Maurtis
Elio Addict
Despite what Paul calls it, I think the public will see it as dirt cheap primary transportation. And if the market share really is that small, then they are going to have a tough time getting the 250,000 sales per year. Say, if the share is Smart car sized, they are doomed.
http://carsalesbase.com/us-car-sales-data/smart/
But then again, if they are targeting just the commuter market that is not small by any means!
Elio themselves even compared the cost of their offering to new and used cars in their blog: https://www.eliomotors.com/we-did-the-math/
"What about used vehicles? According to USA Today, “the average price of a used car rose to $19,657 in the first quarter, up 17.6 percent compared to the same period five years ago.” Consumers could either purchase one used vehicle for that amount or purchase one Elio and save approximately $12,207. These savings don’t reflect other benefits of purchasing an Elio over a used vehicle, such as a 3-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty."
I think the big difference (and key selling point) between the Elio and the Smart is the price. Paying $20k or more for a quirky tiny car was a tough nut for a lot of people. But spending $7,500 for a quirky tiny car, cheaper than most used cars that are not beaters and with a warranty? Much easier decision.
I think if the Elio proves reliable, not a death trap, and actually gets made then I think it will not be a niche car at all. I would love to see Elio help take a chunk out of the SUV sales. We really do not need more nearly empty SUVs on the road.
http://carsalesbase.com/us-car-sales-data/smart/
But then again, if they are targeting just the commuter market that is not small by any means!
Elio themselves even compared the cost of their offering to new and used cars in their blog: https://www.eliomotors.com/we-did-the-math/
"What about used vehicles? According to USA Today, “the average price of a used car rose to $19,657 in the first quarter, up 17.6 percent compared to the same period five years ago.” Consumers could either purchase one used vehicle for that amount or purchase one Elio and save approximately $12,207. These savings don’t reflect other benefits of purchasing an Elio over a used vehicle, such as a 3-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty."
I think the big difference (and key selling point) between the Elio and the Smart is the price. Paying $20k or more for a quirky tiny car was a tough nut for a lot of people. But spending $7,500 for a quirky tiny car, cheaper than most used cars that are not beaters and with a warranty? Much easier decision.
I think if the Elio proves reliable, not a death trap, and actually gets made then I think it will not be a niche car at all. I would love to see Elio help take a chunk out of the SUV sales. We really do not need more nearly empty SUVs on the road.