Elio Motors, The Next Big Thing?!!...

[adam728]

Originally Posted by niky

Even if we are going for a lighter vehicle, the need to meet US emissions and safety regulations, as well as NVH targets and comfort requirements (AC? Heater?) will bump the price up.

The Elio is still considered a motorcycle, correct? If so, then safety regulations are nearly nil compared to a car (mostly DOT standards for things like square inches of tail light area, etc), and highway motorcycle emissions are pretty easy in the US. We are one of few countries left in where you can still buy a brand new bike with a carburetor and no catalyst.

I was looking through some EPA stuff yesterday, for 2016 model year there were 68 bikes with carburetors meeting EPA requirements. About a dozen without catalyst or even air injection. Heck, one passes with a Kohler engine (Rokon)!


This is factory street legal in the US.

[Hersbird]

And again we see the why in 3 wheels. They don't want to actually have to crash test and meet emissions standards of cars. Trust me, if they plan on putting a million of these things on the road the government will reclassify 3 wheelers as cars before they can make a year's production.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

And again we see the why in 3 wheels. They don't want to actually have to crash test and meet emissions standards of cars. Trust me, if they plan on putting a million of these things on the road the government will reclassify 3 wheelers as cars before they can make a year's production.

Yes, but Elio was petitioning the government to REQUIRE EMISSIONS AND CRASH TESTING FOR 3 WHEELERs.

They weren't lobbying against such measure but for, they wasted a good chunk of their budget trying to get protectionist laws like emissions and crash tests into the 3 wheel segment.

And given how lobbyists write law, I have no doubt that the requirements would wrap around whatever they expect the Elio car to be capable of.

Sort of like larger trucks don't need to meet the same stringent pollution control laws as light trucks but semis need to exceed emissions standards on both.

Laws are not written to protect or help the public but to guide the public into specific decisions that benefit a special interest,
our failed crash test requirements are a perfect example of how law can be written not to make cars safer per se but can be made to exclude and make it more difficult for other cars that may actually be safer to enter our home market.

The best example was of the hushed up euro crash tests done on American cars by our car companies to make the case that our standards were higher than euro and thus there was no need for American cars to be tested under Euro law to be sold in Europe.

Our cars resoundingly failed Euro standards!

No one likes to talk about that and by the silliness of our standards, Euro cars need to be modified to come here as well, but does that make it safer?

[freebeard]

Laws are not written to protect or help the public but to guide the public into specific decisions that benefit a special interest,

Are we supposed to know that?

Just go ahead and use whichever restroom you choose.

[Hersbird]

Right Elio was petitioning to make laws to their advantage to further force competition out of any potential market. It's why Walmart is in favor of a higher minimum wage. They can absorb it. Plus if the laws are changed then it's another thing they can blame when their $6800 price becomes $12,999. Or their 84 mpg becomes 55 mpg.

I have also read Elio says the proposed rules would NOT apply to them as it would only be for side by side seating not in line. So they want new rules that don't apply to them at all but would something like the slingshot. Also they could do all the crash testing and emission testing they want, you don't need laws to say you have to do something if you really think it's the right thing to do. Just do it because you think it's the right thing, why does virtuous behavior have to be mandated by law?

[ME_Andy]

Steel Strips Wheels bags $ 55 mn order from US-based Elio Motors | Business Standard News

Steel Strips Wheels Ltd (SSWL) has bagged its maiden export order worth about $ 55 million from the US-based Elio Motors. This order, which is one of SSWL's biggest export order in its history and marks its entry into a new geography, will include development of two ground wheels.

Steel Strips Wheels will supply wheels to Elio’s plant in Shreveport, Louisiana, and will manufacture the product from its Chennai plant. Total project volume would be approximately three million wheels spread over 5 years generating cumulative revenue of about $ 55 million.


“The company aims to increase its presence in North America by launching its commercial vehicle steel wheels and passenger car alloy wheels from its upcoming greenfield plants in India in coming months,” said SSWL in a press release.

[Hersbird]

And on that news SSWL stock drops almost 2%.
Weird, I guess buy on the rumor, sell on the news.

[freebeard]

Total project volume would be approximately three million wheels spread over 5 years generating cumulative revenue of about $ 55 million.

Does the Elio carry a spare? That sounds like 200,000 Elio a year, on average.

OTOH they have a contract to wholesale a steel road wheel for $18.33. So good on them.

[Vman455]

And, it could go up:

"Based on our current engineering models and materials calculations at this juncture, we will lock in the base price for “non-refundable” reservation holders at $7,300* until we reach 65,000 total reservations (all reservations, both non-refundable and refundable). "

That is, if they ever manage to build anything they can sell.

The Elio Will Cost $7000 But Now You Have To Buy One If You Reserve It

[Hersbird]

So the first leg of the stool has fallen, no such thing ever as a $6800 car, especially one with the airbags, A/C, power windows, automatic transmission, etc. At least the $7300 is kind of close assuming they don't come up with $3000 in extra fees. Next leg to fall will be the 84 mpg. Technically you can't afford to lose even one leg on a 3 leg stool. At least it doesn't look like you have to pay the whole thing right now to get this price.