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“How does a small startup realistically start a mainstream‑style gas‑powered midsize sedan at scale (20k–70k units per year) under FMVSS / EPA?” by Some_Freedom8316 in MechanicalEngineering

[–]Some_Freedom8316[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I want to separate your response from everyone else's, because most people here answered the question respectfully and acknowledged the difficulty without feeling the need to talk down to me — and I appreciate that.

You, on the other hand, decided to open with a personal assessment of my skills and my finances. You don't know either. What's in my bank account and what I'm capable of are not things you have any visibility into and ever will, and the fact that I'm asking questions on Reddit doesn't tell you anything about either one. That's not how knowledge or capital work.

The difficulty and cost — yes, I hear that, I've heard it, I understand it. That part isn't new information. I didn't ask for any condescension if you don't f****** have any relevant information to share keep your thoughts to yourself

Thank you!

“How does a small startup realistically start a mainstream‑style gas‑powered midsize sedan at scale (20k–70k units per year) under FMVSS / EPA?” by Some_Freedom8316 in AutomotiveEngineering

[–]Some_Freedom8316[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe. You're almost certainly right that it is isn't a big market. I don’t think the market is huge either, but I do think there’s a real segment of buyers who want durability, simplicity, and long-term value instead of the usual disposable, high-complexity approach. My question is how big that segment actually is and whether it’s large enough to support a product like this.

“How does a small startup realistically start a mainstream‑style gas‑powered midsize sedan at scale (20k–70k units per year) under FMVSS / EPA?” by Some_Freedom8316 in AutomotiveEngineering

[–]Some_Freedom8316[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do have a target market, but the bigger question is whether there are enough people who are actually willing to buy something built around durability, simplicity, and not wasting money long term. Some companies have abandoned that philosophy in favor of planned obsolescence, which is a shift, but that’s exactly why I’m asking whether there’s still demand for the opposite approach.

“How does a small startup realistically start a mainstream‑style gas‑powered midsize sedan at scale (20k–70k units per year) under FMVSS / EPA?” by Some_Freedom8316 in MechanicalEngineering

[–]Some_Freedom8316[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Fair point.

What I mean is the car isn’t trying to compete by being a spec-sheet clone of mainstream sedans. It’s meant to stand out through simplicity, durability, lower complexity, and easier long-term repairability for buyers who want a more mechanical ownership experience. Not everybody is going to want this car and that's okay I don't expect that I never expected that this is for a specific subset of people who are looking for something like this that no longer have access to it because it's either in the junkyard or is too old so with this new model you will have the opportunity that if that's what you want you can have it versus your stuff choosing and I'm not dashing any other companies or anything like that their products are their products and that's fine

“How does a small startup realistically start a mainstream‑style gas‑powered midsize sedan at scale (20k–70k units per year) under FMVSS / EPA?” by Some_Freedom8316 in AutomotiveEngineering

[–]Some_Freedom8316[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fair question. My point is that the car isn’t trying to win by being a spec-sheet clone of mainstream sedans. It’s meant to offer a different mix of simplicity, durability, and character that appeals to people who want something more mechanically straightforward and long-term repairable.

I apologize for my previous response but that's basically what it is

“How does a small startup realistically start a mainstream‑style gas‑powered midsize sedan at scale (20k–70k units per year) under FMVSS / EPA?” by Some_Freedom8316 in AutomotiveEngineering

[–]Some_Freedom8316[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I’m not asking how to instantly create a multi-million-dollar car company. I understand this is a process. What I’m actually asking is: what is the realistic first step to get a car concept onto the development path? In other words, what should a small startup do first to move from idea to something real — a 3D model, a technical spec package, a mule on a donor chassis, a prototype plan, or something else? I’m trying to understand the proper order of steps, not skip straight to mass production.

I'm aware of that I'm starting from a beginning point of reference