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Aptera’s New Chief Marketing Officer

by The Editors on June 24, 2008

Tonykirton ApteraCarlsbad’s own little green automobile company Aptera has announced that they have hired former “Director of Marketing at Audi of America” Tony Kirton as its Chief Marketing Officer.

Having spent the last three decades successfully implementing and executing marketing and sales strategies for the world’s leading car manufacturers such as BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen, we are very fortunate to bring someone of Tony’s caliber to the team,” said Steve Fambro, co-founder and CEO of Aptera. “His wide-ranging experience coupled with established relationships in key automotive channels will prove invaluable as we prepare to roll our first vehicle off the assembly line this year.”

Welcome to Carlsbadistan, Tony.
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Epic Wake Boats Go Electric

by The Editors on March 18, 2009

Carlsbadistan wake boat builder Epic has launched a new plug-in electric hybrid wake boat that reportedly cuts carbon emissions by 50%.

The 22-foot craft is expected to bring its hybrid equivalent of 375 horses to the water sometime in July. The price tag could be as much as $150,000 dollars for this specialized boat though the company foresees being able to produce a $70,000 version by 2012. We can only wonder if some of the plug-in hybrid technology used here will also find its way into into the Aptera 2h.

And it makes sense, Epic CEO Chris Anthony is also the co-founder of Aptera.

[Link: Autobloggreen via Engadet via Gizmodo]

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Greg Lucier: Carlsbad Businessman Of The Year

by The Editors on February 21, 2009

Last night was a big night in Carlsbadistan business and though we were graciously invited (thanks, Angela) we sadly didn’t make it. It’s hard to go undercover when all the heavy hitters are in the room. What did we miss? The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Awards Dinner at The Four Season’s Aviara. And our favorite Carlsbad-based life sciences company CEO Life’s Greg Lucier was the big winner. Here’s how it went:

• Businessperson of the Year – Greg Lucier, CEO of Life Technologies Corp.
• Small Business of the Year (1-15 employees) – E-World Recyclers.
• Medium Business of the Year (16-99 employees) – AKT, LLP.
• Large Business of the Year (100 or more employees) – Legoland California.
• Lifetime Achievement in Business – Jim Smith, owner of Jim Smith Realty.
• Entrepreneur of the Year – Brett Hanley, president and CEO of SeaShell Awnings USA Inc.
• Community Leadership – Julie Nygaard.

In addition, two special awards of recognition also were given out:

• Green Technology Advocate – Aptera Motors.
• Environmental Spirit – Wyland.

The winners got engraved crystal awards (which we don’t have pictures of) and everyone got to check out the new Aptera Motors car and watch famous whale painter Wyland paint whales on a wall. Let’s put it this way: we’re not going to miss this event next year.
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Atera Raises $24 Million “C” Round

by The Editors on July 28, 2008

Aptera Interior Photo 540X223Turns out that Google money we told you about last week was only a drop in the bucket. Thanks to Esenjay Investments, the Simons Family, and the Beall Family Trust the Carlsbad based electric motorcycle company has $24 million more to roll with, according to a story on c|net.com.

Aptera has set the end of this year for the release of its all-electric Typ-1, a two-seater, three-wheeled electric car whose streamlined shape might look at home in a Jetsons cartoon. Each street-legal vehicle would cost less than $30,000.

And if you want one: get on the list. The company has reportedly already accepted 3,000 $500 deposits for the 300 mpg vehicles.

[Link: c|net.com]

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A 300 Mile Per Gallon Dream Trike

by The Editors on September 26, 2007

300MpgCarlsbad-based Aptera Motors is the dream of CEO Steve Fambro and COO Chris Anthony (founder of Epic Wake Boats). According to a story in the North County Times, Fambro’s prototype vehicle gets 300 miles to the gallon.

Made out of strong, lightweight composite materials such as fiberglass, the Aptera is a three-wheeled, hybrid diesel/electric vehicle that looks like something out of the Jetsons. The Aptera weighs 850 pounds, seats two, and the company says, gets 300 mpg. . . Because it has been classified as a motorcycle by California, the Aptera can legally use the car-pool lane —- even if there’s only one passenger.

Fambro has already rounded up $1 million from Idealab and another million from “Esenjay Explorations, an oil and gas drilling company based in Corpus Christi, Texas.” But now, as you might expect, the company needs more money. . . don’t we all.

[Link: North County Times]

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