Earlier this month there was significant buzz around the new auto startup company called Elio Motors.  Started by CEO, Paul Elio who plans to set-up shop for his new two-seater trike vehicle in a recently closed GM manufacturing facility in Shreveport, Louisiana.

A brainchild out of the high crude oil prices of 2008, Paul has worked on the Elio Motors project for some time.  His grand vision is to have the car manufactured in the U.S. by U.S. workers with parts from North America. Coverage states that at full employment in 2015, Elio Motors will employ 1500 workers at that plant which is great news for the region hard hit since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Here is the official announcement from earlier this month.

As for the specs of the vehicle it will be classified as a motorcycle and will get an estimated 84 MPG and cost $6,800 USD. It features a three wheel anti-lock disc brake system and an inline 3 cylinder gasoline engine with 70 HP. It is estimated to reach speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour and can accelerate from 0 – 60 in just over 9 seconds. It will be offered in a number of colors and is currently available for reservation on their web site www.eliomotors.com.  Unfortunately, Canadians will have to wait a bit longer to get on the reservation list but they are working on it.

Well, time will tell how successful Paul’s vision is but it sure appears to be a step in the right direction of getting North America back building things and selling things that are affordable for the average family.

Source: www.eliomotors.com