– Visiting Aptera – ?

[bruce-mengler]

Aptera has at least 4 different sites in San Diego county.

1. Sorrento Valley was the original HQ
2. Carlsbad assembly building

3. Carlsbad Engineering building

4. ????? Battery Manufacturing building

I advise against a cold call drop in visit, but you do as you deem appropriate.
From what I know Carlsbad is the most likely location for some or all the 5 prototypes.

[hbrocks]

…. Ah great answer- that’s exactly what I was actually wanting to know (where we could see the vehicle).

👍 Thanks Bruce

[kevin-bradbury]

@bradley shefmire – Maybe you can catch Gamma out in the wild. Keep your eyes peeled and your video camera at the ready.😁

Gamma in the wild! Aptera is on the streets testing. – YouTube

• This reply was modified 7 months, 3 weeks ago by  Kevin Bradbury. Reason: Video link

[nathan-bendall]

<font size=”5″>Hope this helps.</font>

<font size=”5″>
</font>

<font size=”5″>APTERA BUSINESS MIXER</font>

<font size=”4″>OCTOBER 20TH, 6PM</font>

APTERA BUSINESS MIXER
OCTOBER 20TH, 6PM

We are excited to announce our first Business Mixer since May 2022! SACC and FACC are inviting you to a Business mixer together with Aptera, a company driven by innovative and sustainable engineering and manufacturing. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn more about an innovative future and network with other professionals in the San Diego area.

Where: 5818 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92008
When: Oct 20th, 6pm

The cost for attending:
– $20 for SACC SD members,
– $30 for non-members, and the ticket includes a 1 year membership with SACC San Diego.We are excited to announce our first Business Mixer since May 2022! SACC and FACC are inviting you to a Business mixer together with Aptera, a company driven by innovative and sustainable engineering and manufacturing. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn more about an innovative future and network with other professionals in the San Diego area.

Where: 5818 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92008
When: Oct 20th, 6pm

The cost for attending:
– $20 for SACC SD members,
– $30 for non-members, and the ticket includes a 1 year membership with SACC San Diego. https://www.sacc-sandiego.org/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjYodoVPh7G

• This reply was modified 7 months, 3 weeks ago by  Nathan Bendall.

[bruce-mengler]

5818 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92008 is the Aptera Assembly building

[hbrocks]

oh Great – Thank you – Nathan!
so 2 separate locations in Carlsbad?

[bruce-mengler]

Yes two building which are about 1.5 miles apart.

[William_J]

I have stopped by the Aptera facilities for purposes of investment due diligence. I’ve felt that the investors who are putting up the funds for the business get less access to information than the brand ambassadors, so I’ve tried to fill in the gaps myself. The Aptera team has been very gracious and I haven’t stopped by without emailing Aptera at least a week ahead of time. The ability to get a response to such an email has improved.

The Sorrento Valley location should now be vacated based upon discussion during my prior visit there. I suspect the location was simply too small to provide for the needed R&D.

The Fully Charged Live event and events such as these, the Issuance Stonks webinar and others are probably your best bet to get questions answered.

I suspect Aptera wants to avoid visitors as they don’t advertise the locations, but they’ve not told me this specifically. I’ve limited my visit time to 10 – 15 minutes as I don’t want to be a distraction.

[JRWiley]

Jonathan, would you mind sharing your impressions and observations with us?

[William_J]

I was suitably impressed. When I first stopped by in the middle of 2021, I had emailed, but received no response. As I was in the area already and had figured out the unadvertised Sorrento Valley address based upon Aptera test drive videos, I took a look to find it, did so and parked out front. As I didn’t have an appointment, I considered leaving, but ultimately curiosity got the better of me and I decided to knock on the door.

The receptionist put in a call since I had ‘investor questions’ and to my surprise Steve Fambro came out to help answer them, though I didn’t have anything substantive to ask as talking to Steve wasn’t part of the plan. More so, I wanted to assure myself that investor money was being spent wisely and meaningful progress was being made. Steve passed me to one of the engineers to show me around.

The Sorrento Valley facility was small and it didn’t take long to see the place. For my unannounced “audit” of a visit, there was a good bit going on. Two engineers were actively working on one of the Alphas and when we approached they were head/shoulders deep into the work. They explained some of what they were working on. I saw a number of prototype parts, testing rigs and fixtures while I was there. I’m sparing detail in case anything I saw was proprietary. Prior to leaving, I was able to have a seat inside the Alpha Noir vehicle which I found to be rather comfortable and to my liking. The vehicle was inside near the front door and getting a test ride would likely have been quite inconvenient, so I didn’t ask.

I stopped by the Sorrento Valley facility this past summer 2022 and Anuj (solar, see most recent Aptera video on solar panel production) was kind enough to give me a quick tour before he got on a call he was waiting for. I was able to see in-person what can be seen in Aptera, AOC, or other videos on YouTube. Things were more in disarray as they had clearly begun the process of moving out of that facility.

I don’t have much to note about the Carlsbad assembly location. I have seen it in person, but when I stopped by it smelled largely of paint from the outside and looked like contractors were getting work done on the building. I didn’t see any Aptera employees and didn’t go inside. I don’t know where the other Aptera locations in Carlsbad are.

All was in keeping with my expectations. My goal in visiting was to reduce any possibility in my mind that Aptera is not what they purport to be. This goal was met. As far as whether they will be a breakout success, I don’t know, but it won’t be for lack of trying.

I was still interested in Carlsbad and prior to FCL, I emailed and actually did get a response this time and was told ‘no tours, sorry’, so haven’t really seen anything there and haven’t been back. I know brand ambassadors got the tour, but I didn’t sign up to be one of those. FCL was actually very helpful, possibly more so than the webinars or a facility visit/tour since Chris Anthony and other Aptera team members were there and ready to answer any sort of question and discuss.

[JRWiley]

Thanks so much for your generous response. Always helpful to hear from an “outsider” with first hand objective observations and impressions. I appreciate it.

[bruce-mengler]

This is a correction & confirmation. I just did a recon trip to Sorrento Valley & I can confirm that JJ was correct that Aptera has vacated the Sorrento Valley location. I had posted based on past knowledge & had not been by Sorrento Valley location in a number of months.