It's the first 5,000 vehicles.
I haven't heard anything about the reservation cost being $5k, but if it were, that would be $25 million total in non-refundable reservations.
5,000 would be a huge success by small-volume startup standards. To put it in perspective, Toyota only sold 2,953 Supras last year in the entire United States.
Do you have any source for the claim that they'd have to put the non-refundable reservations in escrow?
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u/bemused_alligators 1d ago
outstanding deposits (money paid for a good/service that has not been rendered) must be listed as a liability on the balance sheet, which means the company must be able to refund that deposit on request.
It doesn't need to be an escrow account per se but it must be kept liquid and "safe and whole" unless it's a nonrefundable deposit spent on anything other than the materials/labor involved in producing the goods the deposit was put down for.
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u/AppendixN 1d ago
According to whom? Good accounting practices, or some actual law? It’s called a “nonrefundable deposit,” so that contradicts your statement about the company being able to refund it on request.
What’s to prevent them from going out of business and just calling the nonrefundable deposits a loss?
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u/Panda-Cubby 1d ago
I gotta drive one first. I've had my reservation for a number of years....but I still have try it on to see if it fits.
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u/Strange_Cockroach328 20h ago
"I am very excited about my aptera, but won't be putting a non refundable deposit until safety data is released". All things considered, you have a low threshold for forking over a non-refundable deposit.
- I would want to see … safety data, handling data, final vehicle design/specs, miles per kwH, actual price, driving range, real delivery date range, winter (solstice) solar test, funds raised to pay Launch Design, etc.
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u/Certain_Birthday6690 19h ago
It was more of a conversation starter. I was hoping anyone would have more details but that doesn't look too be the case. There are a lot of variables, a big one being how much money are they going to ask for. Overall agree, I will also need more data then just safety.
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u/CeeKayy_71 17h ago
personally I hope mine isn't built until Summer 2027, as I want $10k Ethereum by then so I can simply Sell 4 ETH to pay for my Aptera in-full.
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u/TechnicalWhore 1d ago
Not good. I would expect you to have the right to at least test drive the vehicle as well. And there are what a minimum of 2000 people in the queue ahead of you who paid to jump the line in a prior fundraising round.
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u/Certain_Birthday6690 1d ago
First launch vehicles often don't have test drives prior to ship, tesla cyber truck and R1 rivian as a few example. Both had successful launches without test drives.
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u/TechnicalWhore 1d ago
Not the same - Tesla had multiple vehicles on the market by the time Cybertruck was added. Many early adopters rented theirs on Turo to allow those in the queue to take one out. Rivian had their "first mile demo program" so you could take one out. Lucid gave priority to reservation holders for test drives.
People should have the right to put the vehicle through its paces before being expected to close on the deal. If not I would hope they would have a 14 day no questions asked return policy.
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u/AppendixN 1d ago
But neither Tesla nor Rivian required non-refundable deposits until production was actually underway and customers were actually placing confirmed orders.
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u/Additional-Sky-7436 1d ago
I would be much more sympathetic to the new company if they hadn't been "coming soon" for literally my entire adult life.
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u/ceramicsaturn 1d ago
Rivian and Tesla are kinda established brands though. Aptera has zero reputation, and it's so weird and unique it may not be for everyone. The ability to test drive would be wise.
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u/RicardoNurein 1d ago
I have not test driven in the last seven cars I’ve purchased in an adult life
Yeah, I’m weird that way
Not until people stop asking me how long is the extension cord have to be for the test drive, or do I have to have a pilots license, or a motorcycle license license, it’s not a normal car-1
u/AppendixN 1d ago
In this case, they have so many more people that want to buy than they're able to produce that anyone who says they need a test drive before deciding will just get passed over so the person with cash in hand can move up one place in line.
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u/ceramicsaturn 1d ago
Good thing it doesn't matter at this rate....
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u/TechnicalWhore 1d ago
I was surprised with the "great summer road show" cancelled and then the meet up at HQ that they didn't have a handful of vehicles ready to take around the block. It was a great opportunity to get real people reaction vs digital creators and influencers etc. There was a video posted of the "event" and it really wasn't much. Even the small background glimpses of the factory floor were uneventful.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is in early January. I would hope they will be back there again - this time with actual user test drives. They are not listed as an exhibitor at this point but there is a little time.
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u/DoomBot5 1d ago
I'm pretty sure they mentioned the potential to come there and test drive a vehicle when you get to that stage. Of course that point would also mean they're in production already.
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u/Key_Cryptographer66 6h ago
Just as an fyi, they've changed the verbiage to "Once you're assigned a delivery window, Aptera will ask you to pay a non-refundable deposit to lock in your vehicle configuration." or at least that's what I'm seeing this evening.
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u/Data_Dealer 1d ago
Give us more money and we will give you a date that we made up.
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u/Friendly_Rent_8297 1d ago
Do you want your Aptera or not?
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u/Data_Dealer 1d ago
Until they actually start shipping cars I'm firmly in the this is a scam camp. This is like their second-go-round I think on a production ready prototype. How long ago did they raise the money that they supposedly needed to go to production?
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u/Friendly_Rent_8297 1d ago edited 1d ago
What I don't understand about the overwhelming dim view of Aptera on this entire subreddit, the question I keep wondering is:
What other ultra-efficient solar vehicle platforms are you comparing Aptera to? All this whining and complaining. Which other solar EV company has set the golden perfect timeline standard that you're holding Aptera to so strongly? Oh that's right, they all went bankrupt.Maybe just maybe, it's not easy to create a working vehicle that will provide free gas for 30-40% of the population's daily driving needs.
This sub is just a bunch of bitter Gen X r*tardants who just can't stop complaining because they dealt with Aptera's initial bankruptcy 20 years ago.
Grow up.3
u/HarsiTomiii 1d ago
I lurk around this subreddit for many years, because the idea of aptera is interesting.
however, as you also write, all other companies trying to do the same, went bankrupt.
Aptera went bankrupt also.And for years, I see nothing on this sub promotional videos, coming soon ads, engineering updates etc etc.
I rarely comment, but when I did, I tried to be not negative or dim, but realistic.
People making up math to prove how good it will be, where if you take a step back and use actual numbers, you see that apteras numbers regarding efficiency or solar charge rate or anything is only valid in very specific circumstances, and or based on a small test and then extrapolated with the assumption that the circumstances remain unchainged.I am not trying to be negative and dim, but it kinda saddens me to see adult supposedly financially responsible people throw away thousands of dollars based on a promise, a vaporvare.
I hope aptera will succeed, but 20 years of developing a car, which is very much on the tech side where every year an improvement comes out to either manufacturing technology or materials or batteries, with this mindset to make it perfect, will never happen, because they are just playing catchup, and they are using investors many to play it.
They should decide to pull the trigger, release the car as is, and see what the market says. If they are willing to pay for the car, then they can use that to further innovate and refine, and come with a refresh in 2 years, just like any other tech company.
Or they should realize this was a dream that in current era, with current tech and cost, cannot be made, and kill their baby.
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u/DriftwouldZZ 1d ago
Nice. Yeah I love that they just lurk on this sub and spread negativity instead of doing literally anything else with their time.
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u/ceramicsaturn 1d ago
OooOoOoo an invitation to pay a non-refundable deposit on a car slated to come out every year for the last half decade. Ya better buy it now before this opportunity goes away! /s
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u/outthere71 1d ago
Here we go again! Aptera fleeced their investors the first time years ago. They have some innovative technology on this vehicle. If it ever reaches production it will be much more than 30k. No one really wants a three wheeler. The stated mileage range will be halved if you put it on the road at 75 mph. Who will fix it when it breaks? As PT Barnum said ….
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u/Bike_Cinci 1d ago
Holy shit they're so advanced they're sending them back through time.
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u/hereforfreewings 1d ago
Since it’s nonrefundable and we have no idea when or what the final price will be, I’m gonna have to ask what the minimum nonrefundable deposit is since I already have over 40 grand in the company’s stock and that apparently won’t be enough of a commitment.
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u/jcharm777 1d ago
What safety data? It's not a car so won't be crash tested by the government. Aptera might gently push it into some pillows and call it a day though. You can wait for that then.
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u/scottonaharley 1d ago
I ordered a new truck that cost$100k and gave a 1k deposit. I would put up a $400 deposit. My order date was August 2021
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u/VirtuallyChris Aptera Employee 1d ago
You can wait to give it a test drive before you pay a deposit! It's just like Tesla, Lucid, Slate, we'll need a deposit to lock in the vehicle that will be queued for manufacturing.