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Automotive

Elio Motors to roll out fleeting run of 84-mpg three-wheeler

March 15, 2016
Elio Motors to roll out fleeting run of 84-mpg three-wheeler
The Elio Motors P5, on display at last year's LA Auto Show
The Elio Motors P5, on display at last year's LA Auto Show
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The Elio Motors P5, on display at last year's LA Auto Show
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The Elio Motors P5, on display at last year's LA Auto Show
Elio Motors says the P5 will deliver a highway mileage rating of up to 84 mpg (2.8 l/100 km)
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Elio Motors says the P5 will deliver a highway mileage rating of up to 84 mpg (2.8 l/100 km)
As of February this year, over 50,000 reservations to buy the P5 had been made
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As of February this year, over 50,000 reservations to buy the P5 had been made
The short run of P5 fleet sales is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year
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The short run of P5 fleet sales is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year
Production of the consumer P5 is expected to begin next year
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Production of the consumer P5 is expected to begin next year
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After pushing back the launch of its hotly-anticipated P5 three-wheeler a number of times, Elio Motors has finally announced that a limited run of pre-production vehicles will be made available to buy. It really will be limited, though, with only 100 to be sold, and all to fleet customers.

"We now intend to sell the first 100 pre-production vehicles built to one or more fleet customers, rather than use them for internal purposes as previously disclosed in our offering statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission," explains Elio Motors founder and CEO Paul Elio. "This will help us generate additional revenue, it will allow us to evaluate vehicles under real-world driving conditions and it will allow our supplier team to refine our design."

The company describes the move as "a major step forward" and hopes the fleet vehicle build will help to inform the subsequent vehicle build for consumers. In particular, it expects the recently-announced lead engineering partner Roush to produce a quieter, smoother vehicle with improved driving characteristics as a result.

The P5 is expected to cost from US$6,800, for which Elio Motors says it will deliver a highway mileage rating of up to 84 mpg (2.8 l/100 km). Despite this, the firm promises features such as power windows, air conditioning and air bags. As of February this year, over 50,000 reservations to buy the vehicle had been made.

The short run of fleet sales is scheduled to for the fourth quarter of this year, and production of the consumer vehicle is now expected to begin next year.

Source: Elio Motors

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AutomotiveElio MotorsThree-Wheeler
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11 comments
Daishi
So production has been delayed (again) from Q4 2016 to some unknown time in 2017 and all the reservation holder and loan holders will continue waiting. I've thought this thing was a scam since the first time I read about them years ago I haven't changed my mind on that.
I never thought they ever planned to make it to production and the continued delays aren't helping but that's not the only reason I think this is suspect. The mileage claim and price point are too optimistic in my opinion and even with all the delays, problems, and mounting debt they have yet to adjust either estimate.
They are still marketing it (and taking peoples money) with those big claims that they increasingly seem unlikely to meet. Not surprisingly they waited until they got the $17 million in Reg A+ stock funding before announcing the new delay.
They IPO's as an OTC stock but they are now pretty much a publicly traded company with a $billion+ market cap that has yet to even finish a full prototype and has racked up over 50 million in debt. Without any revenue they are obviously in default on some of their loans as well.
I wonder what the sale price will be to those fleet customers or how much of the design Roush is being paid to finish. I don't see any way they can still keep their price point but that doesn't stop them from still using the claim to take peoples reservation money. Paul Elio got amazingly rich for producing 5 enclosed motorcycles and some marketing material.
If Elio Motors declares bankruptcy Paul still owns Elio Engineering which is also involved and now also a very wealthy company.
KennethJames
At least they are Testing the first 100 vehicles for "bugs" This is good! So where will these fleet vehicles be?
pwndecaf
My flying pig will arrive before this pipe dream.
Curious that the numbers have NEVER changed - $6800, 84mpg.
jerryd
They just got competition, the Solo EV the same size though only 1 seat.
Tony Loro
They, as did Aptera had my deposit. No longer. Tired of these promises that never get full-filled. Good luck to those remaining on the list.
Arnold Stonehouse
This aint quite "vaporware" but its close. I don't ever expect to be able to buy one of these "cars." Mind you I would LOVE to proved all upside down on this one...
StWils
Everyone, even anyone who donated money can just calm down. The automotive industry has always had a high entry threshold and high risk coupled with a long delay until profitability. Anyone who "put down a deposit to reserve a vehicle" has really just made a donation. Hopefully, this donation will eventually result in success but there really are no guarantees. I was very hopeful that the startup to make an inexpensive and good espresso machine would launch, sadly they did not get beyond a dozen or so pre-production prototypes. Look at how well John DeLorean did, or how hard it has been for Elon Musk , and remember Musk has deep pockets like no other previous startup. Tesla motors is succeeding but with a much longer curve than they anticipated.
Daishi
@jerryd I searched for "Solo EV" and found a bus but the closest electric EV to this that I know of is Arcimoto SRK which was last said to be starting limited production in Q4 as well. It's not in Elio's price range but the company seems more likely to be legitimate than Elio in my opinion At ~$12k it's still cheaper than a Can Am Spyder or a Polaris Slingshot.
TitusPullo
I am wishing Elio Motors total success, even though I have not (yet) put down a deposit to reserve one of their vehicles. Only time will tell, but I am hoping they prove their critics completely wrong.
Roger Wildermuth
 I have asked Elio Motors ; "HOW will Elio Motors be allowed to SELL "Pre-Production" vehicles, and HOW will the Fleet Owners be able to REGISTER and TAG them for use on public roads." They have still 'failed' to answer the QUESTION; Anyone know an answer, please tell how they can do this. Sounds like an 'ill conceived' plan; or just another 'excuse' to push back actual "Production", yet AGAIN! ? Their 'Production Date' has already 'slipped' from Jun/Jul 2014 ? 1st Qtr 2015 ? 3rd Qtr 2015 ? to First ? 2016! ? 4th Qtr 2016 ? End of 2016. Now ? ? moved into 2017 at a date to be determined ?!
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