I figured I'd start a new thread. I have followed Elio for almost two years. I put in a non-refundable depost. I love the vehicle's concept and hope to be driving one in 2018. I have read in this forum for well over a year and a half on and off.
Elio may have a great product, but they seem to lack both funding, project management, and communication. I am not surprised at the funding. They are a startup, and Paul is taking a rather unconventional approach. He is looking to put out a beautiful first product on day one. Most companies put out a product MUCH earlier to have some income, but also to show investors that they are a company that CAN product something. He is also talking of having full infrastructure ready on day one! Let's hit a single before swinging for the fences.
Project management/communication is tougher. They may have one or the other, but certainly not both. They are not that big in terms of the number of employees. There is no reason that Paul is saying one thing, the head of engineering is saying something different, and an employee touring with the vehicle says another.
I'm tired of hearing about the start of production date. The start of production has little to do with the calendar. Clearly the company is cash strapped and they have no production date without the cash. The ATVM loan is key, but we really don't know what is needed. Do they just need to get the mpg of an engineering model? If so, does Elio have the cash to get that done? If so when does Elio expect that?
The start in December '16 of 100 fleet vehicles has me asking nothing but questions. What is the definition of start? When is COMPLETION of the 100 vehicles expected? Does Elio have the funding for completion of this? When I saw the P4 in 10/2015 I was told that the engineering models had already been started and they did not need the funding from Reg A to do it! The guy said that the timeframe of the engineering models wasn't known since changes/tweeks were likely going to be made from the process. He said, "You know safety has to come first, right?" I said, "NO, can you tell me that vehicle (rollcage and airbags) is going to be less safe than any motorcycle?" He was speechless.
I also spoke to him on delivery of the vehicles. I was shocked that they planned to have all the marshalling centers and retail stores up for the delivery of the first vehicles. That's INSANE! Why would you have a retail store location for a product that you can't take a deliver a new order from for over a year!?!? That's a rediculous expense for a new company. I told him how I received my tractor delivered on a flatbed truck that called in a wrecker. The truck driver drove the tractor off the flatbed onto the wrecker. The wrecker pulled forward and rolled him off. He pulled it into my driveway and said, "enjoy your tracter." and left to deliver the other tractors on the flatbed. That's what I expect from Elio. The Elio guy never had heard of doing it like that.
Well this is plenty long for a first introduction.
Elio may have a great product, but they seem to lack both funding, project management, and communication. I am not surprised at the funding. They are a startup, and Paul is taking a rather unconventional approach. He is looking to put out a beautiful first product on day one. Most companies put out a product MUCH earlier to have some income, but also to show investors that they are a company that CAN product something. He is also talking of having full infrastructure ready on day one! Let's hit a single before swinging for the fences.
Project management/communication is tougher. They may have one or the other, but certainly not both. They are not that big in terms of the number of employees. There is no reason that Paul is saying one thing, the head of engineering is saying something different, and an employee touring with the vehicle says another.
I'm tired of hearing about the start of production date. The start of production has little to do with the calendar. Clearly the company is cash strapped and they have no production date without the cash. The ATVM loan is key, but we really don't know what is needed. Do they just need to get the mpg of an engineering model? If so, does Elio have the cash to get that done? If so when does Elio expect that?
The start in December '16 of 100 fleet vehicles has me asking nothing but questions. What is the definition of start? When is COMPLETION of the 100 vehicles expected? Does Elio have the funding for completion of this? When I saw the P4 in 10/2015 I was told that the engineering models had already been started and they did not need the funding from Reg A to do it! The guy said that the timeframe of the engineering models wasn't known since changes/tweeks were likely going to be made from the process. He said, "You know safety has to come first, right?" I said, "NO, can you tell me that vehicle (rollcage and airbags) is going to be less safe than any motorcycle?" He was speechless.
I also spoke to him on delivery of the vehicles. I was shocked that they planned to have all the marshalling centers and retail stores up for the delivery of the first vehicles. That's INSANE! Why would you have a retail store location for a product that you can't take a deliver a new order from for over a year!?!? That's a rediculous expense for a new company. I told him how I received my tractor delivered on a flatbed truck that called in a wrecker. The truck driver drove the tractor off the flatbed onto the wrecker. The wrecker pulled forward and rolled him off. He pulled it into my driveway and said, "enjoy your tracter." and left to deliver the other tractors on the flatbed. That's what I expect from Elio. The Elio guy never had heard of doing it like that.
Well this is plenty long for a first introduction.
NorTracNY
