Aptera Motors, based in California, is a solar-electric startup with a clear mission — to build a future where every journey is powered by the sun. Renowned for its extreme efficiency, the vehicle achieves a drag coefficient of just 0.13, weighs under 1,000 kg, and can gain up to 40 miles of daily range purely from its integrated solar panels. This philosophy of minimal energy consumption poses a unique challenge for designers: how to merge beauty with function when every surface must serve efficiency.
Photo Courtesy: Eric Li
In fall 2023, Peiheng Zhang joined Aptera as an Industrial Designer and Visualization Specialist, contributing to the vehicle’s pre-production development. He led the visual communication and design of both the interior and exterior, ensuring Aptera’s design language remained consistent, manufacturable, and emotionally engaging. From lighting elements and the dashboard to safety covers and aerodynamic housings, his focus was to achieve harmony between function and efficiency.
On the visualization front, Zhang directed the brand’s unified visual identity and its underlying rendering pipeline, using Blender, VR tools, and AI-assisted material generation to establish a streamlined workflow for product animations and marketing visuals.
Photo Courtesy: Eric Li
He created several key brand films — including functional demos (“Air in”, “Air in 2”), structure assembly sequences, and the Launch Edition milestone video — which collectively received over 550,000 views across Aptera’s official channels, strengthening both the company’s public image and investor outreach.
He also led the visual development within the UI/UX team, providing detailed 3D assets that clarified interaction concepts and elevated the digital experience. In addition, he built visual templates for marketing and presentation teams, unifying Aptera’s design language across platforms — from internal reviews to public releases.
Working in Aptera’s fast-paced environment reinforced Zhang’s understanding of feasibility and system thinking, shaping his approach to design as both a creative and technical discipline. For him, design is about presenting harmony between the common human factor and the unique functional attributes of a product; in other words, design is not only about how a product works, but how it engages, communicates, and connects with its users — a philosophy that is at the core of Aptera’s vehicle design.
Zhang’s impact at Aptera extends beyond just visual design and aesthetics. His work with the team also emphasized sustainable engineering solutions that maximize the vehicle’s energy efficiency. By refining aerodynamics and streamlining the interior, he improved the overall performance of the solar-powered vehicle, ensuring that every design decision supported Aptera’s mission to reduce environmental impact. His approach was not just about creating a beautiful product, but also one that could realistically shift the way we think about energy consumption in the automotive industry. Through careful attention to detail, from material selection to the seamless integration of solar technology, Zhang played a pivotal role in making Aptera’s vision of a solar-powered future a tangible reality. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices, he helped ensure that the design not only met today’s market demands but also set the stage for a greener, more energy-efficient automotive future.
Zhang’s broader body of work has received international recognition through major design honors, including:
- Red Dot Design Award — 2025, Nissan Xander Electric Pick-up
- Red Dot Design Award — 2025, Porsche 619 Electric Motorcycle
- A’ Design Award, Iron Winner — 2024, “Oh Chair” (Generative, Algorithmic, Parametric and AI-Assisted Design Category)
- Muse Design Award, Gold Winner — 2022, Genesis Oasis Concept
These accolades affirm his ability to blend technology, sustainability, and emotion into a cohesive design language that defines the future of mobility.
“For me, good design is not about complexity — it’s about making efficiency and beauty resonate together.”
At Aptera, Peiheng Zhang turns sunlight into motion, translating innovation into emotion — designing a future that moves lighter, farther, and with greater warmth.
