PE of EM is like a long distance runner, he sprinted, maintained speed, relaxed and is on his SECOND WIND! Really important news should be forthcoming I can only assume but I'm hoping for the "good" news.I thought it was due to them running out of money and being forced to curtail there business sharply for the time being. 100K isn't much to work with especially considering some employees make 250K a year.
As one member said, most partners don't dump you when you don't pay them, they just don't work on your project. Which makes sense. That way if Elio gets some more money to pay them they will do some more work.
In the end, I think you just have to believe what you want on why the endless tours has halted and why more engineering vehicles are not being built. Until an official announcement.