Ty
Elio Addict
Unfortunately, Americans don't buy many 2 seaters... The Miata, while a big success in the 2-door-sport-car category, is not a runaway sales winner...Thanks for that comment; I was completely confused about all the two seat cars being unacceptable in the US market. It simply isn't true.
There are several other examples beyond the miata. Certainly there are all the European sports cars from Fiat, Triumph, Jaguar, etc. but there are also other Japanese cars like the delsol that are hugely successful. There are other American cars that are 2 seat as well but they start with things like the corvette (tell me that car isn't successful - sheesh) ranging up to truly expensive like the cobra.
I believe it is a fallacy to believe Americans don't want 2 seat cars. What is true is that many Americans need the functionality of a bigger car and so their dreams of 2 seat cars get pushed aside for the mini-van, SUV, or some other generic 4 door family sedan. Enter EM and its brilliance of the AND car. Something that is much more affordable than any other 2 seat car, small enough to squeeze into your 2 car garage along with the other vehicle you have to own, and fun enough to satisfy that craving everyone wants in a sporty little 2 seater.
Another market that EM might want to look into exploring are the closet motorcyclists. I work with a fellow that has a very young family. He has wanted a motorcycle since before he got married but life got in the way and now with the family, well, it just ain't going to happen. He saw my elio poster and we talked at length about it and because of it being enclosed, safe, and looking like a car as well as very affordable he got permission to buy an Elio instead of a motorcycle.
http://www.miata.net/faq/production/MazdaMX-5_AnnualSalesNAmerica_MY1990-2006.pdf
and though it's one of my favorite cars, it just doesn't sell well... 440 cars were sold last month.
http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2011/01/mazda-mx-5-miata-sales-figures.html