Carlsbad, CA — August 20, 2026 — Aptera Motors Corp. (Nasdaq: SEV), a solar mobility company, today announced a strategic investment by Launch Design (Shanghai Launch Automotive Technology Co., Ltd.), a design-for-manufacturing company with more than 3,000 employees, multiple production bases, and a portfolio of more than 400 vehicle models developed for automakers around the globe.
The partnership covers a production program valued at up to approximately $44 million (RMB 300 million) at current exchange rates, spanning assembly fixtures and tooling, vehicle testing, pilot production, and high-volume production work. Those first fixtures and parts are for Aptera’s first 40 production vehicles, which the companies are aiming to begin building in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The partnership also opens Launch’s international supplier network to Aptera, giving it access to parts and tooling at costs difficult to reach independently. Launch’s supply base is positioned to deliver finished subassemblies, not loose parts, directly to Aptera’s final assembly facility in California.
“This strategic investment enhances our resources, allowing us to bring proven design-for-manufacturing expertise and a global supply chain to Carlsbad without taking on the capital burden of building that expertise from scratch,” said Chris Anthony, Co-CEO of Aptera. “We expect Launch’s experience will shorten our path to high-volume production and reduce materials costs. We have already seen reductions in our projected bill of materials from the relationship, an early indication that the partnership is improving unit economics before the first production vehicle is built.”
“Launch’s reach extends well beyond manufacturing,” said Steve Fambro, Co-CEO of Aptera. “Their production bases and supplier relationships give us a practical way to plan for markets outside the United States in the future, where we believe the appetite for a highly efficient solar vehicle is significant.”
Aptera will pay two-thirds of approved program costs, with the remaining third (up to approximately $15 million) paid in warrants to purchase Aptera stock. The structure conserves Aptera’s cash as production scales and aligns Launch’s interests with Aptera’s success. Additional terms of the agreement and the warrants will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Aptera expects to fund its portion of the production program through existing capital resources, its previously announced financing arrangements, and future debt or equity financing.
About Aptera Motors Corp.
Aptera Motors Corp. (Nasdaq: SEV) is a solar mobility company driven by a mission to advance the future of efficient transportation. Its flagship vehicle is conceived to be a paradigm-shifting solar electric vehicle that leverages breakthroughs in aerodynamics, material science, and solar technology to pursue new levels of efficiency. As a public benefit corporation, Aptera is committed to building a sustainable business that positively impacts its stakeholders and the environment. Aptera is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. For more information, please visit www.aptera.us.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated benefits of Aptera’s partnership with Launch Design, including the expected value of the production program and the structure and timing of payments under the program, including the issuance of warrants; expectations regarding production timelines, cost efficiencies, bill of materials costs, and capital requirements, including the capital required to reach volume production; plans to scale production at Aptera’s Carlsbad facility; expectations regarding future expansion into international markets; and Aptera’s plans to continue executing its financing plan to fund its production ramp and work toward the start of production of its solar EV. Words such as “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “will,” “targets,” “believes,” and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are based on Aptera’s current expectations and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, without limitation: risks related to Aptera’s ability to raise additional capital on acceptable terms or at all; risks associated with Aptera’s equity line of credit arrangement; risks related to the issuance of warrants to Launch under the agreement, including potential dilution to existing shareholders; fluctuations in currency exchange rates affecting the U.S. dollar value of amounts denominated in RMB; risks related to reliance on a single manufacturing partner and an international supply chain, including the risk that Launch does not perform as anticipated; risks related to tariffs, export controls, trade restrictions, or other changes in U.S. or international trade policy that could affect cross-border manufacturing arrangements; uncertainties inherent in scaling manufacturing operations; the risk that anticipated cost savings, capital reductions, or production timelines are not realized; and other risks detailed in Aptera’s filings with the SEC, including under the heading “Risk Factors” in its Registration Statement on Form S-1 and its subsequent periodic reports. Aptera’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on its success in raising additional capital and executing its business plan, as further described in its SEC filings. Aptera undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
Media Contact:
media@aptera.us
Investor Relations:
Aptera Motors Corp.
ir@aptera.us
Questions and Answers
Q: What is Aptera announcing?
A: Aptera has entered into a strategic partnership with Launch Design to support its transition from vehicle development and validation into initial production and, ultimately, higher-volume manufacturing. The program includes assembly fixtures, vehicle testing, pilot production, supply-chain support, and high-volume production work.
Q: Who is Launch Design?
A: Launch Design, also known as Shanghai Launch Automotive Technology Co., Ltd., is a design-for-manufacturing company with more than 3,000 employees and multiple production bases. It has worked on more than 400 vehicle programs for automakers including BYD, Ford, XPeng, Nio, and Tesla.
Q: Why did Aptera choose Launch?
A: Launch brings proven design-for-manufacturing experience, production infrastructure, and access to an international supplier network. Aptera expects this experience to shorten its path to high-volume production, reduce materials costs, and lower the capital burden of building those capabilities independently.
Q: How long have Aptera and Launch been working together?
A: Aptera and Launch have been working together for more than a year. In the last six months, the relationship has already reduced Aptera’s projected bill of materials.
Q: What does design for manufacturing mean in this partnership?
A: Launch’s process engineers are working directly with Aptera’s team on fixtures, assembly procedures, and cycle times to help prepare the vehicle to be built efficiently at scale.
Q: What work will Launch perform?
A: Launch will support assembly fixtures, vehicle testing, pilot production, high-volume production work, and supply-chain development. Launch and its supplier network plan to combine numerous individual components into larger finished subassemblies before shipping them to the San Diego area.
Q: Is Aptera moving final vehicle assembly outside the United States?
A: No. Under the announced production plan, larger finished subassemblies will be transported to San Diego, where Aptera plans to complete final vehicle assembly and deliver vehicles to customers.
Q: How does using larger finished subassemblies help Aptera?
A: Launch will consolidate numerous individual parts into a much smaller number of larger finished subassemblies. This reduces the number of individual parts Aptera must receive and integrate, simplifies final assembly, and supports Aptera’s goal of building as many vehicles as quickly as possible in Carlsbad, CA.
Q: What supply chain benefits does Launch provide?
A: The partnership opens Launch’s international supplier network to Aptera, providing access to parts at costs that would be difficult for Aptera to reach independently at this stage. Launch’s supply base is positioned to deliver finished subassemblies rather than loose parts directly to Aptera’s final assembly operation in Carlsbad, CA.
Q: What is the relationship between this partnership and Aptera’s first 40 production vehicles?
A: The assembly fixtures, pilot production work, supply-chain support, and larger finished subassemblies provided through the Launch partnership will support Aptera’s first 40 production vehicles.
Q: How does working with Launch change Aptera’s production plans?
A: This partnership does not change Aptera’s plans of conducting final assembly of Aptera vehicles in Carlsbad, CA. We anticipate some changes may be made compared to our existing low-volume validation line, as we plan to receive larger subassemblies to our final assembly location.
Q: When will the first bodies and chassis arrive?
A: The first bodies and chassis are expected to begin arriving in October 2026.
Q: When does Aptera plan to begin building the first 40 production vehicles?
A: Aptera is aiming to begin building the first 40 production vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Q: How are these parts different from Aptera’s earlier validation builds?
A: Aptera’s engineering team refined the body and chassis specifications using what it learned from its validation builds. Those refinements are incorporated into the production parts ordered for the first 40 vehicles. While Atlas vehicles were made exclusively for internal validation, we plan to begin deliveries using the next batch of vehicles.
Q: What is included in the approximately $44 million production program?
A: The program is valued at up to approximately $44 million, and spans assembly fixtures, vehicle testing, pilot production, and high-volume production work.
Q: How will Aptera compensate Launch for the program?
A: Aptera will pay two-thirds of approved program costs in cash. For the remaining third, up to approximately $15 million, Launch will accept warrants to purchase Aptera stock.
Q: Is Launch providing Aptera with approximately $15 million in cash?
A: No. Launch is accepting warrants to purchase Aptera stock as compensation for up to approximately $15 million of approved program costs. Launch is trading a portion of its work for potential equity upside rather than contributing approximately $15 million in cash.
Q: Why is part of Launch’s work being compensated through warrants?
A: The structure conserves Aptera’s cash and gives Launch the opportunity to benefit from Aptera’s future growth, aligning Launch’s potential upside with the success of the vehicles it is helping bring to market.
Q: Does Launch own Aptera stock through this agreement?
A: Launch will receive warrants that provide the right to purchase Aptera stock under specified terms. Additional terms of the agreement and warrants will be included in Aptera’s Form 8-K.
Q: Where can investors find the complete terms of the agreement and warrants?
A: Additional terms of the agreement and warrants will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Q: How does Aptera expect to fund its cash portion of the program?
A: Aptera expects to fund its portion through existing capital resources, its previously announced financing arrangements, and future debt or equity financing.
Q: Has the relationship already reduced Aptera’s costs?
A: Yes. Aptera has already seen significant reductions in its projected bill of materials through its work with Launch. Aptera has not disclosed the amount of those projected reductions at this time.
Q: How does the partnership support high-volume production?
A: Launch brings design-for-manufacturing expertise, production infrastructure, assembly-process development, and an international supplier network. The partnership is intended to help Aptera move from a vehicle that has been validated into one that can be built efficiently at scale.
Q: Does this announcement establish international launch dates?
A: No international launch dates are being announced. Launch’s production bases, and supplier relationships give Aptera a practical way to plan for potential markets outside the United States in the future after scaling deliveries in the USA.
