Elio Crowdfunding

[Ekh]

Yes, but not necessarily auto level everything-else standards. Like emissions and mandatory back-up cameras, and I'm sure a whole host of other things that add unnecessary (my opinion) cost.

I believe the Elio meets the emissions standards, too, but I'll check on that. I'm hoping they make a back-up camera standard, and I certainly plan on adding one if they don't. But not Skyzmatic.

 

[bowers baldwin]

The other thing that could very well happen, is if these get too popular, the gov't could start applying regulations on the autocycle. The reason these are autocycles is to get away from the veh restrictions. I can see this going away. Mandatory crash ratings, cameras, mirrors, emissions, etc.
Good bye 84 MPG. Good bye $6800.

Wont matter for the first run, they would be grandfathered as far as any NEW standards, but yea, I could see that. And don't forget all new cars have to have tire pressure monitors also...

 

[Coss]

If another car company get's into the 3-wheeler category, I think it would be the Kia/Hyundai people.
They already have some of the lowest priced cars and a low cost 3-wheel Kia would fit right in.
Honda/Fiat/VW would probably go after the EU, Aussy and Asian markets; Tata would do India (they already have a couple of 3 wheelers).
This is where the Elio would have a harder time getting into export markets; they would think it's too big.

 

[AriLea]

The big guys (VW and Toyota) already have three wheeler concepts available and ready to roll out.....

Yes, and have had for years and years. But none of those were 'Engineering models' what we used to call pre-production prototypes. What they lacked was a business imperative to do so. They have to justify competing with their own product lines! The only reason there are any base models like we have now, at all, is that the competitors have them. These bring people in the door and establish the perception of a full product line for the brand.

For many years the Sentra was known to lose money on each car. But it kept Nissan on the map as having something for everyone.

So my statements below are based on corporate business thinking in evidence up to now.

Anyway, on an exceptionally inexpensive car like the Elio, the shipping cost will impact over seas competitors. For local competition they will want evidence that 1) Elio will not fail on it's own without competition, 2) the customer interest will not wavier after 5years. They can possibly project that during year three sales. Oh yes and 3) There is a business case making their own. Which has it's own time lines involved.

One thing that could happen is an overseas sales competitor. But the Elio is very optimal on US freeways, and the specs are hard to warrant on foreign roads. They will want evidence that sales work in those markets, but I think they only need about one year of that to get interested, then a year to or more to do it. So 2 years after Elio is exported at minimum.

There is always the chance for a strong leader with forward thinking vision and street cred to jump in the game up front. Tata seemed to have the whit's to do that in the US and India markets, but failed hugely in the US. So I don't think they will try for anything in the US if that risky again. But in India? Sure, if a customer base can be found. But most common folks overseas want a flexible vehicle that they can stack 16 relatives on. ( that was a Tuk-Tuk joke reference folks! )

 

[bowers baldwin]

If another car company get's into the 3-wheeler category, I think it would be the Kia/Hyundai people.
They already have some of the lowest priced cars and a low cost 3-wheel Kia would fit right in.
Honda/Fiat/VW would probably go after the EU, Aussy and Asian markets; Tata would do India (they already have a couple of 3 wheelers).
This is where the Elio would have a harder time getting into export markets; they would think it's too big.

On a good note, I don't think they could come near the expected price of the Elio, I think they might aim for a higher priced market (also the reason I think they will make a "better" product)

 

[Coss]

I believe the Elio meets the emissions standards, too, but I'll check on that. I'm hoping they make a back-up camera standard, and I certainly plan on adding one if they don't. But not Skyzmatic.

Besides a backup camera, I'll continue the front camera like I do now with my GoPro. I've had a couple of close calls with other drivers and since then I don't go driving anywhere without it. I'll have to go find the one close call I had where a guy came over into my lane and in the video you can see that he's not looking where he's going, just trying to reach something he dropped. It would have removed any doubt about who's fault it was. Insurance companies should give you a credit if you have one, and car companies should make them built in. Hello little black box. (Don't know if I would want a driver seat voice recorder; the drive data recorder would be enough).

 

[JEBar]

The big guys (VW and Toyota) already have three wheeler concepts available and ready to roll out. Motorcycles and EM's autocycle do not qualify for CAFE credit sales and I doubt they ever will.

I tend to believe that VW, Toyota and who knows how many other companies are or will take a look at the EM concept .... there is no doubt that they could produce a similar product .... where I believe their interest will wane when they look at the reality of how the price they would have to sell their trike so as to stay within their sales systems compares to that of EM .... unless they are willing to sell at a loss they simply can't compete with EM's price .... they could certainly offer an upscale product with options not available from EM .... I have no clue just how big the market would be for an EM type vehicle priced at $15K +/-

 

[bowers baldwin]

Besides a backup camera, I'll continue the front camera like I do now with my GoPro. I've had a couple of close calls with other drivers and since then I don't go driving anywhere without it. I'll have to go find the one close call I had where a guy came over into my lane and in the video you can see that he's not looking where he's going, just trying to reach something he dropped. It would have removed any doubt about who's fault it was. Insurance companies should give you a credit if you have one, and car companies should make them built in. Hello little black box. (Don't know if I would want a driver seat voice recorder; the drive data recorder would be enough).

All of my cars have cameras rolling ($12 on eBay), might save me a ticket or prove me right someday...

 

[bowers baldwin]

I tend to believe that VW, Toyota and who knows how many other companies are or will take a look at the EM concept .... there is no doubt that they could produce a similar product .... where I believe their interest will wane when they look at the reality of how the price they would have to sell their trike so as to stay within their sales systems compares to that of EM .... unless they are willing to sell at a loss they simply can't compete with EM's price .... they could certainly offer an upscale product with options not available from EM .... I have no clue just how big the market would be for an EM type vehicle priced at $15K +/-

Polaris seems to be doing fine with theirs @19K so who knows, of course they aren't cranking out nearly as many as Elios target.

 

[Rickb]

The gov't could? When have they been able to keep their noses out of anything? What I'm really worried about is some useful idiot like Ralph Nader destroying them so they can write a BS book.

You want the government's involvement (noses) with the DOE ATVM Loan Program and EM's Loan approval? I do!