KATHMANDU: California-based startup Aptera Motors has achieved a major step toward producing its long-awaited solar-powered electric vehicle.
The U.S. company announced that it has moved beyond the prototype stage and started building validation vehicles on a new assembly jig.
This marks the transition from custom-made prototypes to a repeatable production process using supplier-ready parts. Aptera said the validation setup will serve as the foundation for its low-volume production line at its Southern California facility.
Co-CEO Chris Anthony described the milestone as a significant step for the company. He told InsideEVs that, for the first time, Aptera’s technicians will assemble vehicles in a defined sequence of stations, following processes developed closely with the engineers who designed them.
The two-seater, three-wheeled EV will use Vitesco’s EMR3 drive unit, which combines a permanent-magnet motor, inverter, and reducer in a single system. The batteries are supplied by LG Energy Solution.
Aptera’s Launch Edition, priced around $40,000, and is expected to deliver up to 643 kilometers of range on a full charge. It supports both Tesla’s NACS charging port and solar charging through integrated panels.
Under ideal sunlight, the solar system can add up to 64 kilometers of range per day enough for most daily commutes without plugging in.
