The design has an aerodynamic shape and uses lightweight carbon fiber and fiberglass composite materials, and built-in solar cells to significantly extend its range.

[1][2] While several prototypes featured in-wheel motors, the production model is designed with a standard three-wheeler front-wheel drive axle.

[5] Aptera announced in June 2022 a detailed plan to scale in-wheel motor production in Slovenia by Elaphe.

has stamped the first of Aptera's Body in Carbon (BinC) parts from production tools at its Modena, Italy manufacturing facility.

[16] The Aptera's body shape is similar to earlier design exercises in efficiency, including the "Fusion" human-powered vehicle produced by the Pegasus Research Company in 1984,[17] and the MIT Aztec Solar Car, which won multiple efficiency awards while racing in the American Tour de Sol in 1993.