Marshaling Locations And How They Work

[outsydthebox]

....marshalling centers..... In essence a mini manufacturing plant.

True! And many larger dealerships are already like this. Many times, unless you are actually wanting "better" seats (Recarros, etc.), the "leather seat upgrage" will only replace the covers! So, shipping seats back and forth won't be necessary. The "process will probably be something like...1) remove seat (4-bolts= 1minute) 2) add leather covers (10-20 minutes per seat) 3) bolt seat back into vehicle. 4) drink some more coffee.

 

[TCBronson]

That might work, however are the side airbags in the seat or in the car?

 

[John Painter]

That might work, however are the side airbags in the seat or in the car?

I haven't seen that clarified, good question. I was expecting in the car though since PE made such a big deal about different seat options.

 

[pistonboy]

I talked to Paul Elio about manufacturing plant and marshaling center installations. Using the seats as an example., he said if most people want stock seats they would be installed at the factory and swapped out for leather seats at the marshaling centers. If most people want leather seats, they would be installed at the factory and swapped out for cloth seats at the marshaling centers.

I am sure it will be this way for everything having an option.

 

[Ty]

I've gone through the process a couple of times. The marshalling centers won't have trouble meeting their daily builds. They won't have to have tons of vehicles either.

 

[Cache Man]

I understand that there are 14 models that Elio will produce 7 colors with manual transmissions and 7 with automatic transmissions. They will ship those out to the marshaling locations to have the additional options added and then send the vehicle to a retail store. So I was wondering what happens for example when a person wants leather seats. The vehicle is shipped with standard seats and each of the marshaling locations will stock leather seats and change them out? Then I suspect they will have to ship the stock seats back to Shreveport to be reinstalled?

I have seen upholstery done. Maybe they will have a "cover". They may take off the cloth and then install and stitch the leather cover on to secure it.

 

[Bert]

Well, that'd take care of the trucks returning empty, just dump in the return seats and stuff..

Just a thought. Why wouldn't Elio plan for those same trucks to head to the parts suppliers in between the factory and the destination, in order to pick up parts for the assembly? This seems economical, as well as cost and time effective! IMO.

 

[Jambe]

I think it will depend on how many employees they have at each center.

There is a possibility that next day delivery may become second day delivery.

 

[slinches]

Yeah, try ordering the most odd-ball option combo possible at 9:00pm. I doubt it'll be ready to ship by midnight. I doubt anyone will complain too much about a 2day turn time in that case. Have you tried ordering a custom configuration of any current passenger car from the factory? The turn time on that is measured in months rather than days.

 

[outsydthebox]

I have seen upholstery done. Maybe they will have a "cover". They may take off the cloth and then install and stitch the leather cover on to secure it.

Many "improvements" in recent years makes sewing/stitching (during most installs) unnecessary. Velcro, hog rings, zippers and j-clips can make things fast and easy.