Pick Your Model!!

[Zipper]

I read somewhere (I apologize for not providing the reference) that in order to keep the base price at a minimum, there will be only 14 variations that roll down the assembly line. "Automatic" or manual multiplied by 7 colors, that's it. Everything else will come afterwards at the delivery points. Options and accessories are where the great majority of money is to be made in any case. I expect that all the options that are available through the Elio stores will provide direct financial benefit to EM regardless of who is involved in the production and distribution channels. Of course, I also expect there to be a thriving 3rd party aftermarket that will most likely be less expensive than the EM branded/approved stuff. Harley Davidson comes to mind, although they're certainly not alone in that approach. I really like the simplified assembly line approach because it enables me to acquire only the options that I really want and none of the fluff that I don't want, but would otherwise have to pay for in a package.

 

[H2odog]

I read somewhere (I apologize for not providing the reference) that in order to keep the base price at a minimum, there will be only 14 variations that roll down the assembly line. "Automatic" or manual multiplied by 7 colors, that's it. Everything else will come afterwards at the delivery points. Options and accessories are where the great majority of money is to be made in any case. I expect that all the options that are available through the Elio stores will provide direct financial benefit to EM regardless of who is involved in the production and distribution channels. Of course, I also expect there to be a thriving 3rd party aftermarket that will most likely be less expensive than the EM branded/approved stuff. Harley Davidson comes to mind, although they're certainly not alone in that approach. I really like the simplified assembly line approach because it enables me to acquire only the options that I really want and none of the fluff that I don't want, but would otherwise have to pay for in a package.

Well said Zipper

 

[Craig]

I read somewhere (I apologize for not providing the reference) that in order to keep the base price at a minimum, there will be only 14 variations that roll down the assembly line. "Automatic" or manual multiplied by 7 colors, that's it. Everything else will come afterwards at the delivery points. Options and accessories are where the great majority of money is to be made in any case. I expect that all the options that are available through the Elio stores will provide direct financial benefit to EM regardless of who is involved in the production and distribution channels. Of course, I also expect there to be a thriving 3rd party aftermarket that will most likely be less expensive than the EM branded/approved stuff. Harley Davidson comes to mind, although they're certainly not alone in that approach. I really like the simplified assembly line approach because it enables me to acquire only the options that I really want and none of the fluff that I don't want, but would otherwise have to pay for in a package.

If this car comes to market and it takes off, I’m thinking of starting my own shop for repairs and placement of options. I would be happy with $25 an hour, plus overhead. No way Midas or EM can match that. Repairs will be mostly after warranty unless they have a stipulation where you can get something fixed and then get rembersed.

 

[Ty]

I read somewhere (I apologize for not providing the reference) that in order to keep the base price at a minimum, there will be only 14 variations that roll down the assembly line. "Automatic" or manual multiplied by 7 colors, that's it. Everything else will come afterwards at the delivery points. Options and accessories are where the great majority of money is to be made in any case. I expect that all the options that are available through the Elio stores will provide direct financial benefit to EM regardless of who is involved in the production and distribution channels. Of course, I also expect there to be a thriving 3rd party aftermarket that will most likely be less expensive than the EM branded/approved stuff. Harley Davidson comes to mind, although they're certainly not alone in that approach. I really like the simplified assembly line approach because it enables me to acquire only the options that I really want and none of the fluff that I don't want, but would otherwise have to pay for in a package.

I'd bet that you are correct. I can see the Elios showing up at the dealers without seats, radio, etc. The dealer will have plenty of those things to do a simple assembly once the customer decides on his options. This would let the dealer make a little profit selling add-ons and allow the customer to pick what they want. Each dealer could have 14 or so cars on hand so the customer could see the colors in person and the transmission. The dealer could swap out seats per the customer's request and allow test drives in similar set-ups. There's no reason to ship the cars with their final seats, radios, etc attached. Now, if the dealer was running low on the leather seat options, he may request that the Elios that he orders come with the leather so that he can pull them out (perhaps they are just placed in the car for shipment and aren't fully installed) and put in the ones the customer requests. Same with the radio, nav, whatever. I don't see a reason that most of that stuff can't be plug and play.

 

[zelio]

I'd bet that you are correct. I can see the Elios showing up at the dealers without seats, radio, etc. The dealer will have plenty of those things to do a simple assembly once the customer decides on his options. This would let the dealer make a little profit selling add-ons and allow the customer to pick what they want. Each dealer could have 14 or so cars on hand so the customer could see the colors in person and the transmission. The dealer could swap out seats per the customer's request and allow test drives in similar set-ups. There's no reason to ship the cars with their final seats, radios, etc attached. Now, if the dealer was running low on the leather seat options, he may request that the Elios that he orders come with the leather so that he can pull them out (perhaps they are just placed in the car for shipment and aren't fully installed) and put in the ones the customer requests. Same with the radio, nav, whatever. I don't see a reason that most of that stuff can't be plug and play.

You are forgetting - Elio showrooms are not dealerships. They are showrooms staffed with salaried professionals trained by Elio to discuss your ideas for your Elio, tell you the non-negotiable cost and then arrange for Elio to get that vehicle to you in 24 hours. Oh, and they are supposed to be friendly, helpful and definitely people people rather than bottom line people. Read the details on Elio Motors website. It is very exciting to someone like me. I Love ELIO! :-) Z

 

[SandyCWV]

You are forgetting - Elio showrooms are not dealerships. They are showrooms staffed with salaried professionals trained by Elio to discuss your ideas for your Elio, tell you the non-negotiable cost and then arrange for Elio to get that vehicle to you in 24 hours. Oh, and they are supposed to be friendly, helpful and definitely people people rather than bottom line people. Read the details on Elio Motors website. It is very exciting to someone like me. I Love ELIO! Z

Regarding your reply to Ty: I know you are right about the Showroom versus Dealership plan, but what Ty said about shipping them in a base setup and adding the special details on site or at least at a regional distribution/build shop makes sense. The staff can show several set ups of the vehicle and let the customers place their order. Then the build shop gets the order and does the modification and puts it on a truck for delivery. Meeting 24 hour delivery from LA would be difficult to a lot of places if there were extensive changes to the base. I would figure there will be plenty of jobs to be had for people in those shops too.

 

[Craig]

Say you were a Manager of a show room with only five people working for you.
You have 3 or 4 people in the showroom, 1 wants to take a ride, 2 are asking questions and you have 6 to 10 cars in the back each needing on avg. 4 modifications, for delivery tomorrow and 9 orders off loading for the next day. GO

JMO. I think they should be delivered to the showroom with as many options on them as possible.

 

[jetpack54]

Say you were a Manager of a show room with only five people working for you.
You have 3 or 4 people in the showroom, 1 wants to take a ride, 2 are asking questions and you have 6 to 10 cars in the back needing on avg. 4 modifications for delivery for tomorrow and 9 orders off loading for the next day. GO

This is funny! I can't picture it happening w/ all the work that needs to be done while people are lining up for a chance to see the finished product basic or loaded and test drive it! Signing up to buy while choosing the customer's preferred options alone is one time consuming process let alone checking their finances! I really like the idea of choosing "only" the options I "want" but for this to happen in a more efficient way is by ordering the ELIO ONLINE, pick and choose the options to one's liking, click order and your car is delivered or picked up, your choice. And for those that would rather be more close and personal, drive to the closest EM dealership and order from there to see first hand what it'll look like installed looking at the different displays of ELIOs from the basics to the options loaded version and at different colors! It'll be a fun experience! This is a no hassle, no pressure buying...for online purchase, you see the price of each options and the ones you picked are automatically added to your "basket" and the final price shown, tax applied (it will ask your zip code) before clicking "buy". Couldn't be easier than this! Then again, what do I know?

 

[jetpack54]

By the way, I edited my original post and changed the models to P5.

 

[2.ooohhh]

Having ordered a vehicle via the dealership experience I can say that I prefer a relatively stripped "off the shelf stock" modify it later approach. If you really want to see how grueling ordering a car can be go play around in the Porsche online configurator. Not only can you nearly double the cars cost with options you can also loose several hours reading and weighing options on nearly everything!