TROY — Elio Motors introduced more than 20 key suppliers including Altair Engineering , IAV, NEWTECH 3, and Comau as key suppliers of its new American-made vehicle today at the Troy headquarters of Altair. A prototype of the three-wheel vehicle was also revealed by founder and CEO Paul Elio.
lElio and Ken Way, Elio Motors board member and former chairman and CEO of Lear Corp., led the announcement with remarks from engineering services firm Altair, engine design partner IAV, circuit board and harness manufacturer NEWTECH 3, and advanced manufacturing services firm Comau.
“We are honored by the strength and quality of the suppliers that this project has attracted,” Elio said. “Their enthusiasm and active participation in the design process ensures Elio Motors success as we move into the future,” Paul Elio said of the Elio Motors supplier partners.
Elio Motors’ new prototype showcases its three-wheeled vehicle design that can achieve 84 mpg with an anticipated 5-star safety rating, all starting at $6,800. The event was the start of a tour where the vehicle will travel from Troy to Shreveport, La., then onto St. Louis and Kansas City, with stops in additional markets to be added.
“We are excited to have the new prototype available and are looking forward to sharing the design changes with our future customers in the coming months,” Elio added. The vehicle will be produced in Shreveport in a plant that GM previously used for assembly.
The vehicle is scheduled for production in the summer of 2014 and reservations are being accepted now. Potential owners can reserve vehicles for as little as $100. Reservations allow potential owners a spot on the delivery list in the first year in production depending on their reservation level, access to the Elio Motors e-newsletter, a bumper sticker, and a limited edition T-shirt. Parties interested in learning more about Elio Motors can visit www.facebook.com/ElioMotors or www.eliomotors.com.
