Aptera has unveiled the production-intent version of its long-awaited three-wheel EV on the eve of CES in Las Vegas. It’s been four long years since the car was first unveiled as a concept, and more than two years since production was initially penciled in to start. Since that time, development of the car has continued in earnest, and according to the brand, it’s now “poised to redefine the future of mobility.”

The design of the production model is largely identical to the original concept, meaning it continues to look more like a spaceship than a conventional EV. Pininfarina played an important role in perfecting the aerodynamics of the car at its wind tunnel in Turin, Italy. Aperta says the car has one of the lowest drag coefficients of any production passenger vehicle, but hasn’t publicized a number just yet.

Read: Aptera Starts Testing First Production-Intent Three-Wheeler Prototype

It’s not just the design of the EV that’s intriguing. As much of the bodywork is covered in solar panels, the brand claims most drivers will be able to enjoy daily use without ever needing to plug in to charge. If parked outside, the car can generate enough electricity for 40 miles (64 km) of driving per day. When fully charged, it can travel up to 400 miles (644 km).

A 42 kWh battery pack has been squeezed beneath the car’s slippery surfaces. Soon after the small brand graced the world stage, it said that 25 kWh, 40 kWh, 60 kWh, and 100 kWh battery packs would be available, but this no longer seems to be the case. Many technical details about the car also remain under wraps, including how much power it has and what sort of performance times it’ll be able to deliver.

Speaking about the launch of the production-intent model in Las Vegas, the senior vice president of Business Unit Mobility at Pininfarina, Giuseppe Bonollo, said: “Aptera has truly pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in vehicle design and efficiency. We have always made aerodynamics an essential component in design at Pininfarina. We are therefore thrilled to have supported the aerodynamic validation of the Aptera vehicle with truly unique results.”

As of the brand’s most recent update in November 2024, it said it had 50,000 pre-orders for the car. Pricing and availability details have not been finalized, but the company’s website says prices will range from $25,900 to roughly $46,000.

Building a car of any kind is not easy, and creating a vehicle from the ground up that’s unlike anything other EV on the market is particularly challenging. For more than four years, US-based startup Aptera Motors has been working on an intriguing all-electric three-wheeler and recently made a major step in making it a reality.

The startup announced that its first production-intent prototype has completed its first low-speed validation drive. While this drive was only completed in a parking lot and the car barely exceeded walking pace, Aptera says the vehicle used almost entirely production-intent parts that will be used by cars delivered to customers. That’s a big difference from simply using one-off prototype parts.

Read: Aptera Launch Edition Introduced With Solar Panels And 400-Mile Range

Aptera’s next step is to test the car at higher speeds. It will do this with the sleek exterior bodywork installed, as well as the trick solar roof.

When first announced a few years ago, Aptera said it would use in-wheel motors. However, in July, the company announced it had changed plans and will instead use an integrated high-voltage axle-driving motor from Vitesco Technologies. This motor setup is used by more than 20 EVs currently on the market and, according to Aptera, will allow it to begin customer deliveries of the three-wheeler in 2025.

Aptera has not yet said how much power this motor will produce. What we do know is that its flagship vehicle, known as the Launch Edition, promises up to 400 miles (644 km) per charge. The use of solar panels will also add up to 40 miles (64 km) of charge each day.

Fitted beneath the slippery skin of Aptera’s three-wheel will be a 42 kWh battery pack. The company had initially said it would offer 25 kWh, 40 kWh, 60 kWh, and even 100 kWh packs for the vehicle, but that no longer appears to be the case. Aptera claimed back then that models fitted with a 100 kWh were to offer a range exceeding 1,000 miles (1,600 km).

Final prices have not been confirmed, but Aptera says there are almost 50,000 pre-orders for the three-wheeler.