Aptera announces nationwide repair network for its upcoming solar electric car
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- Aptera partnered with RepairPal to give owners of its upcoming three-wheeled solar EV access to 4,300 certified service shops across the US, with every shop receiving Aptera-specific service procedures
- Only about 200 of the 4,300 RepairPal-affiliated shops are currently certified to work on high-voltage EV batteries, while the rest will handle basics like hinges, tires, and brakes
- Aptera recently earned its EPA Certificate of Conformity, a required regulatory step for all vehicles sold in the US
- Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) certification is still pending for Aptera, though the company's "autocycle" classification means it must meet fewer FMVSS rules than a conventional car
- Aptera's solar EV has not yet shipped a vehicle; the original company folded in 2011 and was revived in 2019 by its original founders
- Aptera is accepting $100 refundable reservations for the vehicle, which it bills as ultra-efficient and capable of gaining meaningful daily range from its solar-panel exterior
Why it matters: For a small EV startup that has never shipped a vehicle and previously collapsed in 2011, locking in nationwide service access before launch directly addresses a reservation-holder fear echoed in the article: small EV makers that fold leave owners stranded without repair options. The 200-of-4,300 high-voltage-battery certification figure highlights how thin specialized EV service runs even with a broad network in place.
