Is This Ruling Going To Effect Elio Since They Are Following The Telsa Sales Model.

[CheeseheadEarl]

I'm in for a road trip! When does the van swing by Wisconsin?

I'll drive! Wazzit cost to rent a 15 passenger van one way? And do we have to pick Bears fans up along the way?

Seriously, what prevents Tesla, Elio, or any other company with the same business model from starting up a shell dealer franchise to meet the letter of the law and break the spirit of it?

 

[JNR]

The answer is: Yes, the motorcycle exemption loophole will one day be closed....However, the success of the Tesla and Elio will not be deterred and their impending success will result in the further erosion of the franchise dealers and one day these laws will become obsolete.

Next issue!

 

[Truett Collins]

Can't wait to see the backlash when they try to shut down all the Harley dealers.........ought to be a interesting show.....

 

[JNR]

Can't wait to see the backlash when they try to shut down all the Harley dealers.........ought to be a interesting show.....

Nobody is going to shutdown the Harley dealers. The loophole referenced was in regards to the Elio, it will not always be considered a motorcycle, the current designation as a motorcycle by the federal vehicle registration system will help the business get started, but 10 years from now the Elio will not be considered a motorcycle. I'm sure Mr. Elio already has contingencies in place for if and when the shift of vehicle definition will occur.

 

[JEBar]

The loophole referenced was in regards to the Elio, it will not always be considered a motorcycle, the current designation as a motorcycle by the federal vehicle registration system will help the business get started, but 10 years from now the Elio will not be considered a motorcycle. I'm sure Mr. Elio already has contingencies in place for if and when the shift of vehicle definition will occur.

just curious, where did this come from .... 3 wheels = motorcycle .... what would be the prime motivator behind making the Feds want to make such a change .... what entity would want such a change that they would push it hard enough to get the Feds to sign on

Jim

 

[ElioDigger]

I do not think it will, Tulsa is aimed at upper to middle class....Elio is aimed at the masses... political suicide to fight that group.

 

[StuartGrant]

just curious, where did this come from .... 3 wheels = motorcycle .... what would be the prime motivator behind making the Feds want to make such a change .... what entity would want such a change that they would push it hard enough to get the Feds to sign on

Jim

A few prime motivators would be:

OEM's making clones or rebadged Elio's to boost their CAFE standing would require a legislative change, as only automobiles count toward CAFE standings.
Chinese/Indian imports, these would only need to meet motorcycle safety and emissions standards.
And even work by Elio itself to get the law changed so what holdout states there are can't argue that helmets or motorcycle licenses are required.

 

[goofyone]

just curious, where did this come from .... 3 wheels = motorcycle .... what would be the prime motivator behind making the Feds want to make such a change .... what entity would want such a change that they would push it hard enough to get the Feds to sign on

Jim

A few prime motivators would be:

OEM's making clones or rebadged Elio's to boost their CAFE standing would require a legislative change, as only automobiles count toward CAFE standings.
Chinese/Indian imports, these would only need to meet motorcycle safety and emissions standards.
And even work by Elio itself to get the law changed so what holdout states there are can't argue that helmets or motorcycle licenses are required.

The NHTSA regulations essentially state that, as far as the federal government is concerned, any motor vehicle with fewer than four wheels is a motorcycle and as such it must meet the motorcycle requirements of the FMVSS and will be issued a motorcycle VIN.

There is a lot of speculation on here that the Elio vehicle will eventually be reclassified however I personally think this is not as likely to happen and if it is reclassified it would not be as a car but as something else such as a new autocycle category of vehicle. The CAFE rules, helmets, and motorcycle endorsement issues are all much easier resolved via legislative efforts directed as these specific issues while maintaining the advantages of the current system in regards to being federally classified as motorcycle which provides innumerable advantages over being classified as a car.

Overseas imports may eventually be an issue however this is where EM's crash testing and made in the USA goals really shine as the overseas manufacturers will not take these extra steps.

 

[Grumpy Cat]

http://www.greencarreports.com/news...-vehicle-code-to-prevent-3-wheelers-like-elio

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently introduced a proposal to change its regulations related to three-wheeled vehicles.

This would alter the regulatory definition of motorcycle to exclude three-wheeled vehicles "that are configured like passenger cars."

Elio and other companies past and present have attempted to classify three-wheelers as motorcycles to avoid the stricter safety and efficiency regulations that govern cars.

I want what they are smoking because from the beginning, Elio stated it will meet crash standards. I wonder if this "journalist" even attempted to go to the Elio web page and do any type of research?

 

[Gas-Powered Awesome]

Except, Elio has explicitly stated it's a 3-wheeler for aerodynamic reasons, and will be designed to meet automobile safety standards.

So, yeah, just another uninformed blogger pretending to be a "journalist".