Some Questions I'd Like To Ask Paul Elio

[goofyone]

As there has been a lot of confusion over what exactly Paul Elio meant in his Town Hall comments Silas Sunday asked for some clarification from Elio Motors and then produced this great production estimate graph and posted it to EMOA on Facebook. This pretty much matches what we have been told by Elio Motors in their blog and also clarifies what Paul Elio described in the Town Hall meeting while extrapolating a proper ramping up of production as it would not be logical to expect Elio Motors to be able to produce hundreds of brand new vehicles on a brand new assembly on the very first day of production.

The blue line is line/shift 1, orange is line/shifts 1 & 2, green is both lines/shifts 1 & 2 @ 100%

Paul Elio and his team have to be able to answer the production question as quickly as possible so they can't really give the full explanation but instead must provide a quick general idea of how things will work.

 

[Dustman]

I know we've been repeatedly told that wonderful things are in the wings. But I'd like to have some straight answers to questions about the present state of things and in the immediate future.

1. What is the state of the engine? When will it be machined, assembled, and running?
2. What is the time frame for completing the "P5", that is, the take-off prototype? Where is it being built?
3. What is the current design of the dash?
4. What is the design solution for the windshield wiper?
5. What is the current state of affairs in the Shreveport plant?
6. What's the status of the transmission selection? If it's been made, what is it? If not, when do you expect to have that locked down?
7. What's the status of the a/c system?

Finally, a couple of biggies:

What is the timing of the DOE loan application? When do you expect a decision?
What's the prospective timing on other funding sources?

Not that I expect Paul to actually answer these questions, but answers to some or all of them would help keep reservations rolling and make a show of the progress that has (presumably) been made

I agree that most all of us would love to have solid answers to these questions; however, from a PR perspective I think EM is exercising a great deal of caution to provide only information that is solid & unlikely to change in the future. I'm sure there have been many bumps in the road for EM thus far, and there have been failures. We see how quickly some people are willing to jump on to anything negative and use that as a reason that EM will not succeed. I have been thrilled with the amount of information that EM has provided during this process. The Tech Talks have been great, and responses on FB have been timely and consistent (although I no longer have an active FB account either). Overall I am OK with the rate of info provided, but that is my personal opinion.

 

[Craig]

Boy I wish I lived in a world where the questions that kept me up at night were the ones on this thread.
I'm 1K all in, non refundable, so there is only one question that matters and that can only be answered when I drive my Elio home or they fold. Nothing else really matters

JMO. Most people with questions like these act like the company owe's them something. EM owed me a T shirt when I went all in and I received one. As far as I'm concerned we are even.

3. What is the current design of the dash?
They all ready said it would the some type of Elgin design
4. What is the design solution for the windshield wiper?
It was posted that the wiper is not an issue and they will be using a wiper design made in France.

As for the financing, I personally feel it's none of my business and if I was EM I would keep it under wraps to keep the big dogs guessing till they start production.

 

[UCF'73]

My question is a practical one. I know they are trying to hold to the $6800 target price for those of us with reservations. Once they work through that will the price quickly revert to market price reflecting supply and demand (presumably much higher)? If so, it might make economic sense to put down an extra C-note to reserve that second car at the bargain price.

 

[Jeff Miller]

My question is a practical one. I know they are trying to hold to the $6800 target price for those of us with reservations. Once they work through that will the price quickly revert to market price reflecting supply and demand (presumably much higher)? If so, it might make economic sense to put down an extra C-note to reserve that second car at the bargain price.

Your call but if you think you want to own 2 elios before 2017 as well as get an extra $500 off the $6800 price you have about 9 hours to make up your mind

The first years production will be reserved, after that EM needs to fill stores and possibly fleet and other commercial sales which is why I suspect buying a second elio without a reservation won't be possible until 2017.

 

[CRUZR]

Some of those questions have been answered already. Some Paul may not know yet know.
Find the answers to the ones that have been answered and they tell you a lot about the ones that have not been answered.

 

[UCF'73]

Your call but if you think you want to own 2 elios before 2017 as well as get an extra $500 off the $6800 price you have about 9 hours to make up your mind

The first years production will be reserved, after that EM needs to fill stores and possibly fleet and other commercial sales which is why I suspect buying a second elio without a reservation won't be possible until 2017.

I did the deed. Now I can either buy the second car when the time comes, then keep it or sell it, or pass on the purchase and forfeit the $100. Maybe even transfer the deposit to a family member or friend with approval from EM, per the agreement.

 

[Rickb]

My question is a practical one. I know they are trying to hold to the $6800 target price for those of us with reservations. Once they work through that will the price quickly revert to market price reflecting supply and demand (presumably much higher)? If so, it might make economic sense to put down an extra C-note to reserve that second car at the bargain price.

I think the pricing they are working is currently market price. The future price will continue to be fair with any necessary price increases down the road. Fair pricing and affordability is the foundation on which EM is being built and that shouldn't change to maintain customer loyalty. Sales Volume may be large enough to maintain the determined price point for some time.

 

[tazairforce]

My question is a practical one. I know they are trying to hold to the $6800 target price for those of us with reservations. Once they work through that will the price quickly revert to market price reflecting supply and demand (presumably much higher)? If so, it might make economic sense to put down an extra C-note to reserve that second car at the bargain price.

I'm getting 'Torn between Two Love's(ers)' here. Love #1 is to have my #4105 Original/First Year Elio as soon as I can, and keep it Low Mileage/Original. Love #2 is to reserve another Elio to play with, repaint, drive the crap out of, add trlr hitch and camper, fender lights, etc, etc.


Will reserve another just B4 the reservations are closed, should space it out where I can have the funds in hand, if not I can pass and wait until later.

 

[eddie66]

I'm getting 'Torn between Two Love's(ers)' here. Love #1 is to have my #4105 Original/First Year Elio as soon as I can, and keep it Low Mileage/Original. Love #2 is to reserve another Elio to play with, repaint, drive the crap out of, add trlr hitch and camper, fender lights, etc, etc.


Will reserve another just B4 the reservations are closed, should space it out where I can have the funds in hand, if not I can pass and wait until later.

I would wait. I don't see any reason to preserve 4105. I don't see a future collectability for these vehicles. If sales go the way we think they will, the market will be flooded with them in a couple years, and you will be able to buy them on ebay for parts. Or, the next big thing will come along and we will be moving on to whatever it may be. Since I've got # 4020, I'll probably see you on the factory tour. I would say drive the hell out of the first one and enjoy it, then order the second one and preserve it if you still think it will have an increased future value.