Elio Motors
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Last week we listed seven of the most bizarre "green" cars (and some not-so-green) of the 20th century, most of which were rolled out in response to depression, war recovery, or out-of-control gas prices. This week, we'll look at seven more from the 21st century, which seems to have had a concentrated share of attempts at innovation in response to war in the Middle East, high gas prices, and deep recession. One notable difference is that this century's cars mostly run on electricity, or at least offer an electric option. They're hardly any more normal, though. Most are answers to a question...
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Elio update: Overstock gives 84-mpg automaker a shot, with a cryptocurrency twist
Fledgling automaker Elio Motors said it has good news this week for its three-wheeled car, which has been delayed for several years. KTBS in Shreveport, Louisiana, reported last week that the company's founder, Paul Elio, would offer an update on the company's promises to build a small car that...
Aaron Cole -
Odds for auto startups are incredibly high; can Tesla beat them?
Much of the energy and growth in the U.S. economy comes not from large corporations but from small startup companies, as economic data shows. By now, the model of a young, energetic entrepreneur with a bright idea who turns it into a world-changing business is well established. Think Facebook or...
John Voelcker -
Elio to sell $100 million in stock; 3-wheeler price raised, production delayed, again (updated)
Entrepreneur Paul Elio's concept for a simple three-wheeled car that would cost only $6,800 has now been with us for eight years. During that time, he has shown the car hundreds of times to diverse groups of people, taken tens of thousands of reservations, sold stock in the company, and suggested...
John Voelcker -
Production for Elio 3-wheeler slides to 2018; is time running out?
Elio Motors continues to drag its feet regarding the start of production for its three-wheeled, two-seat, "84-mpg" vehicle, but it may now be running out of time. The company previously said it had received 55,000 reservations for the car, representing potential sales of $300 million. Last year, it...
Stephen Edelstein -
Will 3-wheeled so-called 'autocycles' break out this year? We're skeptical
Several manufacturers are trying to launch new 3-wheeled vehicles, but will they succeed?
Stephen Edelstein -
To say three-wheeled vehicles are rare in the North American car market would be an understatement. Traditionally, motorcycles have two wheels, and passenger cars and light trucks have four. But Elio Motors wants to change that with its three-wheeled car, which it says will be offered for $7,300 (previously $6,800) and achieve 84 mpg on the highway. DON'T MISS: Future Of '84-MPG' Elio 3-Wheeler Depends On Government Loans The challenge is that cars with three wheels fall into a grey area in most states, since Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards apply only to those with four wheels. As a...
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Golly, Elio Motors has built ... a car! One test car, in fact
Increasingly sophisticated computer modeling software has cut the number of prototypes and test cars that carmakers build. But they must still make dozens of vehicles that will never be sold, to test assembly, evaluate features, conduct durability tests, and wreck them to assess crash-safety...
John Voelcker -
Elio Motors' new marketing partner is...The Onion ?!?!? Yep.
To market its three-wheeled car, Elio Motors is getting political.
Stephen Edelstein -
Elio to sell 100 'pre-production' vehicles from Louisiana plant this year
Elio Motors plans to sell 100 "pre-production" vehicles to fleet customers.
Stephen Edelstein -
Future Of '84-MPG' Elio 3-Wheeler Depends On Government Loans
Elio Motos hopes a U.S. Department of Energy loan will provide the funding it needs.
Stephen Edelstein -
NHTSA To Alter Vehicle Code To Prevent 3-Wheelers Like Elio
A proposed rule change could prevent Elio Motors from selling its three-wheeled car.
Stephen Edelstein -
As one website put it--in a piece tagged to lure Tesla Motors fans--Elio Motors is "the other automotive startup" to which those fans should presumably pay attention. But even Tesla CEO Elon Musk hasn't proposed "crowdsourcing" his product-development funds. Given that Elio now seems to have raised pledges for $22 million from small investors in just 20 days, perhaps Musk should pay attention? DON'T MISS: Elio Motors Offers Shares To Public In 'Crowdfunding' Investment Quest What CEO Paul Elio calls "crowdsourcing" isn't the traditional KickStarter or GoFundMe approach, however. Instead, it's...
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Elio Motors Offers Shares To Public In 'Crowdfunding' Investment Quest
When Paul Elio said in April that his startup carmaker, Elio Motors, was pursuing crowdsourced funding, most journalists likely imagined sites like Kickstarter or GoFundMe. In fact, the investment opportunity is slightly more formal than that. Elio needs to raise roughly $230 million to start...
John Voelcker -
The Challenges Paul Elio Faces To Launch A Three-Wheel, 84-MPG, $6,800 Car
Startup Elio Motors, which needs $230 million to begin production of its radical lightweight, two-seat, three-wheeled fuel-efficient vehicle, is still about $165 million short. CEO Paul Elio, speaking at last week's New York Auto Show, said it has taken more than 41,000 deposits from eager...
John Voelcker -
Elio Motors: First-Ever Auto-Show Press Event In NYC Touts '84-MPG' Three-Wheel Car
Startup automaker Elio Motors put on its first-ever car-show press conference last week, taking the last slot on Thursday's media schedule at the New York Auto Show. Founder and CEO Paul Elio appeared at a simple podium in front of a bright-orange prototype Elio three-wheeled vehicle. He spoke...
John Voelcker -
Fuel-Efficient Elio Three-Wheel Car Hits 15,000 Orders Before Production Starts
You wouldn't think a small, green, three-wheeled vehicle would be the perfect recipe for creating a buzz in the car world. But that's what Paul Elio has done with his Elio Motors firm, and though the vehicle in question is still a fair while from production reality, the company has a loyal...
Antony Ingram -
Elio Takes Another Step Toward Building 3-Wheeler In Ex-GM Plant
Many in the green car industry are watching startup automaker Elio Motors with interest. The company has big plans for its small three-wheeled car, as well as thousands of fans on social media networks and plenty of names on the order list. Now, Elio also has a place to build its car, finally...
Antony Ingram -
Elio Motors new home was saved from potential demolition, but the startup carmaker will not control its fate.
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Elio 3-Wheeler Is Small And Clever, But Do Its Financials Work Out?
For such a small car, the Elio three-wheeled vehicle certainly has a big following. It might not meet everyone's idea of what constitutes a great car, but for those looking to reduce their driving costs or their impact on the environment, a small, inexpensive, resource-light three-wheeled vehicle...
Antony Ingram -
3-Wheeled, 84 MPG Elio Moves A Step Closer To Reality
Remember Elio Motors? If you're one of their 17,000 or so Facebook fans it'll be hard to forget, as the company's little green three-wheeled vehicle will be a regular fixture on your timeline. As The Detroit News reports, Elio has just released a new prototype of the tiny gasoline-powered vehicle...
Antony Ingram -
80-MPG Elio Three-Wheeled Car To Be Built At Former GM Truck Plant?
Startups making small, economical vehicles come and go, but one company offering a high-efficiency vehicle has big plans, buying a former General Motors assembly plant. Elio Motors is the company behind a three-wheeled car capable of 84 mpg highway, on nothing more complicated than gasoline...
Antony Ingram