[Sent as an email to our newsletter list on Dec 31, 2016. Sign up to receive these emails here. Already on the list but aren’t receiving our emails? Contact us at info@arcimoto.com to sort the problem.]
Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays from Arcimoto!
Signature Series Progress
We have been plugging away on the Signature Series build here at the shop. As you have seen if you follow us on Facebook, several of the production-level components have arrived and are being assembled and tested in the current alpha vehicles while we prepare for the Signature Series chassis to be built. These include an automotive-style power steering unit, our proprietary gearbox, a revised suspension system, an electronic parking brake and new hydraulic system, and a bluetooth stereo system with dual speakers. We have put serious design and development work on other critical components and options, such as the enclosures, tailbox, windshield wiper assembly, defrost mechanism, and mountable accessory rack.
Funding, Facility, and FUV
The business and marketing team has been busy securing funding and exploring new funding opportunities, selecting a manufacturing facility, and developing a product video to communicate the vision to both potential customers and potential investors.
Until now, investment in Arcimoto has only been available to institutional funds or individuals close to the company. Now that we are on the cusp of production, we are beginning to open that opportunity up to a larger group. Our first foray into that realm starts next week, when our company profile goes live on Fundable. [edit Jan 9, 2016: Fundable profile is now live.]
Our initial manufacturing facility is located here in Eugene. We have the assembly line planned out, complete with future expansion in mind, and have begun the permitting process necessary for a move in early 2017.
And the product video that we teased back in September is primed to be launched next week as well, featuring the SRK, the world’s first Fun Utility Vehicle (FUV). [edit Jan 9, 2016: product video is now live.]
All this just in time for the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. We’re only heading down with one vehicle this year, as the others are in various stages of parts and components testing. Red is decked out with the new windshield, gearbox, suspension, and tailbox, and this will be the first public showing of the upgrades that you’ve seen online.
The SRK Production Timeline
When we unveiled Generation 8 in 2015, we set an aggressive estimate for the first vehicle to be complete through the assembly line by the end of 2016. It is now looking like April 2017. We are working as hard and fast as we can to get there, while maintaining the standard of quality that we and our customers demand. We believe that when you’re committed to developing a top quality product, it is wise to take the time to get it right.
Thank you all for your continued patience and support. We are very excited about the road ahead and wish you all a fabulous new year!
