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If you’ve been pining for the three-wheeled electric Aptera 2e, you’ll have to pine a little longer. Although the California-based startup hoped to have its eco-friendly electric car in customers’ hands by the end of this year, the company revealed it has delayed the launch until 2010, saying “development has outpaced the rate of fundraising.”
“We’re making significant progress every day with product refinements,” said Aptera CEO Paul Wilbur. “However, we now have to adjust our production schedule to align with financing realities.”
Wilbur says production of the 2e will commence when the company either closes its current round of private funding, or if the company secures financing through the Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle loan, a program it is now eligible for. In the mean time, the 4000 customers who have placed deposits for the car will simply have to wait.
“I’m as disappointed as any of our depositors and followers around the country that we’re delaying initial production,” Wilbur said. “There’s no one who’s more anxious than we are to put the 2e on the road.”
Aptera cites the production delay as the reason behind an organization shuffle. The company claims it is forced to lay off “some” employees (likely those involved with assembly), but is also restructuring the management org chart. Interestingly, co-founders Chris Anthony and Steve Fambro are leaving the company.
Fambro claims he’s only taking a “short leave of absence” from the company, and is simply stepping aside from day-to-day activities.
“Right now, my advanced work is a lower priority for Aptera,” Fambro said. “We’ve got to be focused on funding and getting the first 2e on the road.”
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