First off, as I remember it, Elio has always said the goal was to design it so that it could meet the requirements for a 5 star rating, but that NHTSA wouldn't actually rate it since its not a car, and they don't rate 3 wheeled vehicles. The last tests for most of the 25 prototypes was going to be crash testing. I remember Jerome commenting he'd be sick to see that. But there aren't any official agencies that rate Autocycles (yet?).
Second, in 2016 NHTSA "Added automatic emergency braking systems to the list of recommended technologies to help prevent or reduce the impact speed of rear-end crashes starting with model year 2018 vehicles." (https://www.nhtsa.gov/ratings). There's never been mention of Automatic Emergency Braking system on the Elio (although I'm sure it could be added at some cost). Or Lane Departure warning, or any of the other safety features that have become mainstream since the Elio was announced. I don't see any way they can claim 5 star rating without Automatic Braking based on current standards. I don't see that as a problem, it wouldn't stop me from buying mine should they ever become available, (not offering them in Yellow might
) but the definition of 5 star is constantly changing. What Elio targeted in 2015 won't meet 5 star requirements in 2020.
Second, in 2016 NHTSA "Added automatic emergency braking systems to the list of recommended technologies to help prevent or reduce the impact speed of rear-end crashes starting with model year 2018 vehicles." (https://www.nhtsa.gov/ratings). There's never been mention of Automatic Emergency Braking system on the Elio (although I'm sure it could be added at some cost). Or Lane Departure warning, or any of the other safety features that have become mainstream since the Elio was announced. I don't see any way they can claim 5 star rating without Automatic Braking based on current standards. I don't see that as a problem, it wouldn't stop me from buying mine should they ever become available, (not offering them in Yellow might