Aptera's demographics and rollout plan 

Hello, Steve! 38 year old woman here! They don't do racial breakdowns, but I'm also black. 🙂 I think I've been following you since 2020. A channel called Transport Evolve told me the Aptera was coming back and I searched for more info. You channel popped up and I've been watching ever since. I appreciate the breakdowns, especially since I don't have a background in most of the areas discussed. I'm not even a "car" person. I just care that it is efficient and affordable (I paid cash for my 2016 prius). I'm single and have no children, so the aptera is perfect for me. I love the design, but I also care about mileage, safety, and the solar is a great bonus. I'm an investor, but not a reservation holder, since I can't pay cash for the Aptera now. I'm working on buying my first house now, but I plan to start saving for my Aptera after that. I REALLY want to to me a 45th birthday present to myself! 😀Please continue to keep doing what you are doing. 🙂

When people start to realize there is a solution that disconnects them from gas stations AND the grid? This vehicle solves so many problems in one go, while not requiring people to change their driving habits.

Steve, I am so thankful for your continued commitment to providing Aptera information. I have been slowed down a bit myself by cancer and some other health issues, but hope to last long enough to enjoy one for a while. It is something that our environment badly needs, even if we don't have a personal use for it.

As 1 of the 2% I find your delivery just fine and very educational. You're able to explain things so those of use with little vehicle knowledge can understand. Thank-you

Male, older (70yo) this is my ‘soap opera’ 😀

Florida reservation holder here, launch edition.

I'm in Georgia. I hope to fly to California to take delivery of an Aptera late next year or early in 2026. I'll wait a year after initial deliveries. I suppose Californians will dominate initial deliveries since they're close enough to the factory to have the vehicle towed there. I'll drive 2000 miles to get my vehicle home, and I'll be on my own for maintenance beyond the telephone. If many people in Florida and Georgia buy Apteras in the first couple of years, mechanics familiar with the vehicle will appear eventually, but no local mechanic will know much more than I do about maintaining an Aptera for the first year or two after I take delivery, and if anything goes wrong with the battery, I'll have little choice but to ship the vehicle back to California. That's a big risk to take for a $30+k purchase. I'll take it, but I'm not wearing blinders about the risk.

I think that the key point will be starting production, optimizing Aptera manufacturing, and moving towards profitability. Unfortunately, there are very few current examples of EV startups succeeding these days, but as production begins and scales up, it will show that Aptera is real, and that it is more than just a smart idea. Before Tesla production scaled up in 2018, most of the auto industry (and the general population) did not see EVs as EVER being truly competitive against gas vehicles. Now, 6 years later the public perception is very different for many people. And a solid market has opened up, accelerating development and support for EVs worldwide. Making the future of EVs stronger, if not guaranteed. And I believe that Aptera has the same potential for acceptance and future growth.

Thank you again for the time and effort that you put into these videos Steve. They are really well done.

With inflation being what it is I believe that demand for efficiency will only increase. Cost of ownership will become the most important metric when it comes to transportation choices. Demand for Aptera will increase as cost of living rises. A car sharing app could allow owners to turn their vehicles into a source of income rather than expense. The future for Aptera looks sunny or SUNA.

Thank you for this webinar breakdown series Steve!

Women love you and Aptera.

Very interesting Steve. Actually for an EV, the distribution of interest is spread out over the US fairly well, rather than just in CA.

I'm skewing older every day, and I was a much younger man when I first put down a deposit for an Aptera in 2008.

We older guys on the channel are the ones who were promised flying cars, and we're tired of waiting. 😂 Seriously, though, I think I've mentioned that there is a long history of backyard mechanics building electric vehicles by hand. I definitely see this as a market for Aptera. They understand the technology, they recognize aerodynamics when the see it, and they may even have had experience with three wheeled vehicles. Aptera's philosophy of right to repair will go right along with that.

I really hope they'll deliver to Europe as well. I have followed this from the beginning, invested, and have done this because Aptera said early on they would make an early sub-1000 unit delivery to the EU because this would work with a simplified homologation.

I’d just point out that the timeline for the rollout being discussed here assumes only production from the first factory. Which is fair, since that’s the only one we currently have a clear path to funding and building. But I think once these vehicles hit the streets and Aptera is in production, it’s going to be a sensation. Much talked about, with tons of media coverage. Compared to now, when the vast majority of the public has never heard of Aptera, demand will skyrocket, along with interest from large investors. Remember that once a company is generating revenue, as well as being publicly traded, it’s in a completely different investment environment. Remember also that national, state, and local governments regularly throw enormous amounts of money at manufacturing companies, trying to outbid each other to get them to locate in their jurisdiction. This access to additional capital along with government incentives will enable Aptera to set up factories in more places. Thereby enabling rapid expansion and acceleration of deliveries.

The right to repair is a big plus for many considering purchase. . . The wide front wheel base is definitely something to account for.

Interesting demographics. Thanks for your analysis and comparisons. A little surprised that U.S. distribution by age is not closer to Gaussian. Would like to see many more Gen X as that is the age group currently targeted most in my ongoing EV development consulting experience. Not surprised that international is so small as I think most understand that it will be awhile before Apterae are available due to reengineering for compliance. Grateful for the enthusiastic fans internationally who always comment thoughtfully and attend European events.

Thanks again Steve, you rock! Your my favorite and go to channel for Aptera information. This is because of your breakdown analysis with even/fair approach-well done my friend! Btw from PA/#624 and looking forward to providing as much information about Aptera once I get mine.

I am in Mobile Alabama, and met one of the other accelerators in Fairhope Alabama at last year's Earth day event. He was doing a show and tell with several Teslas and a chevy bolt. I think two of the cars were his, the others were lent to him for the event.

UK here. I knew it would be a long time to get them here. But I’m fine with it. Have to target the markets with the potential first. I want my shares to do well after all.

I *hope* that the distro centers do not take until '27/'28. I would *hope* that once the production line starts cranking out Apteras in '25/'26 that they will need a place to go, a way to be delivered, and the distro centers are that outlet for many of us reservation holders.

So stoked!!!

I was relieved to hear Chris Anthony say in the June 13 “Answering Accelerator Questions” video that Aptera will establish a delivery process for customers who do not live near San Diego and do not wish to begin their Aptera ownership with a marathon road trip. Thinking about how that might work, I noted that in my state, Illinois, there are 49 Accelerators with delivery slots ranging from 65 to 1981 as of June 15. All but 6 of us have ranks within 60 (3 days’ production at the projected rate of 500 Apteras per month) of the next higher slot in our group. This suggests to me that it should be feasible to group shipments geographically, with each transporter carrying multiple vehicles to customers who live near each other. This would be cheaper than shipping each vehicle separately, without any customer having to wait an unduly long period between their purchase and the shipment of their vehicle.

I think Aptera is going to be continually rethinking their rollout. The statement Chris said about some fleet buyer ponying up a site comparable to Carlsbad and some cash for provisioning will accelerate production dramatically. I imagine that fleets will include plans to cut petroleum consumption in the metropolitan marketing areas through subsidized leases that displace high-mileage commuters, which more rapidly cuts emissions. Those fleet vehicles would be remanufactured after a decade into Aptera-based robo taxi's. The cool thing about all this is that there is never a sale as the leasing fleet owner is also the builder, not to mention there at least was a loophole regarding the federal $7500 rebate available to fleet operators. Aptera would operate the fleets assembly facility under contract that has the fleet operator purchasing approved parts from Aptera for the motors, batteries, Bincs etc. Aptera would be able to apportion up to a prearranged portion of the production for retail sale but the fleet and factory owners would be guaranteed and the priority. ' My point is leasing Aptera's from fleet-associated assembly plants may be the ticket to a much broader and quicker production through partnerships with fleet leasing agents.

Steve, Just a few hours ago, DTL revealed something quite significant in the true development of Aptera. It is the HVAC or a part of the HVAC. In which, DTL showed the part handled and put into its position in the BINC. To me, it is the proof that Aptera has progressed quite far in the PI builds. A good news.

1:10 IMO the reservation shares represent knowledge about Aptera rather than potential market. Personally I think Aptera could potentially have a larger market in the EU than in the USA, once homologation & width issues are sorted out. Electricity costs a lot more, there is more of a focus on efficiency, much less interest in big trucks, higher population, etc.

Florida, retirees, mostly short drives and multiple days of non use is likely

Thanks Steve Re the Paradigm… Here was the original advertisement : 220 reservation back then Paradigm Edition: Built to be the Most Efficient Vehicle on the Road with 400-mile range, Enhanced Audio, 100kW, Full Solar, with special Paradigm interior features (220 vehicles - first production run). So yes I would think switching to the LE could have been an option but then you would have to upgrade to the AWD But maybe some only want that the FWD (?) and wait. Paradigm Interior ? We know the LE has a Codex interior. Std Production interiors also included Vida and Coast Then “way off” ….are the 110 Paradigm Plus: Paradigm +: Built to be the Most Efficient Vehicle on the Road with a full 1,000-mile range, Upgraded Audio, 100kW, Full Solar with special Paradigm interior features (110 vehicles - fourth production run).

I'm a 56 year old white, male Texan. I'm about as generic as possible except that I really have a passion for efficiency, especially cars. I'm hoping I'm able to purchase my Launch Edition online and then a buddy and I are planning on flying out to San Diego and driving back to Texas. That's the hope, anyway.

Florida is the home of Key West and Disney so for a vehicle that looks like it rolled out of Tomorrowland Floridians are accepting, for Texas oil country it looks weird.

I think if Aptera does the homologation themselves then the European percentage would go up and this would skyrocket in Europe if a production facility would be built there.

I don’t expect a change in the demographics for a while. After production happens and the dependability can be proven then maybe it will change. There is already the ice slingshot and Can-Am Spyder which I have seen yet be compared to the Aptera. It will be interesting to see what the known drive ability of those vehicles and issues they have faced in daily use. Not being enclosed is known but it is the dependability and issues with being 3 wheel that would enlighten what to expect on the road.

I think Aptera is planning on faster distribution than you are suggesting, Steve. In fact, their survival may depend on getting to "full" scale sooner than anyone else has. That has been the Munro guidance and may well have guided their contracting for sub-assemblies and for production equipment. Low speed delivery just isn't viable. Go big or get sent home. Both outcomes are possible at this stage. imho

I could register my Aptera in either Washington or Sonora. In fact Guaymas, Sonora is much closer to San Diego than Seattle is.

WI is another state that has outdated dealership laws. Luckily, MN and IL don't. I'm hoping that something will work out so I don't have to fly to CA to get an Aptera. A lot can change before my number comes up. My 2010 Honda Fit has a lot of life left but I'm not sure about my body.

I was automatically slidden into launch edition, which i guess I'm okay with that because the only difference was my order had a 600mi battery. I'll sacrifice the 200 mi to get it a bit earlier.

Aptera has said anyone can pick up their vehicle in Carlsbad, and they also said initial deliveries would be in a 400 mile radius of Carlsbad. I'm within that radius AND can take delivery in Carlsbad. IF I have to wait another 3 - 4 years for a delivery center to be established near me, then Aptera will most likely lose a sale.

I'm in NJ but i want to fly to California and then road trip home. Where do I fit in?

TX viewer here (male, age 65). I think the sales situation here is still dealer centric. But there are TONS of Teslas roaming around in TX, so that doesn't seem to have affected sales in the state. But I am willing to fly to CA to take delivery of my Aptera and then drive it back to TX, so hopefully it won't be a problem to purchase one as a TX resident. I really hope your estimated timelines are wrong. If the Phase 1 and Phase 2 states are not until 2027-2028, that will really hurt Aptera. I think Aptera has a place in the EV market right now because so many EVs are large, heavy and expensive. But I think that the next target for EVs will be the lower cost market, so if Aptera deliveries (in quantity) are delayed well beyond 2025 the opportunity window may close and traditional manufacturers will have cost competitive vehicles available. And if the sub-$30k EV choices are between a two-passenger, three wheeled autocycle or a more traditional four passenger, four wheeled vehicle, buyers will choose the more traditional vehicle.

Would love to see which states are phase 1 states. I live in Utah. Anyone know where it would fall?

Any idea of how many paradigm holders there are?

Florida's the third most populous state ahead of NY.

Does anyone know if Aptera plans to have one pedal driving? I got BYD seal recently and one frustrating thing is the regen braking is not one pedal driving, which makes the car less efficient, and potentially less safe as takes long to brake quickly, though broking is still very good especially compared to ICE car. Also hearing about how great the acceleration in Aptera is good, but i hope if it has eco mode, car reduces the acceleration a lot, to make the car more efficient. And if you want really good acceleration you put Aptera in normal or sports mode. I Find in my BYD seal or Hyundai Ioniq, ECO mode is not that different to normal and sports mode, so both cars less efficient than they could be.

Regarding delivery times, I'm curious if you live elsewhere but can get in the 'California' group if you're willing to take delivery at the Aptera HQ.

Maybe people in FL are looking to do some custom work on it to make it into more like a vehicle that can float when the floods come... Any of those sunny southern states would have more interest in the Aptera, I'm sure. Looking forward to my launch edition and then putting a new skin on it. Or should I not do that because the launch vehicle may be considered a collectable?

Hi there, Happy Steve! There's an English Elli-P-hant in the room again. 🐘👀 I'm one of your Channel's rare female viewers. Am I allowed to call myself a 'woman', or will that get me banned by RU-vid? Whatever. I'm not an Aptera investor or reservation holder, mainly because of the numerous technical reservations I hold about the Aptera. Yes, I'm a critic of the project. I've mentioned my doubts about it many times before, so won't bring them up again here. I just wanted to provide a bit of unsolicited demographic info about one of your 2% of girlie viewers. I'm probably not typical, though. I'm single and straight; I have no faith and no beliefs; I'm a fan of facts, proof, evidence, reason and science. I'm not an engineer, but I love technology. My interests are probably not what you'd call female. Shoes? Handbags? Relationships? Babies? Gossip? Social media? Fashion? Naah. I'm an old-fashioned petrolhead; I used to be a rally driver in the Group-B era; I can strip and rebuild an engine and race-prep a car; I learned to fly gliders (sailplanes), then went on to get my PPL in a Cessna 172. I trained in the most violent of martial arts for 26 years. I used to earn a living as a cabinetmaker; I also made electric guitars. How am I doing, demographically-speaking? I enjoy amateur astronomy, and used to build telescopes, including grinding my own mirrors and lenses. I've always liked to make stuff - anything from a jam sandwich to an all-composite radio-controlled model aircraft, to a 4-bedroom bungalow in Kenya. I can fabricate and weld; I can use a lathe; I can mix concrete and lay bricks and tile a roof and plumb and wire a house and sink a well; I can do many of the things that your male viewers can (although I haven't worked out how to pass water standing up, yet🤭). I used to build and fight 100 lb combat robots in the early '90s (as in Robot Wars and BattleBots). I'm a musician of sorts, and play guitar, bass, keyboards, flute, but mainly the drums (open-handed jazz-rock fusion). I grow bonsai trees; I write books; I used to enjoy fishing (can't afford a licence, now). I make and fly gigantic kites, and use them to create aerial videos of no merit whatsoever. I do a lot of bike riding because my physical layout [top-heavy] makes anything else such as jogging impractical. My lifestyle choices of 'male' pursuits are obviously my way of [over-] compensating for my freakishly female form. Nobody ever took me seriously about anything; I've always just been a 24 lb chest. However, I also watch a fair amount of RU-vid in order to keep up with techie trends (I haven't watched TV since 2009 because here in Merrie Olde rip-off England it requires a £160 annual licence, which I can't afford). I admit that my interest in Aptera may seem like that of a vulture peering down at a zebra that's staggering around in ever-decreasing circles, but I'm not here for a gory meal. I don't want to see Aptera fail because I don't want to see a lot of people disappointed. I have no idea what a female Aptera reservation holder might think about this Channel. Perhaps one will write a Comment and let you know. I have my doubts, though, that her thoughts would be any more practical (or uncritical?) than those of your many male viewers. Meaning what? Meaning that I think everyone's in love with a dream, with a vision of the future. There's nothing wrong with that, unless it's all based on hot air. I find it disturbing that, as time drags on (and on), Aptera fans ask fewer and fewer hard questions, and are apparently satisfied with more and more soft answers. As a science-type person I wanna see arguments and evidence. Unquestioning faith is for the Teslamic faithful when in the presence of their loathsome maggot of a messiah Ego Muskrat. Aptera ought to be better than that. Beware of achieving cult status, dear Apteroids. Nothing good ever came out of that kind of fanaticism. Certain views are already banned on various pro-Aptera sites; that's not healthy. Let people speak. If they're talking rubbish, by all means condemn them, but let them have their say. People will ignore them or denounce them or laugh at them as they see fit, and that makes more sense than simply shrieking "Heresy!" and silencing them. So... there's a bit too much Aptera 'cheerleading' going on for my [grumpy, Limey] taste. Praise is fine if it's based on results, but when it's not, it's ridiculous. Lots of pom-poms and flashing thighs and fake white teeth at a football match only serve to divert attention from what ought to be important, which is the game. Is anybody watching the game? Show me the football match. Show me a fully-working Aptera. Okay, so I detest schmaltz and hoop-la; it makes me cringe. I'm a pessimistic Brit; it's a natural reaction when faced with pseudo-religious fervour, cod-psychology, dewy-eyed optimism and Pollyanna-grade positivity. I appreciate that an Aptera Ambassador has certain duties when it comes to promoting the brand, and with that in mind I wish you and your followers well, Steve. But... I still can't get excited about the proposed vehicle. It's 2024. The fact that I just referred to the Aptera as a 'proposed' vehicle ought to have set a few alarm bells ringing. But did it? Umm... Nope. For the past three years, Aptera has reminded me of the circus act of spinning plates on tall bendy sticks. Some people find it fascinating to see a guy keeping a dozen plates in the air. Will they fall? Won't they? Ooh, the one on the end looks a bit wobbly - I think it's going to fa- Oh! Yay! He saved it! Bah. I can't live on a diet of "Gosh!", and "Wow!" and hope. That's (partly) why I'm not a supporter, investor or reservation holder; and it's also why I'm not subscribed to this otherwise popular and entirely inoffensive Channel. Sorry about that, Steve... But that's just me. 😁The opinions of your other girlie viewers may differ. I hope they'll take a moment to let you know what they think.

As always, I enjoyed the show. You might consider being a bit careful about projecting your beliefs into the decision making of the XX chromosome members of our society. Carry-on, Lad. Florida is going to really change this coming year. Rained Out so to speak. Wow! Which tribal nations are hosting deliveries? Now that might be neater than a road trip up the coast or perhaps both.

Dealer laws, AKA, 💰 influences politicians/law makers.

Look on the US map- that empty corridor straight down the middle with zero orders :(

If Aptera wants to expand in Europe and Australia they will need a narrower vehicle about 1.8 metres. 2.1 m is too wide for narrow roads and parking spaces.

2028 for international preorders sounds realistic.

With the gathering storm of low priced EVs on the near horizon, I’m just wondering why the launch edition needs to be AWD for an extra $3k? Why not a FWD at closer to $30k? This is not an early morning snowstorm or off road vehicle.

Re: Your demographics -- The bigger the boys, the bigger the toys!!😂

I think that for people like me this is very unfair that regardless of what your reservation number is, California holders will get their cars first. I have a very low number and have been waiting 4 years. Why should someone in California who reserved thousands of people BEHIND ME, get their vehicle first. This Truly disappoints me.

Starting at 12 minutes into "Answering Accelerator Questions" < ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cnVf9S_vAj0.html >, Chris addresses Elaphe, but ambiguously. Elaphe no longer tauts its ability to manufacture in-wheel motors. Protean Electric (China & UK), PMW Dynamics (England), and E-Traction (The Netherlands) are a few of the companies that actually manufacture them.

How come there are more than 2000 reservation holders will we get knocked off or will they have more than 2000 I think the original 2000 should get a number 2000 or under

Wonder if California being blue and Florida being red was by design?

Where direct sales are outlawed, outlaws rule. It's inhumane, irrational, and would NOT accept it. I would find a way around the law, e.g., buy a car without tires, call it a "Kit car", and at my house put on tires, finishing the "assembly". But, I have been an "outlaw" since the early '50s. I stopped paying income tax in '72.

I'm 64 and some change.

I'm really surprised your demographic is so old, I'm 20.

No change in Texas.

"Only" 7% European reservation holders? Don't they know the vehicle isn't road-legal in Europe and you have to pick it up yourself in California?

OK, Europe and the rest of the world will have to wait a long time, but then again, Americans have also been waiting a long time and will probably continue to wait.... No convinced this will not all end in tears.

2% female on AOC! A bit embarrassing. What can be done to change this?

For a roll out plan it would be nice if the Aptera at least had wheels and hub motors....

My YT channel on Motorcycle content and camping only has a few percent of females. even though a lot of females ride.. they maybe don't waste their time watching YT lol

If they are claiming partnering with tribes or other groups I want names. They tend to say a lot of things which are not true.