Elio Motors
 

Has anyone here been following this development of an affordable high mileage personal car, constructed with as many obtainable off-the-shelf American made parts as possible, to sell for $6800? Websearch it.
Supposed to be made in Louisiana, it's beginning to look like Tucker all over again with a Good Thing sabotaged by industry skullduggery.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

I first heard about it last summer. Last I heard (end of January) they were in good shape, and taking deposits for production.

An established industry rival has supposedly just co-opted the proposed factory site out from under them.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Its NOT a car. Its a 3 wheeled vehicle that is treated differently by the Dept of Transportation and your local DMV. Since the Elio product is only 1500 lbs. and has 3 wheels they are, in legal terms, motorcycles. That means they don’t have to meet the same safety and emissions standards as cars, aren't subject to the same industry standard testing, etc. That's why they can sell it for under $7K. It may also mean that operators of an Elio might need to wear a helmet in many states that have mandatory helmet laws.

http://www.eliomotors.com/wp-content...PM-676x406.png

They expect to get a max safety rating for its safety cage framework. 3 wheels does get it classified a motorcycle tho fully enclosed.
It is all the car most folks need for local transport not involving more than two people.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

By the way, don't get me wrong: I hope Elio kicks ass, takes names, sells lots of products, creates lots of jobs, massively exports to other countries and makes its owner a filthy rich 1% type. Its just that the product should not be mistaken for a car, and they will have an issue with the possible helmet requirements.

I ride a motorcycle and would consider this a 3-wheeled motorcar, but it's by present regs a motorcycle which could be advantageous, helmet or not.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

I wonder if the insurance industry will rate it as a motorcycle?

That's a pretty cool looking vehicle. :)

A third classification in the future? I don't see many motorcycles that are fully enclosed with steering wheels and air conditioning.

Dave