Jeff Johnson Interview - Autoline After Hours #347 - 9/16/16

[WilliamH]

As I posted earlier in this thread, I sent EM a question on 10/2/16 concerning the Jeff Johnson comments about AMTs. I did not expect a quick answer but have always gotten a reply in about three days max. I expect there is some back peddling going on with the VP's comments and they are trying to develop a response for the masses. I expected the Friday EM email to address his comments but I see that did not happen. In most cases the Friday mailing has become trite and old news these days. EM is a very small company and I would be surprised if the VP of Engineering would be out of tune with development plans and vehicle production, but we will see.

I try to be a realist and I do not see things going well with the 23 engineering vehicles for their suppliers and final development. They supposedly said "all engineering is complete", so the technology decisions to put in the vehicle should be firm and when. For example, they have some serious work to do if the are going to engineer three air bags in the Elio and certainly you would think the transmission supplier would be one of the first to get a test Elio.

You might want to look at the number of tour events scheduled for the first two weeks in October.
Then consider the number of full time employees.
Then consider the frequency of updates on the remaining locked people in out of 65,000.
Then consider the priority of getting to people who are trying to give them money as compared to someone who is just inquisitive about the exact sequence of the manufacturing process which will probably be determined during the run of 100 fleet cars.
You need to be a little more patient.

 

[Coss]

As I posted earlier in this thread, I sent EM a question on 10/2/16 concerning the Jeff Johnson comments about AMTs. I did not expect a quick answer but have always gotten a reply in about three days max. I expect there is some back peddling going on with the VP's comments and they are trying to develop a response for the masses. I expected the Friday EM email to address his comments but I see that did not happen. In most cases the Friday mailing has become trite and old news these days. EM is a very small company and I would be surprised if the VP of Engineering would be out of tune with development plans and vehicle production, but we will see.

I try to be a realist and I do not see things going well with the 23 engineering vehicles for their suppliers and final development. They supposedly said "all engineering is complete", so the technology decisions to put in the vehicle should be firm and when. For example, they have some serious work to do if the are going to engineer three air bags in the Elio and certainly you would think the transmission supplier would be one of the first to get a test Elio.

What email address did you send it to?
What makes you think the E-series isn't going well? Do you have hard proof, or are you just guessing?
And as quoted in post #141 just because they don't answer you; you come up with new theories about problems in the company? Why?

 

[lessismoreguy]

What makes you think the E-series isn't going well? Do you have hard proof, or are you just guessing?
And as quoted in post #141 just because they don't answer you; you come up with new theories about problems in the company? Why

I can't answer for webartist, but here's my thoughts. The e-series appears to be substantially behind schedule. Why do I think this? They need to be completed, and tested, and specs tweaked before Elio can build any of the 100 pre-production vehicles. With an announced December date for building the P vehicles (still what the Facebook moderator claims today), I'd think they would need to complete ALL e-series testing by, say, mid-November (to be generous). If the last several e-series are intended for testing that can be done really short-term, they've got till the 1st of November (to be very generous) to finish the builds. Anybody see them turning out 20+ more e-series in the next 23 days?

I'm thinking a more realistic guess for starting P-series vehicles would be no sooner than March and that's probably optimistic.

Unless they intend to START building the P while the E are still in the works? But that would likely stretch the P builds out over several months.

 

[WilliamH]

What makes you think the E-series isn't going well? Do you have hard proof, or are you just guessing?
And as quoted in post #141 just because they don't answer you; you come up with new theories about problems in the company? Why

I can't answer for webartist, but here's my thoughts. The e-series appears to be substantially behind schedule. Why do I think this? They need to be completed, and tested, and specs tweaked before Elio can build any of the 100 pre-production vehicles. With an announced December date for building the P vehicles (still what the Facebook moderator claims today), I'd think they would need to complete ALL e-series testing by, say, mid-November (to be generous). If the last several e-series are intended for testing that can be done really short-term, they've got till the 1st of November (to be very generous) to finish the builds. Anybody see them turning out 20+ more e-series in the next 23 days?

I'm thinking a more realistic guess for starting P-series vehicles would be no sooner than March and that's probably optimistic.

Unless they intend to START building the P while the E are still in the works? But that would likely stretch the P builds out over several months.

You let "webartist" feed you a nice steaming heap of FUD!
And you wolfed it down like it was the gospel..
Neither you nor I have any idea of the status of the full "E" series.

 

[AriLea]

You let "webartist" feed you a nice steaming heap of FUD!
And you wolfed it down like it was the gospel..
Neither you nor I have any idea of the status of the full "E" series.

Well if we're guessing here, the switch to the steel panels, should have given EM a delay while that change is addressed. Then when complete I assume they should have a slightly easier time assembling with sheet metal weldings than the plastic glued on panels.

Anyway, that is a principle question to ask at the LA show. 1) how many of the E-series are now ready for testing, 2) when will they be build finished, 3) when will those then be test-finished, 4) when will you publish the MPG and test results?

 

[Coss]

What makes you think the E-series isn't going well? Do you have hard proof, or are you just guessing?
And as quoted in post #141 just because they don't answer you; you come up with new theories about problems in the company? Why

I can't answer for webartist, but here's my thoughts. The e-series appears to be substantially behind schedule. Why do I think this? They need to be completed, and tested, and specs tweaked before Elio can build any of the 100 pre-production vehicles. With an announced December date for building the P vehicles (still what the Facebook moderator claims today), I'd think they would need to complete ALL e-series testing by, say, mid-November (to be generous). If the last several e-series are intended for testing that can be done really short-term, they've got till the 1st of November (to be very generous) to finish the builds. Anybody see them turning out 20+ more e-series in the next 23 days?

I'm thinking a more realistic guess for starting P-series vehicles would be no sooner than March and that's probably optimistic.

Unless they intend to START building the P while the E are still in the works? But that would likely stretch the P builds out over several months.

P Series is the Prototype Series; E Series are the Engineering Series Elios; they have not published the letter series for the Fleet test vehicles or the letter for the Production Series.
Don't take everything you hear or read about the Elio from newer members to be the gospel truth.
The true status of Elio Motors is only known by Elio Motors board members and those in management positions at Elio Motors.
They used to be a little "freer" with inside information, but all of that changed when they started selling stock for the company; since that time they have locked down open channels for inside operations.

And as for the E-Series; only those insiders at EM know the real story.
But I do have it on good source, that they are further along on the E-Series than what you've stated.
I cannot tell you any more then that.

 

[webartist]

I thought I would clarify my enthusiasm and commitment to EM and the Elio and its success by reminding everyone I am an "All In" $1K SIL reservation holder who has also made the commitment to purchase with a lock in on the discounted $7k price. I want EM to succeed. I received some grief from my post #140 in this thread when all I mentioned where three know facts: 1) EM is a small company and certainly can not answer email in a timely manor which I understand, 2) They have only completed and provided to suppliers two E series vehicles out of a promised 23 and 3) they said they had completed engineering some while back which should mean all decisions on what is in a Elio and how to manufacture should be complete. It is the #3 issue as it relates to going into production with a MT and AMT that is very unnerving to me. I only heard about the Elio early March 2016 and in that same month made my reservation based on the Elio spec. sheet (on their web- sit) that state a standard 5 speed MT with available automatic. I can drive a manual but my wife, my adult children and most all my friends can not drive a MT and I consider that serious. I do not want to shift gears and us a clutch at my age. I would have thought by now EM would have addressed in the weekly email or otherwise, a clarification or conformation of the VP of Engineering comments.

I appreciate what "lessismoreguy" said in his post about the realty of EM providing the 23 engineering test vehicle, and the 100 fleet vehicle any time soon. I think of everyone were honest, it is unlikely if production starts in 2017 at all.

 

[webartist]

I also think EM may need to rethink their initial Elio distribution process to allow at least on-line order and pick up at their Marshaling centers if not their factory. There will be one MC in my state (Atlanta area of course), and I would certainly go there to pick up or even place my order and wait for my completed vehicle.

I read a post recently from someone who stated a long list of "yet to dos" for EM and the probability of being successful being very low and I was impressed and think it was a valid assessment.

 

[webartist]

I am well into retirement age yet still in full time employment and do hot have time to read and search everything on the web about Elio, so I may not have all the facts. I will say one owner mentioned all of the Events EM has planned in October and to that I say so what? The events are great for marketing and Elio exposure and for "all in" reservation holders but come one now . . events do not build the 23 engineering vehicles, build 100 fleet vehicles or directly get them to production. I would say that roof racks on the configurator at this point are an example of EM getting distracted instead (as the VP of Engineering said which I liked), focusing on getting into production.

 

[outsydthebox]

I read a post recently from someone who stated a long list of "yet to dos" for EM and the probability of being successful being very low and I was impressed and think it was a valid assessment.

I appreciate your concerns. However, we all read "something that someone said" everyday....That doesn't make it so.
There will always be people who are comfortable investing in cutting edge products or concepts, and those who are better off waiting until all of the bugs get worked out, and they can just walk in to a storefront and see the finished product.
MAYBE YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF WAITING.