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

[Fat Charlie]

I'm on the side of it being viable- it's just not going to have a big enough market to make it a "big" company. But none of the time we spent arguing all that was wasted.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

I'm on the side of it being viable- it's just not going to have a big enough market to make it a "big" company. But none of the time we spent arguing all that was wasted.

Volume is required to come anywhere near the promised $20,000 and very deep pockets are required to fund the 4-5 years of design, development, and tooling up a manufacturing plant before the first vehicle is sold.

To date no one has cracked the code of making a trike with all the creature comforts of a car priced less than $20,000 and stayed in business.


The ELECTRA MECCANICA’S SOLO is actually on sale for $20K - time will tell if they fade away like the rest of the 3 wheel autocycles.

The Vanderhall is $25,000 for the gas version / $35,000 for the electric without any creature comforts. They have been selling autocycles for 5 years.

The Campagna T-Rex made trikes for 3 decades but closed up shop last year. It was a niche product and priced like one. $60,000 with no creature comforts.

[cowmeat]

Well, as for myself I still own two Elios* - and I have to say I've got more mileage out of them than I ever expected when I bought them ($100 reserve fee)



*tee shirts

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by JSH

To date no one has cracked the code of making a trike with all the creature comforts of a car priced less than $20,000 and stayed in business.

Arcimoto furthers you point. Their Evergreen model doesn't meet the qualifier but does meet the price point.

The volume production you mention could halve their price.

[MetroMPG]

Fingers crossed that they're not the next example of failure-to-launch.

[Xist]

Well, Arcimoto started selling. Hopefully they keep up the good work.

[freebeard]

maybe Elio could spark some interest if they showed cobbled-together mockup of delivery or rapid responder variants.

Further comment should go to the Arcimoto thread.

[Xist]

Are you giving him ideas to continue to steal money from investors?

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by JSH

Volume is required to come anywhere near the promised $20,000 and very deep pockets are required to fund the 4-5 years of design, development, and tooling up a manufacturing plant before the first vehicle is sold.

This thread is over 7 years old.

At some point it's not the realities of modern industry, it's Elio himself. And as you said, Electrica Meccanica, Vanderhall and Campagna have been selling them, albeit at higher prices, all along. I still can't get over his "need" for a custom engine- hardly the actions of a man trying to bring an inexpensive vehicle to market.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Arcimoto furthers you point. Their Evergreen model doesn't meet the qualifier but does meet the price point.

The volume production you mention could halve their price.

I'd say volume production could get them to mid-tier Polaris Ranger price or about $13,000 - $14,000. To drop below that they would need to relocated assembly to a low-cost country.