Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Lee
Yes, if he really wanted to build trikes instead of scam people he could have.
He had more than enough product interest... at the time. Just like Aptera.
He didn't have to go "all in" on a huge manufacturing facility and so many special tooled components i.e. a proprietary engine before getting things going; Slingshot uses GM sourced engines and, well, just about all other commercially available trikes do. Like Vanderhall https://vanderhallusa.com/ They are a real, going concern with real, available, affordable product. How did they do it? They weren't big shots with bottomless pockets. P.S. And endless fund-raising and endless excuses for not delivering.
Or Tesla. They had Lotus build their first model to their specifications. Low overhead while learning the ropes and building momentum.
There still is a way but I think now it'll have to wait for higher gas prices and also it might need a new name to help wash away the horrible taste of "Elio". |
I think the biggest shame is he sucked up all the oxygen in the room. There were better possibilities of something real happening and this took investments away from them. Then the failure makes it even worse, now it's that much harder for the next guy like you said, to get the taste of Elio out of everyone's mouth.
I think in today's world the "it's hard to start something in an established industry" is a bit of a cop out. It's hard but it's never been easier and faster to do it then now. You can't constrain yourself with too many must haves. Made in the USA, 84 mpg, less than 1/2 the cost of the average new small car, full car safety and features. I bet he ended up no better cost and MPG than a new Mirage and just lost a few seats. Heck he might have been pushing 50% more cost than the basic Mirage on sale. Just dropping a wheel may save 25% in wheels and tires but where else are the savings? Mitsubishi probably loses money on the basic Mirage but it gets people on the lots to sell other things.
Honda is probably best suited to make something like this. They could sell it at both the motorcycle dealers and the car dealers using off the shelf motorcycle and car parts they already have. Still no way it comes in under $10,000 but at least it would be reliable. The 1000cc African Twin is over $13,000, but it should be under the $17,000 Honda Fit. Actually after typing that I don't see how it could really "fit" in their line. More than a mid pack motorcycle but less than the least expensive car is a narrow gap at Honda.