Aptera founders not really Ousted.... Just a rumor?

[admin]

So it may just be a rumor.

Check out the following article from a very reliable source (http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...4337060.html):

Recent reports claiming that Aptera motors founders were "ousted in a boardroom showdown" appear to be false.

Aptera, a company we've been covering since its inception two years ago, has let some employees go in order to save money recently as they wait for the final round of funding and re-apply for a DOE loan.

"We needed to reduce our burn rate on anything not associated with getting a production vehicle out the door," said Marques McCammon, Chief Marketing Officer.

One of the company's founders, Steve Fambro, is currently in charge of Aptera's advanced concepts group and has agreed to take time off.

"Steve remains a member of the board so he'll never really be ‘gone'," McCammon says. "But he has agreed to allow himself to be one of the reductions for the short term. And then he'll come back in the new year once we get the series ‘D' final round of funding closed and we can turn advanced concepts back on."

Fambro tells PM that he had over a month of vacation saved, and took time off until the end of the year.

"I think some people read into this situation a little further than they should have, " Fambro says. "Some folks were let go, and since they hadn't seen me around—they put two and two together and made a fairly large and incorrect assumption," he says. "Since I started Aptera, I've had like three or four vacation days. One of them was after receiving a 2008 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award in NYC. So I need to take some time, and come back in the beginning of the new year."

Similarly, Co-founder Chris Anthony was not asked to leave the company. Anthony has been involved with a variety of companies over the past two years. "He's a serial entrepreneur," Fambro says. Anthony started Epic Boats before he came to Aptera and is now CEO of Flux Power creating battery management systems.

"Flux is unrelated to Aptera but it has gotten to be so lucrative for him and required so much of his time that he's basically committing full time to that company. " Fambro says. "He's been less than part-time for a while, so this is just a natural transition for him and we've all talked about it. "

Fambro has been reading much of the online chatter and speculation about his company and is quick to dispel rumors that he is unhappy with the direction of the company or its products.

"I can say that Paul Wilbur's leadership and Tom Reichenbach's talent (VP of engineering), the changes that they've made to the vehicle are spot on, "Fambro says. "Anyone can armchair quarterback, but the changes have made the vehicle better—it's better handling and more comfortable."

[doug]

Just sounds like spin to me, but clearly some damage control was necessary. At any rate, lets hope they can get their act together.

[admin]

Yeah, it very well could be. I think we will get a clearer story in the days to come. Should be interesting to say the least.

[Sapphire Dragon]

I think this is what we've been waiting for. Whether or not it's spin, it's refreshing to hear some kind of positive aspect on this so there can at least be two sides to all the speculation. I'm currently hoping that this is the truth, right here.

[rayfellow]

So.. WTF.. It ain't over till the fat lady sings. It did seem insane that the Aptera would just 'go away'. We've all realize what it can do. A comfortable ride at a reasonable speed with 1/2 the energy.. And stylish too!

[virtualeric]

Well that's a temporary relief.

Or is it a temporary suspension of reality....hmm.

Either way, I like it when Fambro talks. That was going to be my suggestion when I wrote my own "letter to Fambro" http://www.apteraforum.com/showthread.php?t=3537 which I haven't gotten 'round to.

[JustWilliam]

Originally Posted by rayfellow

So.. WTF.. It ain't over till the fat lady sings. It did seem insane that the Aptera would just 'go away'. We've all realize what it can do. A comfortable ride at a reasonable speed with 1/2 the energy.. And stylish too!

Yay for Ray! Hopeful optimism and EXCRUCIATING patience will serve all of us best. The rest is valuable only to keep us engaged and interested.

[Sapphire Dragon]

Originally Posted by JustWilliam

Yay for Ray! Hopeful optimism and EXCRUCIATING patience will serve all of us best. The rest is valuable only to keep us engaged and interested.

I completely agree with you.

[aptera1213]

1. If this is true, all the blame is on aptera...the lack of official communication is insane. Hello, mcfly, take 5 minutes and type a newsletter or email

2. I think steve might have just been rehired . Aptera had to see autobloggreen and wired and crapped a brick.

[KarenRei]

Originally Posted by aptera1213

1. If this is true, all the blame is on aptera...the lack of official communication is insane. Hello, mcfly, take 5 minutes and type a newsletter or email

2. I think steve might have just been rehired . Aptera had to see autobloggreen and wired and crapped a brick.

Your spin sense is tingling, eh?