Carlsbad, CA – September 25, 2025 – Aptera Motors is proud to announce the appointment of Leon Kaunitz as SVP of Engineering, reinforcing the company’s mission to bring its high-efficiency solar electric vehicle into production. Kaunitz brings a deep track record of successfully launching groundbreaking vehicles at Tesla, NIO, Ford, and other leading automotive and energy storage companies.
Kaunitz has led engineering programs across every scale of production, from custom low-volume builds to multi-million-unit platforms. At Tesla, he helped implement the Model S into mass production by streamlining engineering, battery system integration, and manufacturability. At NIO, where he was employee #9 and the first U.S.-based engineer, he built and led the engineering team responsible for the ES8 and ES6 platforms, redefining EV architecture, manufacturing systems, and the integration of swappable battery technology.
“Leon is exactly the kind of systems thinker and builder we need to take Aptera across the production finish line,” said Steve Fambro, Co-CEO of Aptera. “He brings not only the technical expertise but also the organizational leadership and startup grit that align perfectly with Aptera’s next phase.”
Kaunitz’s experience spans global OEMs and high-growth startups alike. He has built entire engineering departments from the ground up, led cost-saving redesigns, and managed complex production programs involving large-scale capital investments. His engineering leadership has contributed to some of the most efficient and widely adopted vehicles in their class, including the Ford F-150, Daimler Cascadia, and Tesla Model S.
Throughout his career, Kaunitz has championed a design-for-manufacturing philosophy that balances innovation with real-world execution. His approach emphasizes hands-on problem solving, rigorous validation, and seamless alignment between R&D, supply chain, and final assembly.
“Aptera is redefining efficiency for the EV era,” said Kaunitz. “I’ve spent my career transforming advanced concepts into products that are not only innovative but also manufacturable at scale. That’s exactly what Aptera is poised to do, and I’m thrilled to help make it happen.”
Kaunitz will oversee Aptera’s engineering and production readiness functions, with a focus on final integration, tooling validation, and initial vehicle builds. His hiring marks a significant milestone as Aptera accelerates toward the start of production for its solar EV. He is specialized in taking advanced vehicle concepts into efficient series production, always targeting high-quality execution and customer satisfaction.
About Aptera Motors Corp. Aptera Motors Corp. is a solar mobility company driven by a mission to advance the future of efficient transportation. Its flagship vehicle is 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.
Media Contact:
media@aptera.us