Elio Motors' Sound System to be Assembled in the US

Elio Motors has announced that its personal mobile audio system will be assembled in the United States by MTX Audio, which has production facilities in Illinois, Arizona, Texas and Wisconsin. The specific facility that will assemble the audio system is yet to be determined.

Elio Motors is developing an enclosed three-wheeled vehicle with a targeted base price of $6,800 that will get up to 84 MPG.

“It is rare in today’s auto industry to find an audio system that’s assembled here in the United States, and we are thrilled that MTX Audio has committed to making our system at their Phoenix location,” said Paul Elio, founder and CEO of Elio Motors. “This is another step in our ongoing effort to build the Elio with at least 90-percent North American content, creating even more jobs here.”

Elio Motors introduced the revolutionary audio system at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in November 2015. The audio system, designed in Phoenix, Arizona for Elio Motors by MTX Audio, will offer consumers flexibility and future-proof technology, allowing Elio vehicle owners to easily upgrade their system.

MTX Audio will provide the vehicle’s audio system in several trim levels. The system will be modular, making it easy to upgrade and add features that tailor the system’s sound qualities and capabilities, based on customer preferences. MTX Audio’s expertise in developing integrated sound components for the power sports and motorcycle markets, especially its ability to design in flexibility and utilize unique packaging, were among the reasons it was selected as a supplier partner with Elio Motors. In addition to its work with Elio Motors, MTX Audio has designed and manufactured audio systems for Chevrolet, Harley-Davidson, and Polaris.

The system is designed to be easily configurable, based on the listener’s tastes. If the listener likes pristine clarity or if they want a deeper, booming bass within the vehicle, it will be easy to modify. The owner, in effect, will be able to custom design his or her sound.

“We’ve designed the audio system to be interchangeable so customers can always upgrade to the latest and greatest technology” Elio said. “Audio technology changes faster than vehicle design and we want our customers to have the flexibility to remain current.”

Elio Motors will produce the vehicle in Shreveport, La., at a former General Motors production facility. The company estimates upwards of 1,500 will be directly employed at Elio Motors’ Shreveport, Louisiana production facility. In addition, the Elio will use 90-percent North American content and create approximately 1,500 additional jobs from the supply base, Elio Motors corporate, as well as sales and service once full production is underway. Plus, approximately 18,000 indirect jobs nationwide are projected to be created or sustained.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recently named Marilyn Stemp and Steve Piehl to its board of directors.

Stemp is a pioneering figure in the motorcycle industry, founding IronWorks Magazine with her late husband, Dennis, and becoming the first female editor of a nationally circulated, mainstream motorcycle magazine. She also revived their trade magazine, Iron Trader News; edits the monthly Kiwi Indian News; contributes to several powersports media outlets; and is the founding editor of Sturgis Rider Daily. Stemp is a noted editor and writer of several motorcycle-focused books. Her consistent support for charitable efforts in the industry include the annual Biker Belles Celebration, Las Vegas BikeFest and as campaign chair for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s development plan in 2014. She co-founded the Flying Piston charity events taking place in Daytona and Sturgis each year and is a National Ambassador for All Kids Bike. Stemp was inducted into both the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Museum's Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022 she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports by DealerNews.