Somewhat Tough Questions...

[Jeff Porter]

Since 2000, customers in Brazil can order the Celta over the internet from a site that links them with GM's assembly plant and 470 dealers nationwide. By 2006, 700,000 Celtas had been produced and the car continues to be one of Brazil's best sellers. Consumers have 20 "build-combinations" from which to configure a model of their choice, including colors and accessories, and can view each change as it is being made. GM built five distribution centers throughout Brazil to reduce transportation time from its assembly plant and buyers can track location of their car online on its way to delivery at a dealer of their choice. The time from configuration at the factory to delivery is only about a week, in contrast to the several week wait that can be common in ordering a car in the United States. The Celta was designed by GM in collaboration with suppliers who deliver just-in-time pre-assembled modules to the factory. GM estimates that collaboration in design and manufacturing enabled it to use 60 percent fewer suppliers and 50 percent fewer parts than in a traditional assembly operation. According to Mark Hogan, president of e-GM at the time of the Celta's introduction, GM can sell Celtas 24 hours a day and enjoys a competitive advantage from reduced production time, lower inventory levels and an overall more efficient distribution and sales model where dealers need to stock only two models, one for the show room and one for test drives. Consumers benefit from Celta's online no-haggle pricing structure, where prices are about 6 percent lower than for sales made through conventional distribution channels. The price is lower because GM passes on to consumers some of the tax benefits it gets from the Brazilian government as a result of the reduced inventory and real estate associated with online sales. Source: Economic Effects of State Bans on Direct Manufacturer Sales to Car Buyers
http://www.justice.gov/atr/public/eag/246374.htm

Woooooow. *eyebrows going up and down here*

 

[BlioKart]

Elio's way of doing it seems like a good way to go. Maybe in the future they can have a more dedicated R&D staff but if it ain't broke why fix it?

 

[goofyone]

Woooooow. *eyebrows going up and down here*

That business model sounds very familiar...

Paul Elio has obviously done his homework. He is not just pulling these ideas out of some dark place but instead he is adapting a business model which has been proven to be successful by GM for over 15 years now.

 

[Kuda]

That business model sounds very familiar...

Paul Elio has obviously done his homework. He is not just pulling these ideas out of some dark place but instead he is adapting a business model which has been proven to be successful by GM for over 15 years now.

2000 Chevrolet Celta brazil

https://www.google.com/search?q=200...v&sa=X&ei=smGTVM_zMZbtoASEsIGABw&ved=0CDAQsAQ

 

[EZ]

I THINK EVERY PERSON THAT PUT DOWN HIS/HER INVESTMENT DOLLARS ON THE ELLIO IS WELL AWARE OF PAUL ELIO'S EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, CAPABILITIES. THAT IS WHAT SOLD THIS VEHICLE !
HIS PASSION FOR THIS CONCEPT WAS THE ICING ON THE CAKE.
BUT BEING AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE, CAPABLE OF GOING 100 MPH WITH LIVE PASSENGERS, ON PUBLIC ROADS WITH MILLIONS OF OTHER DRIVERS IN THEIR VEHICLES, THERE IS NO WAY THIS THING IS JUST GOING TO BE SLAPPED TOGETHER IN 9 MONTHS AND SOLD TO THE PAYING PUBLIC TO DRIVE OFF INTO THE SUNSET
I DON'T CARE IF IT IS AN AUTOMOBILE, A MOTORCYCLE, OR A SKATEBOARD, THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ALLOW SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT UNDERGONE ALL THE PROPER TESTS (THEY DEEM NECESSARY) TO BE SOLD AND REGISTERED TO BE DRIVEN ON PUBLIC ROADS IN THE USA

IT TAKES TIME AND MONEY
LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY ...

 

[Bert]

I THINK EVERY PERSON THAT PUT DOWN HIS/HER INVESTMENT DOLLARS ON THE ELLIO IS WELL AWARE OF PAUL ELIO'S EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, CAPABILITIES. THAT IS WHAT SOLD THIS VEHICLE !
HIS PASSION FOR THIS CONCEPT WAS THE ICING ON THE CAKE.
BUT BEING AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE, CAPABLE OF GOING 100 MPH WITH LIVE PASSENGERS, ON PUBLIC ROADS WITH MILLIONS OF OTHER DRIVERS IN THEIR VEHICLES, THERE IS NO WAY THIS THING IS JUST GOING TO BE SLAPPED TOGETHER IN 9 MONTHS AND SOLD TO THE PAYING PUBLIC TO DRIVE OFF INTO THE SUNSET
I DON'T CARE IF IT IS AN AUTOMOBILE, A MOTORCYCLE, OR A SKATEBOARD, THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ALLOW SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT UNDERGONE ALL THE PROPER TESTS (THEY DEEM NECESSARY) TO BE SOLD AND REGISTERED TO BE DRIVEN ON PUBLIC ROADS IN THE USA

IT TAKES TIME AND MONEY
LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY ...

Most sense you've made since I've been reading your posts..
Oops, sorry.

MOST SENSE YOU'VE MADE SIINCE I'VE BEEN READING YOUR POSTS..

 

[EZ]

someone haS to keep it interesting !

MAKE THE ELIO A KIT !
I BUILT 5 OF THESE ! KITS !

 

[Rickb]

I THINK EVERY PERSON THAT PUT DOWN HIS/HER INVESTMENT DOLLARS ON THE ELLIO IS WELL AWARE OF PAUL ELIO'S EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, CAPABILITIES. THAT IS WHAT SOLD THIS VEHICLE !
HIS PASSION FOR THIS CONCEPT WAS THE ICING ON THE CAKE.
BUT BEING AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE, CAPABLE OF GOING 100 MPH WITH LIVE PASSENGERS, ON PUBLIC ROADS WITH MILLIONS OF OTHER DRIVERS IN THEIR VEHICLES, THERE IS NO WAY THIS THING IS JUST GOING TO BE SLAPPED TOGETHER IN 9 MONTHS AND SOLD TO THE PAYING PUBLIC TO DRIVE OFF INTO THE SUNSET
I DON'T CARE IF IT IS AN AUTOMOBILE, A MOTORCYCLE, OR A SKATEBOARD, THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ALLOW SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT UNDERGONE ALL THE PROPER TESTS (THEY DEEM NECESSARY) TO BE SOLD AND REGISTERED TO BE DRIVEN ON PUBLIC ROADS IN THE USA

IT TAKES TIME AND MONEY
LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY ...

This thing will meet and exceed motorcycle standards in whatever time it takes to get to production. Much less time and money than if Elio was developing a vehicle that had to meet auto standards.

 

[Smitty901]

A lot of companies today contract out work to others that can do it at a lower cost than in house. No big deal if they don't do it in house, in fact less chance for questionable results.

 

[RKing]

The best I can tell the government couldn't care less if the car is roadworthy as long as it has the lights, mirrors, "equipment" required in the DOT regs, As long as the stuff is there and the fees are paid , it's good to go. On my son's bike, the mirrors were there ,but were useless unless ou wanted to see if our elbow was still there! The instrument display equally useless. Now , I really don't think Paul Elio is going thru all this work and pain to put something out that is not on par with the average small car ! He has ONE chance to get it right, and he KNOWS it. It may not be ready for Christmas next year but it will be READY and RIGHT when it rolls out. I too am concerned about the Money , lots of Money. Hope all goes well with that part, I am completely out of touch with "fund raising", not my thing