There ecological transition continues to be at the center of the debate in the automotive world. The transition from traditional combustion engines to electric ones still today raises numerous question marks with consumers undecided about what to do, while manufacturers profess confidence in zero-emission engines.
Aptera, the American start-up that is firmly focusing on solar energy and Italy for the production of its vehicles, fits into this context of calm chaos.
Aptera: 100 million euro investment
The first thing that surprises when talking about Aptera and its zero-emission vehicles is the nationality of the company. Aptera Motors, in fact, is an American start-up and not a Chinese company as one might initially think also in light of the invasion of Asian brands on European markets. Nevertheless Aptera Motors can also boast an Italian “heart”. thanks to Marco Messina and Rosario de Maio, partners of the Cube Initiative.
Thanks to this financial and strategic advisor, as well as thanks to the support of Tiber International with regards to the management of institutional relations and legal aspects, Aptera Motors has decided to launch an investment program of 100 million euros to create its own production site in Italy, and specifically in the south of our peninsula, where it gives life to its zero-emission tricycles powered by solar energy.
Aptera Motors’ bet to focus on our country is courageous, but at the same time ambitious. According to the plans of the US start-up the objective is to produce around 20 thousand vehicles a year capable of guaranteeing a turnover of more than 500 million euros and, above all, offering a direct employment impact of over 500 units. A real godsend in an area like Southern Italy that has always lacked valuable job opportunities.
Aptera: three wheels and integrated solar panels
After talking about numbers, the time has come to find out what the zero-emission vehicle created by Aptera Motors is and what the characteristics are that differentiate it from the electric competition. First of all, nutrition. The vehicles created by the American start-up, in fact, are not recharged at the socket like all other electric cars, but manage to obtain the energy necessary for operation from the solar panels integrated into the bodywork.
A certainly revolutionary technical choice which however could also be frightening. However, the start-up wanted to reassure its investors by guaranteeing a record annual mileage for its vehicle: 17,000 km of autonomy under normal sunshine conditions. A value, this, also obtained thanks to the careful aerodynamic study of the lines and capable of erasing any anxiety about charging.
The aerodynamics themselves bear an Italian signature. The design of the vehicle was studied in the Pininfarina wind tunnel so as to combine an extremely effective CX with a unique style also characterized by 3 wheels. Yes, you read that correctly. The Aptera Motors vehicle, in fact, is not the classic car equipped with four wheels, but a tricycle capable of accommodating up to two occupants, perfectly at ease even in city streets.
What may seem like a risky bet is actually a more solid reality than you might imagine. In the United States, the Aptera Motors project has piqued the interest of both the financial market and buyers, obtaining 120 million dollars in capital and around 47,000 pre-orders (considering that just two years ago there were 25,000 reservations). The choice to create the production site in Southern Italy may seem like a leap into the void, but it is a challenge that the start-up wants to win thanks also to the support of the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy.
