What does Aptera gain from this abrupt silence?

[Kekoa#433]

This change in any kind of public announcements does actually make me worry. At the beginning of this year it looked like they made a really big push toward making sure to keep people in the loop or at least letting people know that things were still moving along.

Then all of a sudden they completely fall off the radar. Now I know they are still working on the Aptera but it seems very weird.

They made a huge PR push for the first half the year and now that they are getting the attention of people beyond the internets they decide that now is the time to have no PR.

What does Aptera gain from this abrupt silence after really making the effort to get everyone excited?

[c0mp13x]

Originally Posted by Kekoa#433

What does Aptera gain from this abrupt silence after really making the effort to get everyone excited?

A focused work ethic on what is really important for the success of this vehicle... meeting (or at least coming close to) their self-imposed fall deadline to produce a vehicle that they have promised the world.

The exposure and excitement phase is about over, it's time to really get busy working out all the small details that will make this vehicle match or exceed the fit and finish level of a real production car.

Aptera has promised a lot... final chemistry batteries under the seats, more space in the rear, narrower front track, roll-down windows with a new side door profile, top-hinged rear hatch, improved front wheel pants and a whole new rear wheel housing... not to mention the tons of programming and coordination of all the electronics: the many touch-screen functions, GPS and stereo. All this, plus the upcoming Automotive X-Prize have the Aptera team scrambling to meet deadlines.

The timing is perfect and the world awaits. The collapse of GM and Chrysler have put alternatives like Aptera center stage. The 2e will not be the answer to everyone's needs, but if successful, it will give Aptera a unprecedented opportunity - a once in a century opportunity - to build a company at the forefront of a whole new automotive generation.

The EV field is littered with start-up companies that are mostly talk about pretty computer renderings. Aptera has actually produced multiple working prototypes... and is very busy figuring out its final version. Does that help explain the silence?

[aptera1213]

i don't 100% agree...

i admit they are focusing on getting the lastest model up and running. and getting the facilities up to stuff and all that...

but the PR department ain't doing none of that...the PR people don't design the car, don't work on building the car nor do they work on the general facilities...


they do PR...and they are slacking...

but i hope to get some news soon on the lastest build...

and maybe the myaptera site soon too

g

[Kekoa#433]

Originally Posted by c0mp13x

focused work ethic on what is really important for the success of this vehicle... meeting (or at least coming close to) their self-imposed fall deadline to produce a vehicle that they have promised the world.

You mean the second fall deadline.

Originally Posted by c0mp13x

The exposure and excitement phase is about over, it's time to really get busy working out all the small details that will make this vehicle match or exceed the fit and finish level of a real production car.

Aptera has promised a lot... final chemistry batteries under the seats, more space in the rear, narrower front track, roll-down windows with a new side door profile, top-hinged rear hatch, improved front wheel pants and a whole new rear wheel housing... not to mention the tons of programming and coordination of all the electronics: the many touch-screen functions, GPS and stereo. All this, plus the upcoming Automotive X-Prize have the Aptera team scrambling to meet deadlines.

Well I can understand that they probably have enough excitement and exposure for new possible investors and they need to work on the production car. Also I know that they have very many things to do before the new deadline. But even with all these deadlines to met all you need is one person to gather any new information and feed it to us investors. I'm sure any number of people on this forum would be very happy to put together a newsletter for Aptera if they could just get some information.

Originally Posted by c0mp13x

The timing is perfect and the world awaits. The collapse of GM and Chrysler have put alternatives like Aptera right in the forefront of what everyone is waiting for. The 2e will not be the answer to everyone's needs, but if successful, it will give Aptera a unprecedented opportunity - a once in a century opportunity - to build a company at the forefront of a whole new automotive generation.

The EV field is littered with start-up companies that are mostly talk about pretty computer renderings. Aptera has actually produced multiple working prototypes... and is very busy figuring out its final version. Does that help explain the silence?

I very much do believe that Aptera is in a good position to change the game (what with GM and Chrysler having issues) but does it really take that long to just put together an update of some kind. It doesn't have to be some huge statement to the world, but something for us who have waited patiently and want nothing more then for Aptera to succeed.

I thought the newsletters were great but those have dried up for some reason. Since they have got to be working on quite a few things with the deadline coming up they should be full of updates of some kind.

Sorry if I'm coming across as all kinds of negative but I sat by and watched them quietly pass through the first deadline and while I doubt they would do it again there is still a part of me that remembers being excited and then sad (and a little angry) that nothing happened.

[c0mp13x]

Originally Posted by aptera1213

i don't 100% agree...

i admit they are focusing on getting the lastest model up and running. and getting the facilities up to stuff and all that...

but the PR department ain't doing none of that...the PR people don't design the car, don't work on building the car nor do they work on the general facilities...

they do PR...and they are slacking...

but i hope to get some news soon on the lastest build...

and maybe the myaptera site soon too

g

I hear what you're saying... but I'll have to defend the team (and pray for their success!).

When talking about a small engineering team of 50-100... if you think Marcus (the CMO) is just sitting around trying to figure out what to Twitter you guys or what cool gadget to add to the MyAptera site... you're fooling yourself.

He's got a master's in Mechanical Engineering and I'm sure very much involved with getting this vehicle to market. I have communicated with him.

Again, I'll say "talk is cheap" (Spark, Vector, et al...); "show me the money" (make me a real vehicle Aptera, I'll forgive you for the websites). Ha!

[aptera1213]

cool

i'm not staying up nights worrying about the next newsletter...but i like getting them...

i'm more worried that in the current economy i am not going to have the cash to buy one come november or december...and that would make me sad...

g

[Aptera#1434]

I thought the newsletters were going to be a monthly thing?

[greenguy]

The project of getting the Aptera out for Fall rollout is a huge hurdle.

I am prepared to be patient at just wait for a Newsletter when they have some new information to report.

But all should not be to disappointed if there is another delay on the rollout even if it rolls into some time in 2010. Again remember there are many details to be resolved that may take a bit more time to iron out.

[c0mp13x]

Originally Posted by Aptera#1434

I thought the newsletters were going to be a monthly thing?

Com'on now... we all know the newsletters have always been on a strict, structured, "whenever we feel like it" basis!

[KarenRei]

Originally Posted by c0mp13x

Com'on now... we all know the newsletters have always been on a strict, structured, "whenever we feel like it" basis!

I suspect that we'll get a new newsletter as soon as they hit another big milestone -- rolldown windows, for example. I imagine, in accordance with the prophecy, that they'll also want to update us on how the prep for production is going.