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I copied my first post in this topic and asked for a AI summary of the remaining 127 posts in this topic as we seek to remember the discussions. Folks are empowered to copy their posts on the other site but should only summarize the remainder.

The original post below was made Aug. 22, 2021 at 5:12 p.m.

Len’s response to the Chuckles topic brought in the sound of running water. That brought back to mind a chuckle I had when thinking about the Aptera left in a Tesla Charging center that flooded.

In my vision, there are 20 Tesla superchargers with five or six flooded Tesla’s, water lapping on the hoods, but still plugged to the charging stations and, of course, an Aptera. Seems this charging station was built in a flood plain and, of course, all the Tesla’s are underwater while the Aptera is floating, alone.

As this is a photo headlining an Aptera magazine ad. It’s headline is:

A) Aptera: A perfect car for an imperfect world

B) Aptera: Ready for climate change

C) Shouldn’t perfect cars float?

The accompanying video shows the Aptera driver entering the floating Aptera from a john boat who unplugs the Aptera, starts it and, with water flying, proceeds to ‘paddle its way’ out of the flooded parking lot. As it hits pavement the Aptera takes off laying three strips of rubber in its wake (visible since the camera is located just behind the Aptera as it exits the water.)

As the Aptera speeds into the horizon, on screen the following line pops:

Aptera: The perfect personal car will never let you down.

I’m now thinking of how Aptera can condense its safety into a magazine ad and 30 second TV spot. My first thought would be to remove the motors and battery and then put it in the Niagra River and let it fall off the falls with the notion that, like the barrel people who survived the plunge, so too can Aptera … but that may not be true and the task of getting permissions is probably impossible.

Thoughts then flew back to “The Blue’s Brother” and I remember the Pinto Wagon being dropped from a helicopter – we never saw the Pinto after it hit terra firma. In this comparison, the Aptera and a handful of other cars are dropped like the Pinto or driven off a cliff (Think Thelma and Louise).

Of course all this is premature as there will be crash tests conducted by the IIHS. I do know that the one video of the Smart Car smashing into a fixed barrier at 70 mph was dramatic. I can’t help but wonder, though, if the Aptera will literally bounce, especially in the offset collision with a barrier… and wonder if that is necessarily bad.

The summary for the rest of the topic reads:

The discussion on Aptera's advertising and marketing strategies encompasses various perspectives from community members regarding the company's promotional approaches. Key themes include:

1. Current Marketing Approach: Aptera's marketing has primarily emphasized the vehicle's environmental benefits, particularly its solar capabilities and positive impact on climate change. This focus aligns with the company's mission to promote sustainable transportation solutions.
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2. Performance Marketing: Some community members advocate for highlighting the vehicle's performance metrics, such as its impressive 0-60 mph acceleration times (estimated between 3.5 to 5.5 seconds, depending on configuration). They suggest that emphasizing performance could attract a broader audience, including those interested in speed and efficiency.
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3. Advertising Timing: There's a consensus that large-scale advertising may be premature given Aptera's current production capabilities. With a substantial number of preorders already in place, some members believe that focusing on fulfilling existing orders should take precedence over expanding marketing efforts.
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4. Creative Advertising Concepts: Community members have proposed imaginative advertising ideas to showcase Aptera's unique features. One suggestion includes depicting the vehicle's resilience in adverse conditions, such as floating in a flooded area, to highlight its durability and readiness for climate change.
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5. Ambassador Program: Aptera's Ambassador Program, comprising over 700 global volunteers, plays a significant role in promoting the brand. Ambassadors engage in grassroots marketing efforts, sharing their enthusiasm and knowledge about Aptera to build community support and awareness.
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6. Crowdfunding and Community Engagement: Aptera has utilized crowdfunding as a means to build solar mobility for all, engaging its community in the development process. This approach not only raises funds but also fosters a sense of ownership and involvement among supporters.
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In summary, the community discussion reflects a balance between appreciating Aptera's current marketing focus on sustainability and suggesting the inclusion of performance-oriented messaging. There's also recognition of the importance of timing in advertising efforts, with an emphasis on leveraging community-driven initiatives through the Ambassador Program and crowdfunding to promote the brand effectively.

saw this post of mine in the topic. It was my first notation that I saw an ad on youtube TV for aptera: Note the date:

george-hughes
Member August 9, 2022 at 6:33 pm
If you’re like me, this is ‘double-take time’ and I did; rewinding the stream on I think Rachel Maddow’s Monday night show to see a ten-second spot that was definitely an Aptera commercial.

Ten seconds isn’t long and it showed the one of the Alpha’s on a bridge, said something about the 1000 mile range and the website.

The title implies a local cable TV system but the medium was YoutubeTV …. an internet based streaming outfit that bundles streaming channels into an enhanced cableTV offering.

As all this is associated with Google, it would be helpful to me to know how targeted the media buy was. I was doing media most of my days and the question is whether they were dialing those whose online searches/visits/time spent surrounding Aptera on Google and I would be a natural target and the show watched would fit my viewing (media consumption profile).

I’m not assuming that I was specifically targeted, but the invasive tracking that now is the advertising industry allows targeting of ads to criteria like use of the term Aptera in google search and viewing specific programs.

Has anyone else seen an Aptera advert in a mainstream media context?

george-hughes
Member October 3, 2024 at 10:35 am
With the reservation and referral system, including what could be considered commissions for referrals that complete the sale, Aptera has established a rudimentary direct sales process that, for all intents, provides every reservation holder to be involved in Aptera’s direct sales force.

This becomes especially germane when the launch edition actually hits the streets and owners, all of whom have individually tied referral codes, start showing off their vehicles.

I think we all anticipate ad hoc sessions very much like the scenes from SF and on the beach where admirer’s are literally wowed … at the price.

It is obvious that production will have begun at this point and the IPO will be imminent. Adding reservations on top of the 50,000+ already booked will be harder to sell because it would be almost three years before the newly bought reservations turn into real Aptera on the road.

I imagine some folks will consider ‘flipping’ their early production models for substantial profit and, given the perception of premium/luxury pricing, demand at the list price will likely create problems with transparency.

Chris, last month stated unequivocally that folks could transfer reservations meaning that early reservation holders can presumably sell and transfer those reservations to family members or others prior to production and sale. This is big because it means you can tie reservations to deliveries and that means you can make a market for the reservations before the fact; rather than vehicles being sold and then flipped.

I think it would really make sense for Aptera to incorporate a broad marketplace associated with the brand where ‘membership’ to the ecommerce areas is based on holding a reservation.

I’m sure a good portion of the reservation holders were obtained directly by Aptera but just as obviously, whether it is from the links of Transportation Evolved or AOC or DTL, a lot of the reservations come from those with a platform and who are motivated to include their codes.

But those groups will be joined by those of us who see ownership of the Aptera which by definition is in production, is going to be one hellava sales tool for reservations.

And the system we have now fails to enthuse me because, when I’ll be showing off, I’ve to say, you’ve got a long wait no matter what.

There is a way to rationalize the incentives in a dynamic marketplace.

As a small investor/accelerator/reservation holder I feel a part of Aptera. My actions, from contributing here to investing and commenting on youtube, all as an act of will to make Aptera happen. I expect to sell a bunch of reservations assuming that program continues but there needs to be a way share the $1000 credit/commission each completed sale represents to referrers.

I do have some ideas

The best news is there is plenty of time between now and when non-bespoke production (accelerators/paradigm orders?) is complete and the LE is then producing at least 40 vehicles a day. That is at least a year away.