In true Aptera fashion, its cofounders shared a video update outlining the company’s progress in bringing a solar EV into scaled production. The webinar which debuted live this morning can be viewed in full below and offers a slew of news surrounding grants, funding, tooling overseas, and solar development. Here’s the latest.
As one of the few companies on the planet attempting to bring a viable (and hopefully scalable) solar EV to the masses, Aptera Motors is not only powered by the sun, but also by outside the box thinking. As a startup relying heavily on its community and other financial backers to eventually reach production, Aptera remains refreshingly open about its progress and the hurdles it still faces.
Co-founder and Co-CEO Chris Anthony hosts weekly progress updates from Aptera’s YouTube channel, which are complimented by the occasional press release or livestream event. In January, the startup’s co-founders debuted the Launch Edition solar EV during a livestream, candidly relaying that production remained an obtainable, but distant goal since at least $50 million in additional funding was still required.
The company has since launched an Accelerator Program that utilizes crowdfunding investments from reservation holders to secure their production slot of the Launch Edition solar EVs, while helping Aptera purchase initial production equipment to be paid back through a recently awarded grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC).
Aptera has since extended the Accelerator Program, which has already raised over $14 million to date. This morning, Aptera’s co-founders took to YouTube again to update the loyal and growing fanbase about the Accelerator program, new funding opportunities, and the progress of solar EV tooling overseas.
Credit: Aptera Motors/YouTube
Aptera’s latest update relays progress and optimism
The hour long update from Aptera co-founders Steve Fambro and Chris Anthony was one of logic, optimism, and most of all, gratitude. Both gentlemen visited manufacturing partner CPC Group in Italy last week to see some of the die molds that are being tooled.
As you can see from the images above, parts like the Aptera sides and doors have already been manufactured and will eventually be filled with a carbon composite material described to be the consistency of Play-Doh. That material is then heated and pressed between the stamps to produce the solar EV’s structural components.
Aptera states that the process produces less than 1% of waste material and which is then recycled back into manufacturing process. The material itself, stamped component or waste, can be recycled up to five times.
With routine maintenance, Aptera’s founders state its incoming tools have been designed to build over 100,000 parts and there is no reason to believe they couldn’t last long enough to help the startup produce one million solar EVs one day. Here’s to hoping that happens!
Part of the tooling process has been funded by Aptera’s investors, including the Accelerator Program, which has enabled certain purchases that are now starting be paid back by the aforementioned CEC grant.
That being said, Aptera’s founders were very open about the need for additional funding to reach scaled production and explained some of the measures it is taking to make it happen. In addition to the 1,000+ SEV slots still available in Accelerate, Aptera is exploring additional capital investments, new grant opportunities, and even debt financing of the production equipment.
Aptera also relayed today that after hundreds of pages of paperwork, it has officially submitted its application for the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program, overseen by the US Department of Energy. During today’s update, the founders said they should find out in the next few weeks if Aptera has received a “substantially complete” nod from the DOE, in which it can start purchasing additional equipment that will be granted and funded by the loan program.
The company intends to spend the $50 million or so required over a span of 9 months as it scales, so the necessary funding does not need to come in a lump sum, but still – more capital is still needed. That being said, the company continues to make progress and is confident the combination of continued crowdfunding from reservation holders and other capital investments should help. Anthony shared some thoughtful words while live on YouTube:
We continue to raise money. People continue to find Aptera’s story and they support the mission of solar mobility with their dollars, with their reservations for the vehicles, with investment and it’s amazing to see that our story continues, even with the tumultuous times, to be a great one. I mean, 14 million dollars in the last couple months when you look at the market in some pretty interesting and negative times in terms of news, but I think we’re a very positive story. We continue to push toward production and the things that this vehicle will do for the world are compelling. Solar mobility is compelling. It’s a mission worth fighting for and we’re so happy that everyone has joined in that mission, making the world a more efficient place and making the world a better place in general.
Here are some additional updates from Aptera shared today:
Aptera continues to develop its solar panel technology for the production version of the SEV
Its latest panels are more durable, less reflective, have a better surface finish, and are easier to manufacture.
Aptera’s vehicles have three motors which require three separate inverters.
The company is currently testing its own inverter technology and is considering abandoning Silicon Carbide (SiC) used by many other automakers in favor of a lower cost Insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) inverter.
According to Aptera’s cofounders, the benefits of the SiC inverter aren’t necessarily great enough to justify the cost.
Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are in the works as Aptera would rather dedicate its UX to battery and charging management and leave the navigation and music to those who have already perfected it. Again, saving costs.
The featured image above is a rendering of a potential off-road package design of the Aptera. We will be sure to ask for more details about that in the future.
The team is actively discussing using the solar EV’s camera for security/Sentry Mode, but Anthony said its a very low priority of its to-do list right now.
Looking ahead, Aptera Motors says it will need to further delay its production start date as it continues to try and reel in that big fish investor to get it over its current financial hump. The co-founders shared that once that funding is secured, they believe they can have production up and humming within nine months.
We recommend viewing the latest Aptera update in its entirety below. There are still over 1,000 Launch Edition Aptera’s available to reserve with a $10,000 investment, or you can join the longer waitlist for only $70 down.
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Hyundai’s first three-row electric SUV is finally here, and it’s even better than we expected. The IONIQ 9 arrives with “class-leading” interior space, up to 335 miles of range, and much more. Hyundai is showing off just how spacious the IONIQ 9 really is.
Hyundai highlights how spacious the 3-row IONIQ 9 is
It’s been less than two months since the first IONIQ 9 models rolled off the assembly line at Hyundai’s massive new manufacturing plant in Georgia.
With its first three-row electric SUV about to reach dealerships any day, Hyundai wants you to know that the IONIQ 9 is spacious enough for just about anyone.
“The IONIQ 9 is more than just a vehicle; it’s a space where life happens,” Hyundai Motor America’s marketing chief, Sean Gilpin, explained.
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Hyundai launched a new ad campaign on Friday, ” Space to Connect, ” to highlight the SUV’s class-leading interior space.
With the second and third-row seats folded, the IONIQ 9 boasts up to 2,462 liters (87 cubic feet) of interior cargo space. That’s even more than the 2025 Ford Explorer with up to 2,429 liters (85.8 cubic feet). With all seats upright, the IONIQ 9 still has 620 liters of cargo capacity.
It’s not only spacious, but the IONIQ 9’s interior is packed with Hyundai’s most advanced software and connectivity tech.
As part of a curved panoramic display, the infotainment system includes dual 12″ driver display and infotainment screens.
Earlier this month, Hyundai announced that the 2026 IONIQ 9 will start at $58,995. With a $1,600 destination fee, the base RWD S model, which has a range of up to 335 miles, also starts at $60,555.
For $64,365 (including destination), you can upgrade to the AWD SE model with 303 horsepower and 320 miles range. Meanwhile, the range-topping IONIQ 9 AWD Performance Calligraphy Design trim, which gets added Matte paint, 21″ wheels, and 311 miles driving range, starts at $78,090.
2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 Model
EV Powertrain
Drivetrain
Driving Range (miles)
Starting Price (including destination fee)
IONIQ 9 RWD S
160-kW (215-HP) Electric Motor
Rear- Wheel Drive
335
$60,555
IONIQ 9 AWD SE
226.1 kW (303-HP) Dual Electric Motors
All-Wheel Drive
320
$64,365
IONIQ 9 AWD SEL
226.1-kW (303-HP) Dual Electric Motors
All-Wheel Drive
320
$67,920
IONIQ 9 AWD PERFORMANCE LIMITED
314.6-kW (422-HP) Dual Electric Motors
All-Wheel Drive
311
$72,850
IONIQ 9 AWD PERFORMANCE CALLIGRAPHY
314.6-kW (422-HP) Dual Electric Motors
All-Wheel Drive
311
$76,590
IONIQ 9 AWD PERFORMANCE CALLIGRAPHY DESIGN
314.6-kW (422-HP) Dual Electric Motors
All-Wheel Drive
311
$78,090
2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 prices and driving range by trim (*including a $1,600 destination fee)
The IONIQ 9 has a native NACS port to access Tesla Superchargers. Using a 350 kW DC fast charger, it can charge from 10% to 80% in as little as 24 minutes.
While you wait for the three-row IONIQ 9, Hyundai’s smaller IONIQ 5 is currently on sale. With leases starting at just $209 per month, the IONIQ 5 is hard to pass up right now. You can use our link to find Hyundai IONIQ 5 models at a dealer near you today.
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Federal tax credits are starting to waver under the current administration, but as of May 2025, you can still take advantage of up to $4,000 off the purchase of a used EV. If you’d rather not listed to me talk, you can skip right to all the BEVs and PHEVs that currently qualify by clicking here.
How the current tax credit works for used EVs
As part of revised terms in the Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Biden, federal tax credits have been extended (for now) and include revamped benefits for used EV purchases. That said, your used EV purchase must fit certain criteria to qualify for a credit up to $4,000. Per the IRS:
Beginning January 1, 2023, if you buy a qualified previously owned electric vehicle (EV) or fuel cell vehicle (FCV) from a licensed dealer for $25,000 or less, you may be eligible for a previously owned clean vehicle tax credit under Internal Revenue Code Section 25E.
Used EVs face terms that offer a credit equal to 30% of the sale price (up to $4,000). That should help consumers like yourselves get some change back in their pockets at the end of the fiscal year, as long as you stick to these terms as outlined by the IRS.
To qualify as a customer, you must:
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Be an individual who bought the vehicle for use and not for resale
Must be an individual (no businesses)
Not be the original owner
Not be claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return
Not have claimed another used clean vehicle credit in the 3 years before the EV purchase date
Modified adjusted gross income must not exceed $75k for individuals, $112,500 for heads of households, and $150k for joint returns
Additionally, in order for used EV to qualify for federal tax credits, it must:
Have a sale price of $25,000 or less
Have a model year at least 2 years earlier than the calendar year when you buy it
For example, a vehicle purchased in 2023 would need a model year of 2021 or older
Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer
Have a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 pounds
Be an eligible FCV or plug-in EV with a battery capacity of least 7 kilowatt hours (kWh)
Be for use primarily in the United States
Purchased from a certified dealer:
For qualified used EVs, the dealer reports required information to you at the time of sale and to the IRS
A used vehicle qualifies for tax credit only once in its lifetime
These used EVs qualify for credits as of May 2025
It’s important to note that this is not the end-all, be-all list of used EVs that qualify for tax credits in the US. As always, we recommend speaking with a tax professional and EV dealer directly to ensure what you and your new vehicle qualify for. Without further ado, here are the all-electric models that currently qualify:
Tesla (TSLA) shareholders were getting excited on social media about a “Tesla prototype” that turned out to be a competitor’s prototype vehicle.
A new electric vehicle prototype started showing up on social media, and Tesla shareholders started sharing it, assuming it was a Tesla prototype.
A Tesla shareholder part of the “Rebellionaire” group on X, a group of Tesla stock pumpers, even shared it, claiming that it is “what gets him ultra bullish” on Tesla:
The only problem is that it wasn’t even a Tesla prototype.
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Faraday Future (FF) came out and confirmed that it is a prototype mule of their new ‘Faraday X’:
That’s our testing vehicle, a Faraday X Prototype Mule.
FF is better known for its very high-end FF91, but it is currently developing less expensive next-generation vehicles under its new Faraday X brand.
Tesla shareholders got excited because some are still holding on to the idea that Tesla is going to release new cheaper electric vehicles under new models.
Tesla has confirmed all that in their most recent financial results and earnings calls, but some are still holding on to the idea that Tesla plans to release completely new models due to Musk’s comments.
Electrek’s Take
I think part of Tesla’s problems right now are due to its shareholder base not recognizing its problems and blindly believing what Elon Musk says, despite a long history of misleading and plain wrong.
This is a prime example.
Tesla has now confirmed what we have been reporting for a year: the new vehicles are just going to be stripped-down versions of Model 3 and Model Y.
No new models are coming to market other than supposedly the Cybercab, but as long as this is only planned without a steering wheel, it is useless until it can solve unsupervised self-driving, which it has yet to do.
This is a problem that shareholders are either ignoring or don’t believe.
Tesla launched a single new model in the last five years, the Cybertruck, which was a commercial flop.
At some point, shareholders must wake up and realize that Musk is destroying Tesla’s EV business and that self-driving vehicles are not coming to save the day.
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