Private Capital Eroded by Production Delays, Aptera Now Waits Federal Loan OK The co-founders of Aptera Motors reportedly have been ousted in a shakeup that includes numerous layoffs. Former Tesla motors PR chief-turned-consultant Daryl Siry, writing for Wired.com , reported Sunday that sources at the San Diego-based company told him Aptera co-founders Steve Fambro and Chris Anthony have been dismissed, apparently because of substantial conflicts with the new management team they brought in last year. A spokesman for Aptera told Green Car Advisor this morning that “something is up” but said he was unable to offer more. Aptera marketing director Marques McCammon told Wired that Fambro has taken a voluntary eave of absence to help save money. The article said Anthony's status was unclear. The reported shakeup comes as Aptera is awaiting word on its application for several million in federally guaranteed loans under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. Siry writes in Wired that the rift apparently grew as the team assembled under Paul Wilbur, Aptera's new president and chief executive, discovered that the three-wheeled, aircraft-styled electric vehicle Fambro and Anthony had designed wasn't ready for the market. Wilbur told Green Car Advisor early this year that a number of changes from the original design had been ordered to make the vehicle more marketable. Some some cosmetic and some safety-oriented. One, the decision to use roll-down side windows instead of the original fixed windows, necessitated a lengthy and expensive re-engneering of a large part of the door assembly. Wilbur's team…
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Aptera Founders Reportedly Ousted, Layoffs Ordered to Keep EV Maker Going
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