Elio Motors Inc. (ELIO)

[halfbakedntx]

Reservation Holder #6931

I have been an "all in" $1000 reservation holder since 2012

Our best 2 chances we thought it would happen - 2016 & 2017 feeling was 70%-%30 for it happening.
Now its at best 50%-50%
Many feel its reversed 30%-70%

What happened?

Too perfect? The perfect commuter vehicle concept in a time gas was in the $3 range and had touched $4?
Price $6800 - now $7450?
Design? Everyone that drove the demos loved them.
Service? Pep Boys nego deal genius! This is a simple vehicle its easy to service.


IMO
Price: Was too low profits too tight to attract investors- Mr Elio should had started this thing at $9899 instead of $6800. People would had PAID IT! You would still have the lowest priced car in America and you leave profit margins in to pay the startup money.

2x interest if electric Elio on table: I am more than happy with 55hp 75-80 mpg gas. I do not want electric but there is a whole other crowd that does. Add an electric concept vehicle and you 2x your pre-orders. You dont even have to develop technology yourself buy into a moderately successful or failure e-vehicle power plant say Mitsubishis or Nissans Leaf. In a 3 wheel vehicle and compact electric package mediocre performance in a 4 wheel compact car might be acceptable-outstanding in a 3 wheel format. Set the price + e-package +20% $12995

Design - Everything about the Elio was practical and maybe almost genius EXCEPT 1 IMPORTANT PART! The Elgin watch Themed dash. Yes it is a passion of design grandfathers watch and personal love of Mr Paul Elio and whatnot but in a vehicle of high practical design the dash was an eyesore and drew negative press. IMO and thought it was to facilitate the Sky instrument package upgrade. No just put up the standard simple needle gauges present in current compacts for pete sakes.

Mostly American Parts: I am all in for that but if locking into that mindset is creating possibility of failure I dont care where the parts come from.

Gas Prices : Something Elio cannot control but if Unleaded was running 3.50-$4 per gallon they might be building these right now.

I suspect in this market to make this happen without a core driver say gas prices or such to make this happen would require a great compromise in the buisiness to get the money to fund the building. Mr Elios design and concept really hit a lot of people - IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE! Makes sense to the consumer. A lot of them however, it doesnt make enough sense to investors. You have to find middle ground to please both to make this happen. I still hope it does but I am sitting here watching "Momentum" fade to black on what might be an idea that was simply "TOO GOOD" and too consumer focused to get itself up and running.

my .02