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

[samwichse]

So... Elio is dead

[NeilBlanchard]

Wow, that is dire. Will they get a white knight?

Woulda' coulda' shoulda' - if only they had done small production runs with an off-the-shelf engine, and sold them, and got them on the road.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Wow, that is dire. Will they get a white knight?

Woulda' coulda' shoulda' - if only they had done small production runs with an off-the-shelf engine, and sold them, and got them on the road.

But then the founder wouldn't have been able to collect his wages these many years

[MetroMPG]

If only Aptera had started producing their car based on the original moulds instead of hiring Detroit management, redesigning it, etc.

I liked Aptera better.

[Frank Lee]

Wow, didn't see that comin'.

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.

[Shortie771]

They could end up getting someone to fund them. Don't forget, Tesla went through similar difficulties when they first started out.

[Frank Lee]

Invest in a scam? When Buffet buys in I'll change my tune.

[Shortie771]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Invest in a scam? When Buffet buys in I'll change my tune.

Hey, I didn't say it was a good idea, but somebody may do it.

[niky]

Originally Posted by Shortie771

They could end up getting someone to fund them. Don't forget, Tesla went through similar difficulties when they first started out.

Tesla was helmed by billionaire wunderkind Elon Musk, who was also one of the driving forces behind PayPal. He personally funded Tesla after its first round of funding problems, and continues to funnel his own money into it... to the point of him not actually having any money left in his name... all of it being tied up in stocks and assets.

This is how he has managed to get investment. By investing in it himself. When investors see such massive confidence in the product from the CEO, they'll be more encouraged to take the same risk. Whether Tesla continues for another decade or eventually folds up or is bought out by a bigger car company for its now considerable technology and production assets, it has only survived thus far because of his massive sacrifices.

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So... now... who's been putting up the same money for Elio? Elio? Or the "buyers"? Elio doesn't have any proprietary technology to sell that anyone wants. Trying to reinvent the small motor is futile when you don't have the budget of a big manufacturer... or a unique selling proposition like Mazda does (SkyActiv, and now HCCI SkyActiv... though the release date for that has been pushed back a bit).

Instead, Elio has a heavily reworked Suzuki/Geo Metro three-pot engine... which is a bonkers idea since Suzuki has been refining that engine for decades and you can already buy a NEW one off-the-shelf with Euro IV emissions, and work on THAT, instead. The BS about modern engines not being designed for such a light car is just that... Suzuki uses it in a car that's just 600 kilograms... at worst, Elio would have to design custom cams, a custom intake and an exhaust to bring the engine up to current EPA specs.

Ahurm... nobody will want that engine because Nissan, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Daihatsu all already have very active sub-liter engine development programs. Unlike Tesla, there's nothing unique that Elio can sell besides the *idea* of a three-wheel body.

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Erh... TL;DR, I'm not a Tesla fanatic, but I have to admit, Musk is a shrewd businessman, and he's put his money where his mouth is.

Elio isn't, and hasn't. Fair bet that Elio is screwed.

[Frank Lee]

I'd wager Mr Elio himself is FAR from screwed.