Elio recently sent out an email regarding their funding situation. I'm sure many of you have heard that the car's release has been pushed back til 2016. The email basically clarifies that funding is the one cog that is holding the trike back from production, and I'm sure the $185M Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing loan is the biggest chunk of that.
Anyway, I did some wikipedia research into the history of the ATVM loan, and frankly what I found pissed me off. Aptera went out of business after waiting 2 years for the loan approval. Bright Automotive went out of business after waiting FOUR years to hear back regarding loan approval.
Meanwhile, Ford was rapidly approved for $5.9 BILLION.
Yes, I believe it's a political game. But I also believe that the Elio is far more deserving of a "small" $185M loan than almost any other vehicle out there.
Check out the wikipedia page yourself:
Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
And send an email to the ATVM loan program of the DOE if you would like your voice to be heard:
atvmloan@hq.doe.gov