Elio Motors Inc. Displays Enclosed 3-Wheeled Vehicle At Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition Legislative Breakfast

Futuristic vehicle to retail for $6,800, Achieve 84 mpg

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Mar 06, 2014, 10:24 ET

PHOENIX, March 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Elio Motors isn't just building a new vehicle. It's creating an entirely new transportation category that will change how consumers think about their daily commutes, create more than 1,500 American jobs and help reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil.

That's the message company founder and Phoenix resident Paul Elio hopes his enclosed, 3-wheeled vehicle will convey when it takes part in the Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition Legislative Breakfast on the front lawn of the State Capitol today.

Paul Elio with the Elio prototype. (PRNewsFoto/Elio Motors) (PRNewsFoto/ELIO MOTORS)

"Our high-mileage, low-cost vehicle is causing people to rethink how we approach transportation in the United States," Elio said. "Many consumers buy vehicles based on the premise that they need to haul their entire family around. But, on a typical commute to work, look at how many big, inefficient vehicles have just one person – the driver – onboard. For those trips where you drive solo – and that's probably the majority of trips – why not have a vehicle that is affordable and highly fuel efficient?"

The Elio Motors 3-wheeled vehicle is slated for production in 2015, will have a sticker price of $6,800, will achieve 84 miles per gallon fuel efficiency and is engineered for an anticipated 5-Star Crash Test Safety Rating. The vehicle is perfect for individual commuters looking for an inexpensive and fuel efficient mode of transportation, but who also yearn for a unique expression of their passion for driving.

"In addition to the practical message of affordability and high fuel efficiency, this is an eye-catching design that will turn heads," Elio said. "There's no reason drivers can't have a practical vehicle and still have some fun, too."

The Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition event is an opportunity for automakers to showcase current and future technologies for reducing fuel consumption and developing and manufacturing transportation options that are more environmentally friendly.

Thus far, consumers are showing significant interest in Elio Motors. The company has taken nearly 11,000 reservations at its web site (Eliomotors.com) ranging from $100 to $1,000. A non-refundable reservation provides customers with an additional discount worth 50 percent of the initial deposit (a $1,000 deposit would receive an additional $500 toward the price of a vehicle at the time of purchase). Although refundable deposits can be made, more than 80 percent of customers have opted for the non-refundable reservation, again reinforcing how strongly consumers feel about this vehicle.

About Elio Motors: Founded by car enthusiast Paul Elio in 2008, Elio Motors Inc. represents a revolutionary approach to manufacturing an ultra-high-mileage vehicle. The 3-wheeled Elio will attain a highway mileage rating of more than 80 mpg while providing the comfort of amenities such as power windows and air conditioning, accompanied by the safety of multiple air bags and an aerodynamic, enclosed vehicle body. Elio's first manufacturing site will be in Shreveport, La., with plans for the first production vehicle to roll off the assembly line in 2015 and significant production, sales and distribution during the next two years. For more information, visit www.eliomotors.com or www.facebook.com/ElioMotors.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140306/DE78034

SOURCE Elio Motors