Friday's The Big Day ... Or Is It?

[Ekh]

Friday 2/6 is the "official first start" ceremony. Of course the thing's been running for months (I think). So this opens up a few lines.

First, does anybody want to start a pool on exactly what day and time the engine (or one of its clones) first powers a vehicle?

Second, how about a prayer circle that nothing goes "clank" during the official first start?

Third, will this event actually be tied to any announcements of substance? If so, what do you think they might be. (Fantasies are NOT invited for this one)

Fourth, how many times will Paul begin a sentence with the word "so" during the ceremony?

Fifth, who will be the most important guests at the ceremony?

OK, gang, let's have at it!

 

[RUCRAYZE]

So much to absorb, but out of the box count this atheist out of the prayer circle!!!

 

[pistonboy]

If all goes well, it will be hyped up in an Elio email.

If something goes "clank," the entire event will never be mentioned.

 

[JEBar]

If all goes well, it will be hyped up in an Elio email.

If something goes "clank," the entire event will never be mentioned.

success will be hyped in video, press reports, YouTube, and every other media source they can latch onto .... having a running engine has been hyped as a major milestone in the program's development .... having one will be used to increase reservations and hopefully generate investment ....

 

[goofyone]

If all goes well, it will be hyped up in an Elio email.

If something goes "clank," the entire event will never be mentioned.

You must have come to this conclusion because EM never shares any bad news via Elio email?

Considering they have already said it was happening and the media will be there covering it even if it were to crash and burn EM would have to talk about in an email. But 'clank' will not happen because EM and IAV are smarter than that and have done a bunch of testing and have run the engine ahead of time then even scheduled dyno time on January 28-29 ahead of the public unveiling and ceremonial 'first start'. As a result they already know everything is working just fine and now all they have to do is show it off.

 

[Hotscoots]

Assuming the "official first start" ceremony actually takes place , you can bet the engine has been running flawlessly for weeks .
It would be akin to suicide if anything goes clunk .
Does anyone else think that $240 Million is an excessive amount just to begin production ? I'm no automotive manufacturing expert , but it seems to me they could at least begin to build with far less . Once the Elio is seen on the streets and demand begins to skyrocket , additional funding should be easier to glean .
C'mon , Tucker built 51 cars and the hideous clown car, Corbin Sparrow . was 300 strong .

 

[Smitty901]

Todays world, regulations ,employee start up cost, local issues. You can bet the environment people will want a cut. 240 million is pocket change.
Likely not to be enough. Everyone will be standing there with their hands out. Suppliers are going to want payment upfront or on delivery at first, they are not stupid they are watching.
Projects I get involved in now often cost more in legal costs than the entire work and material does and can delay work years. EPA will have to approve the new engines emissions.
Just because you have a building and permits, does not mean you can use them there is always a judge that will shut you down ,add restrictions if one of his groups files a suit.
ELIO has mentioned that unexpected legal cost has help create some of the funding and time line issues they have experienced. It never as easy as it looks once the rubber hits the road.
Your prefect plan is fine until it butts up to someone else agenda.

 

[goofyone]

Assuming the "official first start" ceremony actually takes place , you can bet the engine has been running flawlessly for weeks .
It would be akin to suicide if anything goes clunk .
Does anyone else think that $240 Million is an excessive amount just to begin production ? I'm no automotive manufacturing expert , but it seems to me they could at least begin to build with far less . Once the Elio is seen on the streets and demand begins to skyrocket , additional funding should be easier to glean .
C'mon , Tucker built 51 cars and the hideous clown car, Corbin Sparrow . was 300 strong .

View attachment 4641

The media has finally corrected the $240 million misinformation they had put out earlier. The total cost of the project is $240 million however the amount EM still needs to raise is $175 million. The used equipment EM is selling right now is expected to bring in $100-$120 million so what EM actually needs to raise is only about $75 million.

The truth is that EM's financial situation is not nearly as dire as some are trying to present it. Even without the ATVM loan all EM must do is sell off the used equipment and raise about $75 million via private investment over the next year and they will have all the money they need for volume production of this vehicle. EM's sales broker has already begun selling and advertising this investment opportunity to potential investors.

Volume production is what is needed to keep the cost per vehicle low enough to make this vehicle worthwhile. Otherwise the cost per vehicle can easily double or triple as low volume production is more expensive, as it does not benefit from the economies of scale of volume production, and requires a much higher profit margin per vehicle to make the reduced number of sales worth the effort. This is why vehicles such as the Polaris Slingshot are so expensive.

 

[satx]

I've been hearing about EM selling the equipment, but how long does it take? There can't be 1000s of buyers for the kind of stuff. What's the hold up? Have they actually put the stuff up for sale or waiting on something? Nobody really wants that stuff?

 

[mag44]

Catch word is expected. Expected doesn't put the bacon on the table.
I think Elio is making a big mistake on relying on the sale of used equipment that not many would not want.