It sure is Ty. How about the frame assembly? I've seen it on "How it's made" that some car company had it all automated including the welding, and then I also seen some where the frame parts are manually placed on a jig and then the robots take over welding it. If EM will manually assemble the frames including the welding, I don't know how they can manage to push ELIOs out of the assembly line fast enough, let alone going full production after the 100 pre-prod are completed.The assembly line will most likely be set up to assemble the S series. (The 100) How they'll feed parts to the line is what we really don't know. They'll most likely use the run of 100 to ensure the stations function correctly in the right order. Get past thinking that there are robots that are going to assemble the cars. It is going to be people assembling the Elios with the use of assist devices. The line will pull the bucks around with Elio Frames and panels, etc. and those will have to be set up to accommodate the right pieces but that's like setting up a jig. What will be fun is making sure each station has the right tools and parts. It won't be too difficult for some. "Okay, make sure station 101B has 2 bolts, a bracket, and a hood hinge set... Times 100"
They'll have a group of assembly techs - I'd assume they'll use this time to train managers and line leads - that will basically follow a small batch of Elios around. They'll all work a few stations and then move down the line. I'd take a group of 5 cars and 20 people or so and basically walk along with the cars, man the next 10 stations, and work through them at speed to make sure it's possible to assemble Elios. Man, that would be fun to set up. This is assuming that Elio has all the parts and engines needed to feed the line. Those assembly lines will be separate from the main assembly line and can be looked at as sub-processes.... Paint, Engine, and Drivetrain lines are the three big sub-assembly lines I can think of right now.
Wouldn't it be fun to watch them take that first small batch down the line and watch them being put together... and then driving one away to it's eventual fleet owner? Yeah, I can dream a little.