Nah, the original plan was to make a blueprint copy of the Geo Metro drivetrain, a custom body, and parts bin everything else. The only thing that would have required R&D was the body and the interfaces and fine tuning...everything else was off the shelf. Then they kept adding features and then they went to a bespoke…

Unfortunately I have a first row seat for Elio’s... whatever they’re doing. My town essentially gave them a former GM plant to (allegedly) build these things. The other potential tenant who wanted to lease the building instead? Land Rover. An actual real-life company. Our stupid politicians got swindled like…