Elio Motors

I first heard of Elio Motors several months ago, as I was looking for a car. At that time it seemed they would start production summer of 2015. They had an offer, if interested for a $100 deposit they would put me on an "I'm all in List" and also credit for an extra $50. Well, I've had lots of emails about the tour they are doing and supposed new engine they decided they had to have made. And initially they had a plant in Shreveport where they were working on test models and preparing to do safety testing etc. Now I've received an email that I must increase the deposit to $1000 to get a place on the list. And I've read they don't really have the plant in LA.
It now feels like a scam. They are supposed to be having a public stock sale as well.
I have just emailed them asking for my $100 to be returned. This is my message to them: Hi, when I first read about you I was excited. I was sure that you said even a hundred dollars, would put me on the "I'm all in List", now the emails say I have to increase to $1,000 to be on the list. If possible, I'd like my $100 back, it is feeling like bunco to me now. Thanks for returning the money to a 78 year old woman on SS. in advance of receiving it. B U (name removed for anonymity)

Thanks for the opportunity to clear this up and have another touch point for this customer. We have indeed communicated at least this amount with the customer and his reservation is indeed in the system. We are awaiting information from this customer and have sent several emails without response. We...

are sending another email asking for information as well as assuring him that his reservation is in good standing and all is well. The system for him to see it will be up when we receive the information from the customer most likely after the holidays. Please respond to the email we sent and we can handle this once and for all. Happy Holidays!

I placed a reservation deposit with Elio Motors 1.5 years ago for a potential product that was/is under development.
They have gone to great lengths to remain in touch with me and in keeping me apprised of their progress, and of any problems they are facing, along with their planned actions.
I have complete faith in the honesty and integrity of the management of this company arhat they are doing their very best to eventually produce the product they envision.

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID[redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait until for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

Regards,

Please accept the below as response for complaint...

#[redacted].   Please let me know if there is anything else we can do to clear up this misunderstanding.
 
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to this customer’s letter.  We spoke with our customer and have cleared up the misunderstanding.  The main issue that was addressed was the ability to get ahold of us.  We researched the issue and found an email on our site that was not linked to our email system.  We have fixed that email account and have shared the correct email accounts for this customer to reach us.  We also sent the customer a receipt for his reservation.
 
The customer told us that he is comfortable with Elio Motors as a company and realizes that this is a true [redacted] company trying to do the right thing by making an affordable vehicle that gets great gas mileage here in the USA.
 
 
 
 

Vice President - Marketing

Will not accept response

Elio Motors is a start up developer for a revolutionary design for America's motoring public. There have been delays in bringing this vehicle to production but not one delay can be laid at the door step of Elio Motors. They are actively working at acquiring much needed funding and generation interest in the new vehicle. Elio Motors has promised that they will sell their vehicle for $6,800.00 and if over that amount it will be as close as physically possible. Elio Motors is striving for a 5 star crash rating, something very unusual for a motorcycle to attempt. I believe Elio Motors will succeed in this endeavor. Do I support Elio Motors? You've better believe I do... #[redacted] reservation.

We have solved this complaint for the customer by processing the refund for the refundable reservation within 6 days. Not sure what other action is required other than removing this unfounded complaint from the site as the process worked and we communicated directly, timely, and repeatedly with the customer through two different channels.

Elio(under the radar) accomplishments(accruing $25,000,000.00 towards an idea yet to be produced. Thousands of monetary reservations with promises of product delivery starting in 2015. Now, maybe by fourth quarter 2016. How can this happen? An example of WHAT? Money in hand, without sacrifice. The consumers are at risk. What if the product doesn't work out? ELIO what a good idea with good intentions, but no risk.

Right on track! Paul E[redacted] and his team have done an outstanding job of keeping us well informed of the progress of the company and I stand firm as a believe that this car will roll into production. I know that when this car does make it to market it will be life changing for many people and I'm all in to do my part.

I first heard of Elio Motors several months ago, as I was looking for a car. At that time it seemed they would start production summer of 2015. They had an offer, if interested for a $100 deposit they would put me on an "I'm all in List" and also credit for an extra $50. Well, I've had lots of emails about the tour they are doing and supposed new engine they decided they had to have made. And initially they had a plant in Shreveport where they were working on test models and preparing to do safety testing etc. Now I've received an email that I must increase the deposit to $1000 to get a place on the list. And I've read they don't really have the plant in LA.
It now feels like a scam. They are supposed to be having a public stock sale as well.
I have just emailed them asking for my $100 to be returned. This is my message to them: Hi, when I first read about you I was excited. I was sure that you said even a hundred dollars, would put me on the "I'm all in List", now the emails say I have to increase to $1,000 to be on the list. If possible, I'd like my $100 back, it is feeling like bunco to me now. Thanks for returning the money to a 78 year old woman on SS. in advance of receiving it. B U (name removed for anonymity)

I made a 100$ [redacted] some time ago. The company has been very active in keeping me up to date on the status of future production via its website and company emails. I am looking forward to when the predicated future production becomes reality (even with some delays that happen to start-up companies) and I have an Elio in my driveway.

I have had a good experience with Elio Motors. Like many others I placed a non-refundable deposit on August 20th of 2014. My $1,000 gives me a SIL or Spot In Line #[redacted], when the production line begins. The information Elio required me to read before placing my deposit clearly stated that they were not guaranteeing me an Elio. And no guarantee of when the production line was to start up. I fully understood that I was placing my money down on a vehicle that might never go to production. I find Elio motors to be doing everything they can to bring the Elio to production. Several target dates were mentioned, but no start up date was ever stated. When the target dates did not happen many people became angry saying that Elio was not being truthful. In the little over a year since I placed my deposit Elio motors has completed their own engine. It is the first time an startup car maker has done so since [redacted] did it decades ago. Elio just completed the P5 which is the last prototype and will be showing it around the U.S. in 2016. Elio is in the process of selling stock. The money will be used for several things including building 25 E (Engineering) vehicles that will be used for testing of all components gas mileages ride interior, ...etc., and then crash tested to prove the safety they are shooting for. I see nothing shady, illegal, or wrong in the way Elio motors is handling their business. They are moving forward as funds allow. I believe that I will have the privilege of buying my Elio when the production line begins.

that is fine if you are sending me my refund HOWEVER I have not ONE email to my email address [redacted] So possibly you do not have my correct email address because if I got that email you claim you sent me I would never have filed my...

complaint
Again I do not show one email from your company to my email address  [redacted]
thank you

Excellent company working on creating an amazing product. Minor communications issues but all worked out.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to this customers questions. This customer made an All In reservation for an Elio on December 14, 2013, a year and 2 months ago. We are targeting the first half of next year for production. We have two types of reservations available to future...

customers - All In and Want In. Each of these options comes with benefits and risks. The All in, which the vast majority of our reservation holders choose (including this person), comes with a host of goodies: limited edition t-shirt, bumper sticker, a priority place in line, and a 50% reservation bonus when you purchase your Elio (up to $500) and is non-refundable. The Want in gets the reservation holder a spot in line ahead of the public (behind all of the All In reservation holders) and is refundable. We created the two types of reservations so we could appeal to all people that are interested in the Elio - one with risk and fantastic rewards or one that is risk free. The agreements are very straightforward and I have attached them for each reservation type. Every completed reservation has to agree to the terms of the agreement electronically before the reservation is processedWe are a start up company and are transparent in our goals and our process. We currently respond to every email immediately (with an auto response) and with a response from a human in an average of 24.5 hours. The emails and phone calls the customer sent were responded to/answered  in a timely fashion and before she filed this with you. As to the accusations of not meeting the price, that is unfounded and not true. We have four "must haves" for our project that are at the heart of what we do: $6,800 retail price (before taxes delivery etc.), safe, made in America, and able to achieve 84 mpg on the highway. These targets are all viable and we work every day to make them happen. This customer still has her reservation and qualifies for all of the benefits that we agreed to on December 14, 2013.

Thank you for the opportunity to address this issue for the customer.  We have issued credit per the customers request for the second transaction.  The credit request was already in our system and had not processed yet due to an error on my part.  We sincerely apologize for the...

mistake and will reach out to the customer directly to address his thoughts.  Elio Motors is a real start up company with a real product, real plant, and real following of loyal customers.  We encourage you to go to the website at www.eliomotors.com and our Facebook account /eliomotors to get a feel for the momentum and viability of our project.  We have fixed the error spot that negatively affected this customer and are confident that it will not happen again.Thank You.

I reserved $1k for a vehicle and my wife saw this at a local display so she took my reservation but we put in for another 1k Down... Elio Motors has done a steller job of keeping us informed as to the development of this great American made autocycle. We have met most of the people involved in this company and we are so impressed we put in $1700 in stock investment during their SEC A+ launch. 90+% North American Content with a low price, high safety and easy to maintain... then you have that it is High mileage with current technology and made in the USA ... I can't wait until we are driving around in these futuristic autocycles with the AC on!

I have followed the Elio start-up since 2013. For many who wanted to buy a vehicle immediately, the progress is obviously less than desired. I personally like the fact that Elio Motors has invited its fans to watch closely as they achieve milestone after milestone during the R&D phase of an amazing vehicle. I have witnessed the creation of their very own 3-cylinder engine, built their 5th prototype, and raised $25 million in crowd-funding to build 25 E-series (road worthiness, and crash test) vehicles. Yes, I have one reserved, but I have no doubt they will deliver, when it is ready. I don't want Elio to rush and make a crappy vehicle. Time invested will result in better quality.

As a "non refundable" customer of Elio Motors Corp. I fully understood the risks associated with my investment in this start up company. I have received everything promised to me and have received daily/weekly updates by email from Elio. They have had delays due to funding but have steadily progressed with their product. I do expect further delays but Am confident it will come to fruition. I would be happier if they responded to tough questions faster and this is the only reason I do not give them the highest ratings.