Paul Elio, founder of Elio Motors, has stressed his soon-to-be manufactured three-wheel Elio priced at $6,800, will change how consumers think about their daily commutes.

Speaking at the Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition Legislative Breakfast in Phoenix where he lives, Elio said his company will create more than 1,500 American jobs and help reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil.

“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 is slated for production in 2015. It’s engineered for an anticipated 5-Star Crash Test Safety Rating.

“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.”

Elio Motors has taken nearly 11,000 reservations at its web site ranging from $100 to $1,000. A non-refundable reservation provides customers with an additional discount worth 50 percent of the initial depose. A $1,000 deposit would receive an additional $500 toward the price of a vehicle at the time of purchase.

The three-wheeled Elio will also feature power windows and air conditioning, accompanied by the safety of multiple air bags and an 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.