[brucepick]

Paul Elio has said, 'you have to go big or go home'. That is, they feel they need large production numbers. Can't make it on a smallish quantity, and hoping to grow large from that level.

I think the need for many tens of thousands of lightweight and efficient engines, at low cost, is what primarily drove the decision to build their own engine. After reading everything here on the topic, I have to grant that it could prove out to be a mistaken decision. But I do understand the decision. I think they'd never get the performance and price they need and want, from an outsourced engine.