Just weeks after announcing plans to showcase its solar EV technology to the public in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), startup Aptera Motors is taking things a step further. The company recently shared intentions to begin selling its nascent vehicles in the UAE, kicking off the new market entry with 53 production builds of an exclusive “Union Edition” model for early adopters in the Middle East.
Before this week’s latest Aptera Motors update, the solar EV startup touted the latest details of its production-intent build process, which included delivering the first production-ready solar EV body to Aptera’s headquarters in Carlsbad, California.
Earlier this month, Aptera said it would attend DRIFTx in Abu Dhabi—a conference in the UAE that, according to Anthony, “promotes investment in groundbreaking ideas such as Aptera.” With DRIFTx underway later this week, Aptera has already shared news that includes expanding to a new market outside its native US—the Middle East.
Aptera to enter UAE, begin delivering solar EVs by 2026
Aptera Motors shared details of its global expansion to the UAE in a recent release that included quotes from both of its founders and co-CEO, including the following from Steve Fambro:
We are thrilled to announce Aptera’s expansion into the UAE, a key milestone in our journey towards delivering solar mobility everywhere possible. We see immense potential in the UAE for solar mobility to thrive and look forward to integrating into the market’s vast opportunities for sustainable transportation initiatives like Aptera.
To commemorate this expansion, Aptera intends to produce 53 UAE-exclusive builds of its solar EV called the Union (or Etihad) Edition. This unique design pictured above features a gold exterior, “Solar Chill” technology to pre-cool the cabin, custom interior trim, and markings throughout, paying homage to the anniversary of the Union.
Rather than seeking big investors in the UAE (that isn’t to say those talks aren’t still happening), Aptera Motors has chosen a familiar mode of operation for garnering more funds in the Middle East—it’s asking its own fans to invest.
Now, until they are sold out, any Aptera customer who invests AED 100,000 (~$27,000) can secure one of the 53 Union Edition solar EV build slots.
Learn more about Aptera’s presence at DRIFTx and its plans for the UAE here. As always, you can reserve a US version of the Aptera Solar EV using this link for $70 down.
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