I Have Been Thinking Too Much???

[Shawndae]

I am new here so if this has been talked about, please forgive me. I wonder how all this is going to work when production really starts.
1) Will they do a ton of one color during the first run?
2) When it is getting close to your number coming up will you get to chose your color or will you just take what color comes out at the time?
3) We are all across the nation who are on the current waiting list. How will the first Elio's off the line be delivered?
4) How far are you willing to go to pick yours up?
5) If your have only one space in your garage are you going to park your Elio inside or still leave the more expensive family car in the garage?

As me I think I will take any color, fly anywhere to pick up my Elio and it is going into the garage.

 

[skygazer6033]

I am new here so if this has been talked about, please forgive me. I wonder how all this is going to work when production really starts.
1) Will they do a ton of one color during the first run?
2) When it is getting close to your number coming up will you get to chose your color or will you just take what color comes out at the time?
3) We are all across the nation who are on the current waiting list. How will the first Elio's off the line be delivered?
4) How far are you willing to go to pick yours up?
5) If your have only one space in your garage are you going to park your Elio inside or still leave the more expensive family car in the garage?

As me I think I will take any color, fly anywhere to pick up my Elio and it is going into the garage.

 

[skygazer6033]

Welcome aboard. As I understand it those who have reservations will be contacted a month or so prior to the production of their reservation number. At that time you will choose your color and options. The base car will be sent to the distribution center where the options will be added.

 

[Joshua Caldwell]

I am new here so if this has been talked about, please forgive me. I wonder how all this is going to work when production really starts.
1) Will they do a ton of one color during the first run?
2) When it is getting close to your number coming up will you get to chose your color or will you just take what color comes out at the time?
3) We are all across the nation who are on the current waiting list. How will the first Elio's off the line be delivered?
4) How far are you willing to go to pick yours up?
5) If your have only one space in your garage are you going to park your Elio inside or still leave the more expensive family car in the garage?

As me I think I will take any color, fly anywhere to pick up my Elio and it is going into the garage.

Welcome Shawndae
1) Unknown
2) You will get to choose your color
3) The Elios will be first sent to regional distribution centers where the accessories that you choose will be installed, then delivered to your home.
4) n/a since will be delivered to my home & not doing 22 hours for the factory tour
5) Will be replacing my current car.

 

[Hog]

Color should not be much of an issue as the color is really only the resin panels. Interior color would actually affect the production run more, although choices there are probably more limited, and as such should also not be an issue

 

[Elio Amazed]

Color should not be much of an issue as the color is really only the resin panels. Interior color would actually affect the production run more, although choices there are probably more limited, and as such should also not be an issue

I'm fine with a nuetral interior color (shades of gray?). For economy all the interiors should probably be the same color. Responses? S'okay, I've got my asbestos suit on.

 

[Joshua Caldwell]

Color should not be much of an issue as the color is really only the resin panels. Interior color would actually affect the production run more, although choices there are probably more limited, and as such should also not be an issue

The color is not being injected in the panels, but rather is painted on normally.

 

[goofyone]

The color is not being injected in the panels, but rather is painted on normally.

To expand on this more the Shreveport plant already has large scale painting capability from the GM days which will be reconfigured for Elio Motors use. Elio Motors has directly confirmed, via their Tech Talk series, that not only will the body panels be painted but they will be painted using a dry powder system and the steel frame will be dipped in an anti-corrosion paint bath. Generally modern automotive plant painting systems can change colors on demand however as far as I know we have not had any confirmation from EM as to whether or not they will paint the panels in color batches.

 

[Hog]

I did not mean to imply the panels would be colored, I think from what I have read, they will not be. The panels can be prepainted and stocked. Seems unnecessary to paint the vehicle afterwards. There are not that many colors offered.

 

[goofyone]

I did not mean to imply the panels would be colored, I think from what I have read, they will not be. The panels can be prepainted and stocked. Seems unnecessary to paint the vehicle afterwards. There are not that many colors offered.

This is a very good question and I don't think we have ever had any direct information from EM about this.

What I do know is that all panels for the same vehicle are typically painted together to avoid color variations as even minor variations in color are obvious between large panel sections. The panels do not necessarily need to be installed on the vehicle while being painted however they should go through the paint booth together. It would be possible for EM to paint the panels this way and stockpile the painted panel kits however I doubt they would want to stockpile too many of them due to the amount of physical space it would take to store the kits in a way which prevents damage to the paint.

FYI... Painting all the panels in one kit separately from the chassis is actually how modern Corvettes, which happen to use a similar fiberglass reinforced composite body, are painted.