Aptera

[doug]

Green Car Reports

Aptera Staff Smash Prototype Electric Cars As Company Folds

While I appreciate Nikki and the usual car blogs picking up this story, I was hoping that someone would do due diligence, perform some interviews and get a bit more information. It looks like at least FoxNews got in touch with an "Aptera spokesperson" that says the vids are from back in April.

Video of Aptera Employees Destroying Cars Surfaces on Internet

FoxNews.com has now confirmed that the videos are in fact what they appear to be, and a company spokesperson says the activity was sanctioned by Aptera management.

But it’s not what you think.

According to Aptera, the videos were shot this past April at the Carlsbad, California-based company’s former headquarters in Oceanside, Calif., which it began vacating in May. The teardrop-shaped chassis seen being thrown around by forklifts and crushed into walls are flawed prototypes that were being disposed of intentionally, and subjected to a little impromptu crash testing in the process.

As far as the company’s existing assets are concerned, Aptera says that they are safely under the control of a liquidation company that plans to dispose of them in a less literal manner than is depicted in the videos. Aptera staff remain hopeful that another entity will come in and pick up where they left off, or at least continue to develop some of the technology pioneered by them.

So if the destruction happened last spring, then it probably couldn't be considered illegal wrt to current liquidation process. It does, however, still illustrate Team B's lack of respect for the company's founders. I would think those prototypes, if not put to some useful purpose, would be kept around at least as part of the company's history. At any rate, there is certainly more to the story that hopefully a journalist will take the time to tease out.

 

[mpt]

Steady on! I suspect Nikki did reach out to them but perhaps doesn't have the pull of Fox. She did leave the article with a "We sense that perhaps it's not over yet." and has subsequently updated it.

I think that this second revelation; that this 'crash test' was done 6 months ago raises new questions over the companies full disclosure of the products' safety.

{My full disclosure: I am friends with Nikki and will of course support her & indeed, may be biased a bit but, I do think that she got the word out ok and left space to follow up.}

 

[doug]

Nothing against Nikki in particular. I just grouped her article with those from both Jalopnik (Watch Aptera employees smash prototype electric cars as company goes under) and Autoblog (Aptera employees smash vehicles after company closes?). All of which were clearly based on only the videos themselves and at most some forum comments. But this is just par for the course for blogs I guess. Above when I first posted and tweeted about this, I said someone should do some interviews and write a proper article. So I was disappointed with the standard "blog" treatment.

I guess an additional odd bit about Nikki's article was it said, "Fambro is visibly upset." Which is something one only can say when you can, you know, actually see the person.

 

[mpt]

Ok, we can do that; Steve has kindly agreed to join us this afternoon on Transport Evolved, Transport Evolved Live On Air!

Post questions at Google Moderator - Some good ones, I know you have 'em

 

[doug]

Ok, we can do that; Steve has kindly agreed to join us this afternoon on Transport Evolved, Transport Evolved Live On Air!

Post questions at Google Moderator - Some good ones, I know you have 'em

It was a great interview. Steve was interesting and professional, and fortunately not "visibly upset".

 

[doug]

From beyond the grave "Aptera Marketing" put out this statement today:

There have been several recent videos posted on YouTube showing the demolition of a small number of untrimmed Aptera vehicle bodies. The videos were taken approximately eight months ago at Aptera's Oceanside facility, which the company officially exited in May 2011. However, the posters of these videos have tried to portray these clips as an angered response from Aptera employees at the recent closure of the company. These claims are completely false.

The bodies in question were not slated for demolition because on any ill will or malice from any member of the company present or past. These particular 2e's were defective and/or obsolete development properties that no longer had any value to the company. We destroyed the bodies because they were unsafe for use as a vehicle -- with high potential for loss of life if they were involved in a crash. (This is evidenced by the upper body and lower skins separating from each other on impact.)

While the company often engages in technology sharing with academic institutions (area elementary, middle and high schools, universities and museums, we never released vehicle assets that had the potential of being misused and resulting in physical harm or loss of life.

Contrary to the stories that have been written recently, there was no destruction of company property during the closure of Aptera. It is appalling how low journalism in the internet age has sunk in pursuit of sensationalism. In fact, our employees exited the building honorably and professionally. The accusations that have been made to the contrary are insulting and demonstrate the kind of uninformed defamation that diminishes the all of Aptera's efforts and undermines the work of everybody committed to perpetuating clean transportation.

Finally, there are currently seven prototypes of the Aptera 2e concept inside our former headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif. These prototypes reflect every generation of Aptera vehicle body ever created, from the very first tested concept vehicle (built by the founders) to the most recent prototype that was campaigned at the Automotive XPRIZE. An eighth prototype resides at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Incidentally, none of these vehicles have been damaged in anyway.

Thank you for your support,

Aptera Marketing
Aptera Motors Inc.

It's interesting to parse the facts from the spin. For what it's worth, the timing they give for the destruction of these shells is within weeks of Steve Fambro's resignation from the board.

A couple days ago in response to the videos Steve said:

Some of these first vehicles, well, there was a lot of learning with their assembly, though the *professional* team always thought they were safe enough to drive around with Congresspeople, other elected representatives, famous actors, etc. Safe enough then...

... these were beautiful fully functioning vehicles, two of them my small, small team (me, a guy, some interns) created while I was CTO. My gas Aptera 2g and the Series hybrid. ACP pp5 (detuned to 75 kw) could drive over 100 mph all day long (as long as there was gas in the tank or quick charge available) . In particular, PP5 would push you back in the seat all the way till it reached the RPM limited top speed of about 105~110 mph. It was an exceptional EV to drive.

They were gutted, perhaps damaged in the process, and destroyed. Can't tell of the roll structures were were removed either. There is no viable or logical reason for this to have been done, only to prevent the founders from ever seeing their functioning works again. The upside is that every vehicle there still, except that travesty of a turd S01, are bodies built by Chris and his crew.

 

[AnOutsider]

Perhaps he didn't realize the videos were old? If he did though, interesting he wouldn't say that in the midst of all the "oh my god"-ing going on. Guessing that release was rushed too, lots of typos.

 

[doug]

Cross posting Steve Fambro's interview here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZRxvU2hzL0

 

[doug]

And, I'll just leave this here... (language NSFW)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm7fqtt2b2E

 

[neroden]

Ah. The incompetence of "professional executives". We know it well. I've watched them sabotage so many companies (while paying themselves lavishly, naturally). Got to watch one closely as a friend was involved.

They are, arguably, the entire problem with the US economy.

 

[AnOutsider]

Yup. Much better when the CEO is the founder and heavily invested in things. I've seen and heard of some outrageous practices that have become the norm.

 

[medved]

 

[domenick]

The Aptera 2e is alive and, purportedly, coming to America, care of Zap. Story here.

 

[AnOutsider]

Doesn't look so rosy:

Sadly, we remain skeptical that any of this will come to pass. Besides the company's controversial history, there's this; Zap closed its showroom in Santa Rosa a year ago and, under the terms of a lawsuit resolution with former investor Al Yousuf Group, handed over the deed to this and another property, and promised to repay an additional $1.3 million. Also, from its recently filed 10-4:

ZAP incurred net losses attributable to ZAP of $40.8million, $19.0 million, and $11.3 million for years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively and has had net losses in each quarter since its inception. Jonway incurred net losses of $ 10.2 million and $445,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

[daniel]

I really loved my little Zap Xebra that I drove for four years until I got the Roadster. However, people who followed Zap know that the Xebra was the only thing they ever followed through on, throughout a long history of empty promises. I would not count on Zap delivering the Aptera. It would be nice if they do, however. Assuming they don't just use the body shape and downgrade the quality and performance. As much as I loved my Xebra, it was not a well-constructed or a well-designed car. I had to have numerous modifications made on it to make it the delightful little car it was.

 

[domenick]

So, it seems the Zap part of the equation was wrong. The new Aptera will partner with Zhejang Jonway Group, of which Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co (51% owned by Zap), is but a part.

Here is the story after speaking with one of the people involved. Aptera to phoenix as Aptera USA, plans to deliver in 2013

 

[richkae]

I'm sorry but I won't buy anything that Zap touches.

 

[doug]

So, it seems the Zap part of the equation was wrong. The new Aptera will partner with Zhejang Jonway Group, of which Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co (51% owned by Zap), is but a part.

Here is the story after speaking with one of the people involved. Aptera to phoenix as Aptera USA, plans to deliver in 2013

The Zap brand is definitely damaged goods. But I don't quite understand this part:

Aptera USA – they were originally going with Zaptera USA, but changed their minds after seeing the reaction to our previous post – bought up all the old Aptera assets and plan on moving swiftly to bring the three-wheeler to market, perhaps as early as the first quarter of 2013.

So it effectively is still Zap, they just won't associate it with the Zap name? I'll be happy to see the Aptera on the road in some form, though I kinda feel it's time has past.

 

[TEG]

The Zap brand is definitely damaged goods...

A bit more on ZAP history...
ZAP History

...ZAP was founded in September 1994 as ZAP Power Systems in Sebastopol, California, a venture started by EV entrepreneur and ZAP PIAXP Team Captain Gary Starr, with his previous experience in electric vehicles, as well as other electric vehicle developers and advocates. Starr had previous experience with electric cars including Solar Electric Engineering and U.S. Electricar, which is currently known as Enova Systems . Starr was involved in more than 600 electric car conversions between 1989 and 1994 from Ford Escorts, GEO Prizms, Chevy S-10s, Toyota Paseos, S-10 Blazer SUVs, Pontiac Fieros and various kit cars, with sales to Hollywood celebrities, government agencies, military bases, the US Post Office, Ford and GM. He left that venture to start ZAP believing there was a growing opportunity in smaller bicycle and scooter EV designs that could be affordable for a greater number of people...

Zap electric cars

...recently, ZAP has formed a joint venture called ZAP Hangzhou in China to produce EVs and improve EV infrastructure there...
Now, Zap has bought up 51 percent of Jonway Automobile for $29 million US in cash. The Chinese auto manufacturer will merge with the Zap engineering team, giving an estimated 30,000 unit per year production capacity. In addition, Zap will acquire exclusive international rights to distribute Jonway’s products for about 31.5 million shares of ZAP common shares...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZAP_%28motor_company%29

 

[Grendal]

Here the comment I posted on ABG:

Show me, don't tell me. I absolutely wish them the best of luck. I would love to see a few of these on the road. Seperating themselves from Zap is a smart move as long as they don't mimic any the things Zap did to ruin their reputation. They have officially announced they are moving to produce the SO-1 style Aptera, which was more mass market friendly but lost some of the lightweight aerodynamic strengths of the earlier designs. I'm still interested but they have to do a lot to prove that they're more than just talk. The key to this vehicle will be to keep the weight down to 1600-1800 lbs. It makes it a lot more tough when the 20 kWh battery pack is around 400 lbs.