The founders got kicked from the old company when they brought in the gm guy (Paul Wilbur) who insisted on burning through the capital the company had re-redesigning everything into the Fatera instead of spooling up manufacturing. Then when he burned through everything and they went into receivership, he specifically destroyed the bucks and bodies for the earlier body style and sold the IP to a Chinese company (Zap-Jonway iirc).
They sat on it for years, then decided they were never going to do anything with it and sold it off in 2019... to the original founders (I assume they got it pretty cheap). I assume they're a bit wiser about keeping control of their own company now.
If they can start at least low volume production like the FUV, maybe they have a chance. But the new design has hub motors now, so... *doubt*
https://youtu.be/yGqhKLFS62k