Are There Documented Empirical Marketing Studies For Elio Motors?

[Trusting]

This is a great idea and an idea used universally by companies. But it would not work with EM.. You said "What do they like and what they would change? What is the biggest reason they will NOT buy an Elio?" It is highly likely the market studies would say people do not like the elgin gauges and would like to see it changed. Paul Elio would not do it. Thus these marketing studies would be of no benefit. Maybe that is why EM has not done them and we have not heard of them.

If your theory is correct then Elio Motors has more problems than I thought.

 

[John Painter]

Greeting from the Woodlands (30 miles north of Houston).

Paul Elio has stated the consumer demand for the Elio vehicle should support a yearly production target of 250K units.
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Has Elio Motors ever commissioned an independent market study to validate his claim?

Without empirical data to backup a 250K annual demand scenario, the 250K figure would seem to be hugely speculative.

PE has referenced utilizing marketing studies a number of times going back forever. This is one of the ways they identified their top markets and retail locations. A bit of trivia, the 250,000 production figure in part comes from early marketing analysis that if just 1% of the 25.6 million driving age students in the US purchased a Trikke (Elio's original name) they'd sell...,, yup 256,000 vehicles. To date though, the company has held specifics of market research close to their chest, which does make sense from a business perspective.

 

[Aprilia]

PE has referenced utilizing marketing studies a number of times going back forever. This is one of the ways they identified their top markets and retail locations. A bit of trivia, the 250,000 production figure in part comes from early marketing analysis that if just 1% of the 25.6 million driving age students in the US purchased a Trikke (Elio's original name) they'd sell...,, yup 256,000 vehicles. To date though, the company has held specifics of market research close to their chest, which does make sense from a business perspective.

Thanks for the info John!

I'll consider the Elio Vehicle to be successful if they can manage to sell 50K units year after year...that would be an amazing accomplishment for Paul Elio!

I think the 250K figures were just hype to sell stock & raise further capital.

The Elio concept is wonderful...but will probably always be a limited production niche vehicle at best.

 

[slinches]

Even if you just consider solo commuter drivers (80% of 128 million) who currently have a vehicle that gets < 25mpg (~50% of vehicles) and only 1% of those are converted, it still adds up to 512k Elios sold. That's quite a niche.

 

[RUCRAYZE]

considering the total population of drivers in the U/S and with 50k reservations after years(4?), with a 50% incentive, and those who want in that's a VERY VERY small %
I took a theme cruise a few years back with approx 2k like minded folks. People interpreted the boat load as a sign of just how many people were into it. Here we were out in the ocean, a cruise ship with 2k , and people generalized, and reinforced each other based on this very small number.
We too are making assumptions if we keep the faith many more will follow
The auto shows with great floor location, tours, publicity announcements, now commercials, stock offering and we limp along with no major spikes in numbers. I thought the TV ads would draw them in.
I have fading hope it's gonna happen this year, which becomes fodder for the nay sayers with another full year postponement
XI:XXXIII, turning in see ya all tomorrow!

 

[TCBronson]

I always thought the goal of producing 250,000 units annually was based on world wide sales in the future.

 

[RUCRAYZE]

I always thought the goal of producing 250,000 units annually was based on world wide sales in the future.

don't think so,I recall domestic sales initially, it was mentioned that was strong international interest, and not to be considered early on

 

[TCBronson]

250,000 units sales in the US is an optimistic goal and if achieved then I wonder what world wide sales could be? And what that could do to the stock price!

 

[slinches]

I think 250k units is a huge number of vehicles to sell, especially for a new auto manufacturer. Calling that goal "ambitious" would be a huge understatement. It's more than that, it's entirely unprecedented. The craziest part is that I believe they can do it. They have 1/5 of that total reserved before the first Elio has been produced on a very limited advertising budget and the value proposition (when has it ever been cheaper to buy a new vehicle than to continue driving an old one that's paid off?) means that the market is clearly there. All EM has to do is execute their plan and start cranking Elios out as fast as they can. I'm looking forward to the next year or so, it should be quite exciting to see this unfold.

 

[Sethodine]

Super Professional and Technical Marketing Research:

Out of all the many friends, family, and co-workers who I've given the Elio pitch to, I've only had two people who turned their nose at the idea outright. One was a teenage kid who didn't think it was cool, and the other was a guy who didn't want to give up commuting 45 minutes each way in his F350 super duty. (?????)

Many have been skeptical about the safety of such a vehicle; it is by far the #1 response. But those who come from motorcycle backgrounds, or are otherwise less risk-averse (such as myself) all say "when can I get mine?" and the safety-conscious ones are waiting on the crash test results but remain interested.