Aptera Motors is touting its latest milestone en route to solar EV production later this year. The first production body of its flagship vehicle has made its way over from Italy to Aptera’s headquarters in San Diego, enabling the team to finalize its design ahead of production-intent builds.
It’s been almost two weeks since our latest Aptera Motors update, so we figured you readers were due for some news. No, production is not yet underway, sorry. However, it’s one step closer!
As we reported at the beginning of the month, Aptera has been gearing up for production-intent solar EV builds at its California headquarters and across the pond with its supply partner CPC Group in Italy.
According to co-CEO Chris Anthony at the time, Aptera’s first production body structure had successfully been bonded together and was making its way to Carlsbad, California, to be finalized with several key solar EV components.
As anticipated, the production-intent body has made its way safely to Aptera’s headquarters, and the solar EV startup shared some fun images of the milestone. Check it out.
Aptera’s production body unpacked at its headquarters / Source: Aptera Motors/X
Aptera’s SEV body reached headquarters for finalization
Aptera shared the image above in a recent post on X, showcasing its team having some fun inside the production-intent build after it was unboxed at its headquarters in Carlsbad. The post also included the following caption:
We had so much fun last week celebrating a company milestone — the arrival of Aptera’s first production body in San Diego. Now Team Aptera is back to work finalizing the cable routing, connectors, and placement of components in preparation for our first PI (Production Intent) Builds.
The caption is on par with details Chris Anthony shared earlier this month, as local finalization of cable routing and other components remains a vital precursor to assembling and testing drivable, production-intent solar EVs.
This completed body could serve as the backbone of the “PI-2,” a solar EV built out of its headquarters. Anthony describes it as Aptera’s first solar EV operating with a production-intent drivetrain, frame, safety structure, and suspension.
Aptera’s battery team also recently ordered parts to build its first full packs, which should be implemented in PI-2. Per Anthony, other non-structural body parts are being validated in Italy as the tooling process, and production-intent builds should continue “in the coming months.”
Our eyes will be on Aptera’s headquarters, and we hope to see a production-intent solar EV built and begin road testing soon. Stay tuned to Electrek for more Aptera updates, and as always, you can still reserve your own Aptera EV today for $70 down.
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In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss how Tesla is now Elon’s after the shareholders’ meeting, Xpeng going all-in on AI, Rivian’s earnings, and more.
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After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
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Following the LEAF, the new all-electric Nissan Juke is next in line to receive a glow-up. The Juke EV was spotted for the first time rocking a new look ahead of its debut.
First look at the new electric Nissan Juke
Let’s be honest, the Juke wasn’t exactly what you’d call a head-turner. At least not for the right reasons. Nissan pulled the Juke from its North American lineup after the 2017 model year, replacing it with the Kicks.
The Juke is still Nissan’s second-best-selling vehicle in Europe, behind the Qashqai. As part of its up to £3 billion ($3.9 billion) investment to upgrade its Sunderland, UK plant, Nissan revealed plans to launch three new EVs: the LEAF, Qashqai, and Juke.
After launching the new, third-gen LEAF, Nissan plans to introduce the electric Juke in 2026 and Qashqai EV in 2027.
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With its official debut coming up, the electric Nissan Juke was spotted for the first time out in public. Although it’s camouflaged, you can already see that it’s shaping up to be a big improvement over the outgoing Juke.
Nissan Juke and Qashqai (Source: Nissan)
The images from Motor.es (you can view them below), reveal the EV version still has a profile similar to the current Juke, but the front and rear ends appear to be closer in style to the new LEAF. The grille is now closed off, and the front features Nissan’s new V-Motion front fascia. Meanwhile, the rear gains a new light bar connecting the taillights.
We also got a sneak peek at the interior, revealing dual central infotainment and driver-cluster screens. Like the LEAF, 12.3″ screens will likely come standard with 14.3″ screens available on higher trims.
Primeras fotos espía del nuevo Nissan JUKE 2026, el SUV que promete sorprender a todos otra vezhttps://t.co/NU6IaqsoVO
Nissan has yet to reveal final specs or prices, but the electric Juke is expected to be based on the same CMF-EV platform as the new LEAF. The new Nissan LEAF is available in the UK with two battery options: 52 kWh and 75 kWh, offering WTLP ranges of 271 miles and 386 miles, respectively.
Although the electric Juke is set to arrive next year, an Automotive News report in August claimed Nissan may continue offering the gas version due to slower-than-expected EV demand.
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Save up to $600 in early Black Friday savings on Velotric e-bikes starting from $1,099
Velotric has launched its early Black Friday Sale with up to $600 in e-bike savings in the form of price cuts and FREE bundled gear. Among the lineup, we’re seeing a rare price cut on Velotric’s Discover 2 Step-Thru Commuter e-bike to $1,899 shipped, which is also getting $120 in FREE gear. In 2025, the MSRP on this newer model increased from $1,899 to $1,999 from tariff hikes, with the largest discount we saw in 2024 being a one-time drop of $200, while we’ve only seen one previous cut to $1,899 that happened back in August. Today’s deal is bringing back that same second-best rate, giving you $100 off the tag while also providing you with a $120 FREE suspension seat post. Head below to check out Velotric’s full early Black Friday lineup.
The second-generation of Velotric’s flagship Discover 1 Plus model (which has been sold out since the Prime Sale last month), the Discover 2 commuter e-bike is a more advanced solution that still retains a reasonable price despite its notable upgrades. Things start at the newer 750W 75Nm rear hub motor (peaking to 1,100W) alongside a 705.6Wh battery to reach up to 20/28 MPH top speeds (depending on your state’s laws) and provide pedal-assistance support for up to 75 miles on a full charge. One big improvement here is the SensorSwap tech that lets you switch between a cadence or torque sensor as you need them, with the PAS boasting three modes that each have five levels.
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There’s plenty more to love about this model, with additional features including Apple Find My integration, hydraulic disc brakes, Kenda puncture-resistant tires, an auto-on integrated LED headlight, a rear cargo rack with an integrated taillight (complete with turn signaling, as well as brake, flashing, and steady lighting), an 8-speed Shimano Altus derailleur, a 3.5-inch full-color display with a USB-C port, and more.
Velotric’s early Black Friday deals on new e-bikes:
Rad Power’s RadRover 6 Plus e-bike gets $600 Black Friday discount to a new $999 low (Reg. $1,599)
As part of Rad Power’s ongoing Black Friday Sale that will only last as long as supplies hold out, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the RadRover 6 Plus Step-Thru Fat-Tire e-bike at $999 shipped. You’d be paying a full price of $1,599 outside of sales, with the discounts we’ve seen this year having taken things down between $1,399 and $1,299, with some rare cuts as low as $1,199. Now, with these early Black Friday savings, we’re seeing it go lower than ever with a $600 markdown that lands $200 under the former low for the best new price that we have tracked.
For four days, get Heybike’s ALPHA all-terrain mid-drive e-bike with $266 in FREE gear at a new $1,299 low
As part of Heybike’s ongoing early Black Friday Sale, and running alongside the short-term Ranger S $999 annual low, there is also a 4-day flash sale on the ALPHA All-Terrain Mid-Drive e-bike at $1,299 shipped with it also getting $266 in FREE gear. It carries a $1,699 MSRP, but over the year, we’ve regularly seen it drop to $1,599 and $1,499, with a flash sale that took things to $1,399 last month for the first time. Now, during this 4-day window, you can score a larger-than-ever $400 markdown that drops things to a new all-time low price. On top of this price cut, you’re also getting a steel cable lock, helmet, a waterproof backpack, a large cargo basket, and a gift pack.
Heybike’s 4-day early Black Friday flash sale cuts $500 off Ranger S folding e-bikes to $999 and $1,199 annual lows
As part of Heybike’s early Black Friday Sale, the brand is giving folks a 4-day flash sale on two models, with a surprise price cut on the Ranger S 750W Folding Fat-Tire e-bike to $999 shipped that also comes with a FREE Black Friday gift pack, or you could go with the upgraded 1,000W variant at $1,199 shipped and get the same gift pack. These two models would normally run you $1,499 and $1,699 at full price, which discounts have almost exclusively dropped as low as $1,099 and $1,299 over the year, if not at higher rates. While we have seen the price go as low as $899 and $1,099 in the past, those rates haven’t been seen since last year, making the $500 markdowns here the best prices we’ve tracked in 2025.
Lectric XP4 Standard Folding Utility e-bikes with $326 bundle: $999 (Reg. $1,325)
Lectric XP Lite 2.0 Long-Range e-bikes with $449 bundles: $999 (Reg. $1,448)
Heybike Hauler Single-Battery Cargo e-bike (new low): $899 (Reg. $1,413)
Best new Green Deals landing this week
The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.