It was promised to be a revolutionary $10,000 electric car, it never made it to production, and now it suddenly reappears for sale on eBay.

There was a time when SONDORS believed it could apply to cars the same formula that had made it famous with its affordable electric bicycles. Its proposal was as simple as it was ambitious: a three-wheeled, three-seater electric vehicle with an initial price of just $10,000.

The car actually came to exist. The company unveiled a prototype at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show and began accepting $100 reservations in early 2018, aiming to start production in 2019. That goal was never achieved.

Nearly nine years after that presentation, one of the physical remnants of that project has reappeared in a quite unexpected way. The prototype of the Model SONDORS has appeared listed on eBay, with its seller asking $10,000 — exactly the same amount the company had originally promised for the production car.

Up to 320 kilometers of range for $10,000

The design of the Model SONDORS was very different from that of a conventional sedan. It featured three wheels and a unique cabin designed for three occupants, with two front seats and a third seat positioned centrally right behind them. SONDORS announced three battery configurations with estimated ranges of 75, 150, and 200 miles, roughly equivalent to 120, 240, and 320 kilometers. Depending on the version, the company also claimed an acceleration from 0 to 60 mph, about 97 km/h, in between five and eight seconds.

But its main advantage lay in the price. At a time when electric cars were still significantly more expensive than their gasoline counterparts, SONDORS claimed it could bring its vehicle to market for just $10,000.

The prototype was even driven by some specialized media outlets, though it was still a long way from being a car ready for market release. During those initial demonstrations, its speed was limited, and it encountered technical issues during a test organized by Electrek.

The story becomes even more striking when comparing the current price to what it would have cost to develop the vehicle. The seller claims that over $1.5 million was invested in building the prototype, though this figure comes directly from the advertisement and should be taken at face value.

There are, however, contemporary references pointing in the same direction. Engadget described it when testing it in 2018 as a prototype valued at around one million dollars. Today, nearly a decade later, its listed price is one hundred times lower.

The listing also states a mileage of just one mile, though that doesn’t mean it’s a road-ready car. It currently doesn’t work, requires cosmetic repairs, and is sold as-is. The seller claims it appears to retain all its components and believes it might need relatively little work to function again, but offers no guarantees regarding this.

It can’t even be driven legally on roads

There is another significant challenge for those considering purchasing it. This SONDORS is not approved for road use and is sold only as a conceptual vehicle, accompanied by a sales agreement rather than standard documentation required for registered cars.

There are also some uncertainties regarding this unit. The prototype that SONDORS originally displayed at auto shows was dark garnet in color, while the one available on eBay is white and has differences in elements such as tires, headlights, and hood vents.

It might be modifications made during the development process or simply a later repaint, which is relatively common in prototypes used in exhibitions. However, with the available information, it is not possible to fully determine the car’s origin with certainty.

SONDORS eventually became better known for its electric bicycles and later for the Metacycle electric motorcycle. Its car project was pushed to the background until it ultimately disappeared without ever reaching production. The company had even accepted reservations, promising an electric vehicle capable of highway driving at a fraction of the price of other models from that era. But none of those units ever made it to customers.

Now, that project has partially closed the loop in a rather peculiar way. The car, which was supposed to be sold for $10,000, reappeared years later on eBay at exactly $10,000 or better offer.

As of now, it has not been sold

The appearance of the prototype on eBay was reported on September 20, 2026, and several media outlets covered the ad again in the following days. In all of them, the vehicle was still listed at $10,000, with no subsequent confirmation that it had found a buyer.

Therefore, as of today there is no public sales figure nor any reliable source to confirm that it has been sold. If someone does eventually accept the announced price, it would be particularly interesting if this prototype ends up changing hands for exactly the same amount that SONDORS promised to charge for the new car nearly a decade ago.