Linamar to Manufacture Engines for Elio Motors’ Vehicles

2212

Elio Motors Inc. will partner with Linamar Corp., a developer of powertrains with operations in Livonia, to manufacture Elio’s engines, which can be used in the automotive, marine, and industrial sectors.

“Elio Motors has developed an engine with a rare blend of power and fuel efficiency that could have significant market potential beyond powering the Elio (vehicle),” says Paul Elio, founder and CEO of Elio Motors. “Linamar will use its global presence and access to international manufacturers … to identify other uses for our engine and open up potential additional revenue for our company.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Linamar will also be a component and sub-system supplier for Elio Motors’ other driveline and chassis systems in North America.

“Not only does this give us great penetration into ultra-high mileage vehicles, it also gives us a chance to sell this highly efficient engine to a variety of markets and customers,” says Linda Hasenfratz, CEO of Linamar.

Phoenix-based Elio Motors, founded in 2009, plans to manufacture a vehicle with a highway mileage of up to 84 miles per gallon. Elio’s first manufacturing site will be in Louisiana. The company selected Livonia-based Roush as its lead engineering supplier, and it will establish a pilot operations center in Livonia to assemble its test vehicles.