Elio Motors

Based on a host of speculative forward-looking statements, the company's petrol-powered three-wheel concept was marketed as the Elio P4; was illustrated to attain a highway mileage rating of up to 84 mpg and was to offer power windows, a power door lock, cruise control, and air conditioning, in an aerodynamic, enclosed bodywork. The design idea included multiple air bags, anti-lock brakes, traction control, steel unibody frame, and crumple zones and a three-wheeled autocycle configuration with two wheels in front, one in back. Advertisements in 2017 illustrated a base price target of $7,450 for the gas motor version and suggested to achieve up to 84 mpg-US (2.8 L/100 km) on the highway and up to 49 in the city.

As of June 2017, basic test mules and three validation vehicles (codenamed: E1-A, E1-C, and E1-D) were built to test safety, aerodynamics, and durability. Even though the E1-C is not used for testing, it was the most up-to-date interior with a cosmetically evolved engine. Elio claimed the autocycle could be produced using 80% soft-tooling.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eliomotors.com/elio-motors-debuts-e1c-engineering-vehicle-highlights-path-from-prototype-to-production-at-los-angeles-auto-show/|title=Elio Motors debuts e1c engineering vehicle|website=www.eliomotors.com|access-date=December 1, 2017|archive-date=December 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202052659/https://www.eliomotors.com/elio-motors-debuts-e1c-engineering-vehicle-highlights-path-from-prototype-to-production-at-los-angeles-auto-show/|url-status=live}} Elio's marketing suggested that 100 pre-production fleet vehicles could be built at its Shreveport, Louisiana manufacturing facility if additional funds are secured. By 2018, nearly all funds had been depleted, with nearly {{USD|50 million}} in outstanding debt, and a projected {{USD|376 million}} required to reach production.{{cite news |last1=Felton |first1=Ryan |title=Elio Motors Had All Of $7,155 Left In The Bank Late Last Year |url=https://jalopnik.com/elio-motors-had-all-of-7-155-left-in-the-bank-late-las-1826671628 |work=Jalopnik |date=8 June 2018 |access-date=3 December 2019 |archive-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110183555/https://jalopnik.com/elio-motors-had-all-of-7-155-left-in-the-bank-late-las-1826671628 |url-status=live }}

The vehicle's design was illustrated to include air conditioning and heating (projected to be manufactured by RedDOT), AM/FM stereo, power windows/door lock, cruise control, three airbags, a reinforced steel roll cage, side intrusion beams, stability control, and disc brakes with ABS. Continental AG has designed a tire specifically for the Elio.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

Elio designs were purported to meet motorcycle standards as a three-wheeled autocycle, within the U.S. government's motorcycle classification. The company lobbied in most{{cite web|url=http://www.autoblog.com/2016/07/28/elio-41-states-ease-motorcycle-license/|title=You won't need a motorcycle license to drive the Elio in 41 states|first=Danny|last=King|date=July 28, 2016 |access-date=December 18, 2016|archive-date=December 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161218131131/http://www.autoblog.com/2016/07/28/elio-41-states-ease-motorcycle-license/|url-status=live}} states, to alter regulations that would otherwise require drivers to wear a helmet and, in many states to remove the requirement for operators to have a motorcycle endorsement on their driver license.{{cite web|url=http://gas2.org/2013/10/10/elio-motors-closer-to-helmet-exemption/|title=Elio Motors Gets Closer to Nationwide Helmet Exemption|access-date=June 5, 2014|archive-date=June 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607003829/http://gas2.org/2013/10/10/elio-motors-closer-to-helmet-exemption/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.michiganradio.org/post/three-wheeled-car-buyers-wont-have-take-motorcycle-test|title=Three-wheeled car buyers won't have to take motorcycle test|first=Tracy|last=Samilton|website=www.michiganradio.org|date=November 12, 2013 |access-date=February 19, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731001144/https://www.michiganradio.org/post/three-wheeled-car-buyers-wont-have-take-motorcycle-test|url-status=live}}

The design targeted a curb weight of {{convert|1350|lbs|kg|abbr=on}}; three-wheel anti-lock disc brakes; an inline 0.9-liter three cylinder (designed especially for Elio by IAV), {{convert|55|hp|lk=in}} engine; and front-wheel drive, with a top speed of {{convert|107|mph|abbr=on}} and an acceleration of {{convert|0|to|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in approximately 10.8 seconds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eliomotors.com/features/#details|title=Features {{!}} Elio Motors|website=www.eliomotors.com|access-date=2016-12-12|archive-date=October 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001194529/https://www.eliomotors.com/features/#details|url-status=live}} The vehicle design has an overall length of {{convert|160.5|in|m}} and an overall height of {{convert|54.2|in|m}}. The front track is designed to be {{convert|66.8|in|m}} with a wheelbase of {{convert|110|in|m}}. The trunk space is designed to be 27 × 14 × 10 inches, enough for one airline carry-on bag or golf bag with the rear seat folded down (47+ inches).{{cite web|url=https://www.eliomotors.com/features/#the-4-musts|title=Features - Elio Motors|work=Elio Motors |access-date=December 18, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220093108/https://www.eliomotors.com/features/#the-4-musts|url-status=live}}

In September 2021, Elio Motors announced that a new electric motor design was the company's focus, to be later followed by a gas motor option. The projections, which did not include range, cited a possible $15,000 price.

{{update section|date=May 2019}}

Elio Motors is based in Phoenix, Arizona, and projected in 2017 that manufacturing could take place at a facility in Shreveport, Louisiana, using a portion of the former General Motors 3.2 million-square-foot plant.{{r|klayman}} Production would have employed upwards of 1,500 people at the Shreveport facility plus an additional 1,500 at the supply base, but will not be occurring. In addition, Elio Motors projected that 90% of parts for its vehicle could originate in North America.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eliomotors.com/elio-motors-top-10-things-to-love-elio-momentum-v40/|title=Elio Motors' Top 10 Things to Love {{!}} Elio Momentum v40 {{!}} Elio Motors|website=www.eliomotors.com|access-date=2017-01-08|archive-date=January 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109021413/https://www.eliomotors.com/elio-motors-top-10-things-to-love-elio-momentum-v40/|url-status=live}}

The idea of 100 pre-production fleet vehicles was teased in December 2016, however social media replies on Nov 1, 2017, from Elio Motors said, "We are targeting the start of production in 2019". The potential service provider for Elio Motors is Pep Boys. The company started accepting customer reservations on its website in January 2013 and stopped accepting reservations at 65,341 in 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://eliomotors.com|title=Elio Motors {{!}} The next big thing in transportation!|website=Elio Motors|access-date=2016-12-11|archive-date=February 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219082922/https://www.eliomotors.com/|url-status=live}} On August 3, 2017, Elio filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to have an initial public offering (IPO) for its common stock in order to raise $100 million in capital. In the filing, it said that their vehicle would not be capable of production until approximately 76 weeks after securing enough funding to begin.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hybridcars.com/elio-motors-facing-make-or-break-100m-bid-through-ipo/|title=Elio Motors Facing Make-Or-Break $100M Bid Through IPO|website=hybridCARS.com|access-date=2017-08-22|archive-date=August 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823072557/http://www.hybridcars.com/elio-motors-facing-make-or-break-100m-bid-through-ipo/|url-status=live}}

Elio Motors has continuously delayed the release date, which was originally in 2012. Since then, the date has been pushed back each year.{{Cite web|url=http://boingboing.net/2015/02/04/40000-people-have-paid-thousa.html|title=40,000 people have paid thousands for an Elio car - will it ever be built?|last=Torchinsky|first=Jason|date=2015-02-04|website=Boing Boing|access-date=2016-08-13|archive-date=September 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914044353/http://boingboing.net/2015/02/04/40000-people-have-paid-thousa.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc15.com/news/let-joe-know/elio-motors-buyer-wants-money-back|title=Will Elio Motors make it?|date=January 16, 2018|website=KNXV|access-date=March 21, 2018|archive-date=March 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322022217/https://www.abc15.com/news/let-joe-know/elio-motors-buyer-wants-money-back|url-status=live}} In December 2016, the date was announced to have moved to 2018,{{cite web|title=Zacks Update on Elio Motors – Misinformation Clarified|work=Yahoo Finance |url=http://finance.yahoo.com/news/zacks-elio-motors-misinformation-clarified-161500783.html|access-date=24 January 2017|archive-date=January 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127013110/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/zacks-elio-motors-misinformation-clarified-161500783.html|url-status=live}} and on Nov 1, 2017 in a Facebook reply, Elio Motors mentioned the start of production aimed for 2019. These dates have made automotive analysts question the company's ability to bring a product to market. Critics have drawn comparisons to the Lit Motors C-1 and Aptera Motors, which had similar production schemes requiring more funding than was attainable, while updating production timelines to give the impression that a product was deliverable. In an effort to secure a Department of Energy loan, Elio offered advance reservations where the buyer can reserve a spot in line to possibly purchase a vehicle for a base price of {{usd|7,450}}.

By the end of 2017, Elio had only {{usd|7,155}} in the bank, and deficits of {{usd|49,674,327}}. Elio's own estimate was that an investment of {{usd|376,600,000}} plus an additional {{usd|110,500,000}} in reservation deposits would be necessary in order to go into production. Throughout 2018 and beyond, reservation deposits remained closed, and there was no concrete plan in place to raise the nearly half-billion dollars to proceed. Despite a lack of transparency as to their path forward, Elio announced a December 2019 production date, which passed with no progress.

In January 2019, Elio stated: "The production date is estimated to be 76 weeks from the timely and successful completion of our current and subsequent fundraising efforts. The timing and availability of the funds can move and we will do everything we can to keep the project moving forward by utilizing each piece of funding received, as we receive it."{{Cite web|title=Back to Basics {{!}} Elio Motors|url=https://www.eliomotors.com/back-to-basics/|access-date=2021-07-17}}

This lack of an actual product over a near-decade long span has caused critics to call their car vaporware.{{Cite web|title=This Startup Will Buy An Old GM Plant In Louisiana, But Is Their Car Real Or Vaporware?|url=https://jalopnik.com/this-startup-will-buy-an-old-gm-plant-in-louisiana-but-5972914|access-date=2021-07-17|website=Jalopnik|date=January 3, 2013 |language=en-us}}

The Elio web site blog{{cite web |title=Elio Motors Blog |url=https://www.eliomotors.com/blog |website=Elio Motors |access-date=16 September 2021}} and press release areas were not updated between December 2019 and September 9, 2021, when a redesigned website emerged and announced the company's intention to produce an electric motor version of their three-wheeled vehicle at double the cost.{{cite web |title=Elio Motors Press Release |url=https://www.eliomotors.com/press-releases/ |website=Elio Motors |access-date=15 September 2021}} The Elio Motors Facebook page was similarly left without updates between April 2019 and September 9, 2021. Neither the blog nor the Facebook page has been updated in the nearly two years since.{{cite web |title=Elio Motors Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/ElioMotors |website=Facebook |access-date=15 September 2021}} In January 2024 the website disappeared and attempts to access it were met with a "404 Not Found" error page, which shortly afterwards was replaced with a page which said "eliomotors.com has expired and is parked free, courtesy of GoDaddy.com". In February 2024 the domain was put up for sale on GoDaddy Auctions. The auction attracted bids of several thousand dollars, but by the beginning of April 2024 the Eliomotors website was available again at eliomotors.com. As of 2025, however, the website is mostly empty and inactive, returning 403, 404, and Access Denied errors from all links on the virtually empty homepage.

• Nobe GT100
• Microlino
• William Garrison (geographer) – studied concept of narrow vehicles
• List of motorized trikes
• Three-wheeler
• Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation

{{reflist|2|refs=

{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trust-formergmplant-idUSBRE9020M420130103|title=Maker of high-mileage 3-wheel vehicles buys former GM plant|last=Klayman|first=Ben|date=January 3, 2013|work=Reuters|publisher=Thomson Reuters|access-date=January 3, 2013|location=Detroit|archive-date=January 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104014805/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/03/us-trust-formergmplant-idUSBRE9020M420130103|url-status=live}}

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• {{Official website|http://www.eliomotors.com/}}
• [https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/money/cars/2021/10/21/elio-motors-took-millions-customer-deposits-never-delivered-car/5930672001/ Elio Motors took millions in customer deposits...never delivered]

{{Automotive industry in the United States}}

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2009

Category:2009 establishments in Arizona

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Phoenix, Arizona

Category:Car manufacturers of the United States

Category:Three-wheeled motor vehicles

Category:Compact cars

Category:Front-wheel-drive vehicles

Category:Car brands

Category:Companies traded over-the-counter in the United States

Category:Open wheel cars

Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States

Category:Transportation in Phoenix, Arizona