While Aptera Motors continues to push forward with its production-intent (PI), solar EV builds ahead of production plans (hopefully) next year, and its timeline for initial customer deliveries is as cloudy as ever. The SEV startup quietly updated the estimated delivery timelines for all reservation holders, giving us an idea of where it stands in terms of scaled production. However, in speaking with Aptera, a lot of these numbers (for better or worse) depend on vital funding that has yet to be secured – a common theme in the startup world.
Aptera Motors is the last of the living solar EV startups and one we’ve followed closely for several years because its unique approach to sustainable mobility has the potential to one day reimagine and elevate the entire automotive industry.
To get there is no small feat, and Aptera Motors is already on its second life in reaching the holy grail of scaled solar EV production. Through our coverage and consistent, transparent updates from Aptera Motors directly, we’ve learned just how much progress the startup has made in the last few years and, conversely, just how much further it will need to go to prove viable.
As it is with any startup, the biggest hindrance to quick development has been funding. For a long while, Aptera leaned on its loyal base of fans and reservation holders, who invested their own money for a chance at one of the first 2,000 Launch Edition solar EV deliveries. The company ended up raising an inspiring $135 million from over 17,000 investors – the most successful crowdfunded raise in history.
While that funding has helped keep Aptera going, entering pre-production body in carbon (BinC) builds ahead of production-intent testing, it will still need more money to get Launch Edition deliveries to those loyal investors and beyond. To help this need, Aptera Motors announced a partnership with US Capital Global this past July, which is helping raise an additional $60 million in capital.
However, three months in, that desired total has not been achieved. Furthermore, that round of funding is a mere stepping stone to low-volume production, and more funding will be required to scale (see graphic below). With so many unknowns surrounding future funding, Aptera has amended its estimated deliveries while it sorts out its financial future.
Source: US Capital Global Aptera investor presentation
Aptera’s BinC or “PI2” which will be used for track testing to validate the drivetrain and high-voltage battery / Source: Aptera Motors/YouTube
Aptera deliveries are limited in 2025, 2026 numbers TBD
We first caught wind of the revised timelines for SEV deliveries from the Aptera Owners’ Club Discord page. Many users who are investors in the Aptera Accelerator Program were reporting the timelines listed on their accounts have changed from the first half of 2025 to 2026.
I myself am a reservation holder but not an Accelerator, and my reservation changed from 2026 to “TBA.” However, a lucky few who invested big bucks during the crowdfunding campaign are still secured for deliveries before the end of 2025. However, following the threads on Discord and comparing those numbers to previous Aptera statements and estimates in its US Capital Global investor deck, the delivery numbers get quite jumbled.
Chris McCammon, Aptera’s Head of Content, was present on the Discord page and estimated Aptera is targeting 60 Launch Edition builds that will see deliveries to customers in 2025. That means only the top 60 Accelerators will receive their Launch Edition SEV next year. The other 1,940 Accelerators will have to wait until 2026 at the earliest.
We reached out to Aptera directly for more insight, and its team was able to confirm that 60 customer builds are the target for 2025 but that low-volume production, as well as the scaled production to follow, will rely heavily on the $60 million US Capital raise as well as further funding rounds thereafter. Per a representative for Aptera:
At this point, our primary focus is securing the necessary financing to ensure we remain on track with our production schedule. As previously mentioned, we are actively pursuing $60 million in funding, which we aim to complete in multiple transactions over the next 3-6 months. This funding is critical for advancing to low-volume production, and once secured, we expect to enter production within 9-12 months.
Chris (McCammon’s) estimate of 60 Launch Edition Accelerator deliveries in 2025 aligns with our goal for the initial low-volume production. However, the total number for the year is dependent on securing the $60 million in funding and therefore, will be a moving target.
While some reservation holders may be disheartened by the news of having to wait longer for Aptera deliveries, the latest update to reservation pages shouldn’t really come as a surprise based on what we already knew following the US Capital Global announcement. Even back in July, we warned reservation holders that 2026 would likely be the earliest they would see any substantial SEV deliveries, and that was when Aptera was predicting to build 371 units in 2025. That number is probably closer to 100 now.
There should be no cause for alarm based on the revised delivery timelines. Aptera is continuing to make progress through production intent builds and could still scale fairly quickly in 2026 and beyond. What is worrisome is that low-volume production and those scaled SEV builds in 2026 and beyond will rely on a hefty influx of funding. We asked Aptera about that progress and about its long-teased IPO. Per a representative for the company:
Looking ahead, we aim to ramp up production through 2026, though the scale of this ramp-up will largely depend on when we secure the current $60 million target. Our ultimate goal of producing 20,000 vehicles annually will require approximately $195 million in additional capital, which we plan to raise through a combination of financing strategies, including equity, debt, and potentially an IPO, as you mentioned.
Aptera Motors fights on, and we’re rooting for them, but the biggest beast to overcome in its startup saga has always been and continues to be its need for substantial funding. Completing the $60 million investment round that is currently ongoing will be a major milestone, but the approximate $195 million required after that to deliver more than 60-ish targeted SEV deliveries shows just how much of an uphill battle Aptera continues to face in scaling its technology.
Hopefully, it can harness all that sun’s power and reach the promised land for the sake of the environment and cool-ass EVs. As always, you can reserve an Aptera for only $70; you just may be waiting a while for a delivery.
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After a sluggish stretch, US wind is heading into a pivotal moment, with a near-term rebound colliding with rising power demand, tariffs, and stubborn permitting bottlenecks.
US wind power: the next five years
The US is expected to add more than 7 gigawatts (GW) of new wind capacity in 2025, a 36% increase from this year, according to the latest US Wind Energy Monitor report from Wood Mackenzie and the American Clean Power Association (ACP).
That matters now because the US power grid is under mounting pressure, just as new generation has become harder to build. Electricity demand is rising for the first time in years, mainly driven by data centers and other large loads, while wind developers are navigating higher turbine costs, tariff uncertainty, and permitting delays. How quickly projects can move from the pipeline to completion over the next few years will shape whether wind can help keep the lights on and power prices in check.
Over the longer term, the outlook is steady but increasingly back‑loaded. The report still sees 46 GW of new wind capacity coming online between 2025 and 2029. What has changed is timing. More projects are now expected to reach completion in the middle of the decade, with 2026 and 2027 shaping up to be especially busy years at 10.7 GW and 12.7 GW, respectively, as projects move through the development pipeline.
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That shift helps explain why installations lagged earlier this year. Wind additions in Q3 came in at 932 megawatts (MW), about 23% below forecasts. But activity is picking up fast. Developers have about 3.8 GW queued for Q4 2025 alone, which would account for 52% of the year’s total expected capacity. That kind of late-year rush is typical for wind projects, which tend to reach completion toward the end of the calendar year.
There are also signs of life on the manufacturing side. US turbine order intake rebounded in Q3 to pre–Trump’s big bill act levels, with more than 2 GW of firm commitments, the strongest quarter in the past nine months, and a 79% jump from the previous quarter. But you wouldn’t know it, because turbine makers are increasingly keeping project details close to their chests, and much of the qualifying “start-of-construction” activity is happening off-site through component manufacturing.
Looking further out, the report flags a noticeable slowdown toward the end of the decade. Capacity additions in 2029 are expected to drop sharply following project cancellations and inactive designations, largely due to permitting challenges and broader development constraints.
Power demand takes off
At the same time, the need for new power is growing fast.
After a decade of mostly flat electricity demand, US power demand is now expected to grow by around 3% per year through 2029, compared to just 0.7% over the previous decade. Data centers alone are expected to drive about 59 GW of the roughly 90 GW increase in peak demand. That kind of round-the-clock load makes more wind power a necessity.
“The US power market is facing mounting strain after a decade of flat demand, with utilities committing to 160 GW of large-load additions,” said Leila Garcia da Fonseca, Wood Mackenzie’s director of research. “This represents a significant opportunity for wind energy, which benefits from strengthened economic fundamentals and a compelling business case driven by its competitively low LCOE.”
But she also warned that higher turbine costs and policy uncertainty could slow down progress in the middle of the decade.
Onshore wind: Western states lead
Onshore wind continues to do the heavy lifting. The five-year onshore outlook remains unchanged at 39.8 GW of new capacity, and the 2025–2027 pipeline already has turbine orders in place for every project. More than 60% of that three-year capacity has either been commissioned or is already under construction.
Western states are leading the charge. Wyoming, New Mexico, and neighboring states are expected to account for about 34% of onshore activity over that period. Big projects are driving the numbers, including Pattern Energy’s 3.5 GW SunZia project in New Mexico, which is set to make the company the top wind installer in 2026, and Invenergy’s 998 MW Towner Energy Center in Colorado, the single largest project expected to come online in 2027.
Wind is also spreading into new territory. Arkansas recently brought its first utility-scale onshore wind farm online with Cordelio’s Crossover Wind (pictured).
Repowering older wind farms remains another bright spot. Wood Mackenzie expects 18 repowering projects to add about 2.5 GW of capacity over the next three years.
Offshore wind: progress, but pressure
Offshore wind is a different story. Wood Mackenzie expects offshore installations to slow in Q4 2025 due to harsh winter weather, pushing some capacity into 2026. Still, projects already under construction are making progress. Vineyard Wind connected 15 turbines in Q3 and delivered 200 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity over the first nine months of the year.
“US offshore wind shows diverging momentum,” Garcia da Fonseca said. “Projects under construction with commercial operation dates in 2026 continue to hit key milestones, but post-2027 developments face potential delays amid constrained wind turbine installation vessel capacity, driving delays and contract terminations.”
The offshore sector is also under growing financial strain – and let’s not forget political attack from the Trump administration – with delays and contract terminations weighing on late-decade projects.
Tariffs are making turbines more expensive
Tariffs remain one of the biggest wild cards for the US wind industry. Wood Mackenzie expects tariffs to push turbine costs higher in 2026 before easing in later years. Overall, US onshore wind capital spending is projected to rise by about 5% through 2029.
“US wind turbine pricing is experiencing unprecedented uncertainty as conflicting market and regulatory forces interact,” said Garcia da Fonseca. While domestic manufacturing capacity could eventually bring prices down, tariffs on raw materials and key components are expected to keep costs elevated in the near term.
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After Lucid Group’s (LCID) stock price reached a new all-time low this week, the company’s communication boss is out to set the record straight.
Lucid stock hits a new low as investors wait
Lucid is facing new headwinds in the US at a critical time as the EV maker looks to enter its next growth phase. It’s ramping up output of its first electric SUV, the Gravity, and is set to launch its midsize platform in late 2026.
Like all automakers, the company is facing new headwinds in the US under the Trump administration, but that isn’t stopping Lucid from continuing on its mission of “changing the world through innovation and efficiency.”
Lucid’s head of communications, Nick Twork, reassured investors on Thursday that while others are pulling back, the company is still plowing ahead.
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“We know it’s been a challenging period for our long-term holders,” Twork said, adding, “We are focused on execution and being transparent.” Twork reaffirmed investors that Lucid has “a strong liquidity runway,” including a $2 billion PIF credit facility, and another $2 billion in refinanced convertible notes that now mature in 2030/31.
$LCID investors: we know it’s been a challenging period for our long-term holders. We are focused on execution and being transparent. As our CFO Taoufiq has said, we have a strong liquidity runway, including an undrawn $2B PIF credit facility, and we refinanced $2B of converts… pic.twitter.com/4gvzFqmpLj
While other automakers are scaling back EV plans, including Ford most recently, “we’re building through it and ramping,” Lucid’s communications boss said.
After a magnet shortage and other supply chain constraints hampered Gravity production early on, Lucid now expects the electric SUV to make up the majority of production and deliveries in the fourth quarter.
Speaking at the 53rd Annual Nasdaq Investor Conference last week, Lucid’s interim CEO, Marc Winterhoff, said the company “is on track” to hit its guidance of producing 18,000 vehicles this year. That’s at the lower end of its initial 20,000 to 18,000 target, but Winterhoff said output is picking up and Lucid now has “weeks where we are producing 1,000 vehicles” in a single week.”
Lucid Q3 2025 production and deliveries (Source: Lucid Group)
Hitting that 18,000 target won’t be easy. Through the third quarter, Lucid produced 9,966 EVs, meaning it will need to build over 8,000 more in Q4. That’s more than double the 3,891 it made in the third quarter.
Lucid had about $4.2 billion in liquidity at the end of Q3, but after agreeing with PIF to increase the delayed draw term loan credit facility (DDTL), the company said total liquidity would have been around $5.5 billion.
Lucid Q3 2025 earnings (Source: Lucid Group)
The capital is enough to fund it through the first half of 2027, Lucid said. Later next year, Lucid will begin production of its midsize platform, which will underpin at least three new vehicles priced around $50,000.
Lucid’s first midsize model will be an electric crossover SUV, followed by a more rugged version inspired by the Gravity X concept. The third is rumoured to be a midsize sedan that will compete with the Tesla Model 3.
During a fireside chat at the UBS Global Industrials and Transportation Conference earlier this month, Lucid’s CFO, Taoufiq Boussaid, said the midsize EVs will be positioned in “the heart of the market,” starting at around $50,000.
Lucid (LCID) stock price in 2025 compared to Rivian (RIVN) and Tesla (TSLA) Source: TradingView
While Rivian (RIVN) and Tesla (TSLA) shares are trading up by over 50% and 27%, respectively, since the beginning of 2025, Lucid’s stock price has fallen by over 60%. Earlier this week, Lucid’s stock touched an all-time low of $11.09 per share.
Twork said Lucid will share more information about its growth plans during its Capital Market Day in the first quarter.
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Like a 90s “gifted” kid that was supposed to be a lot of things, the electric Jeep Wagoneer S was supposed to be sporty, luxurious, and appeal to a whole new Jeep buyer. Despite being a decent vehicle, it never really found its place — but now that Jeep is offering nearly $17,000 off select models, it might be time to give the go-fast Wagoneer S a second look.
Whether we’re talking about Mercedes-Benz, Cerberus, Fiat, or even Enzo Ferrari, there have been no shortage of corporate outsiders have labeled Jeep as a potentially premium brand that could, “if managed properly,” command luxury-level prices all over the globe. That hasn’t happened, and Stellantis is just the latest in a long line of companies to sink massive capital into the brand only to realize that people will not, in fact, spend Mercedes money on a Jeep.
“Stellantis bet big on electric versions of iconic American brands like Jeep and Dodge, but consumers aren’t buying the premise,” wrote CDG’s Marcus Amick, back in June. “(Stellantis’ dealer body) is now stuck with expensive EVs that need huge discounts to move, eating into already thin margins while competitors focus on [more] profitable gas-powered vehicles.”
To get its prices back in line with the market’s expectations, Jeep is slashing prices with lots of cash on the hood. That includes a hefty $15,250 incentive on select Wagoneer S trims listed as a “2025 National EV Credit Select Inventory Retail Bonus Cash” offer by Greenville Chrysler in Greenville, Texas — which seems like it would be stackable with $1,500 in National Stellantis Loyalty Retail Bonus Cash as well, for a total of $16,750 in incentives before any additional dealer discounts come into play.
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All of which is to say: if you’ve found yourself drawn to the Jeep Wagoneer S, but couldn’t quite stomach the $70,000+ window stickers, you might want to check in with your local Jeep dealer and see how you feel about it at a JCPenneys-like 30% off!
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