REO launch. Any other 40 series guys excited by this?

[Chamba]

I put my $25 down for a place in line (cheaper than lunch, and it's unlikely to give me heartburn). I was dubious until I read that the founder was a JDM guy and had built Cruisers, amongst other vehicles.

What have others here read, and what are your thoughts?

This Texas Startup Wants to Sell a U.S.-Made Tiny Truck for $21,500. We Spoke to Its CEO to Hear the Plan

REO basically invested the pickup truck back in 1915. Now, a new company with that name wants to sell "America-Kei" trucks under the familiar banner.

www.roadandtrack.com

 

[JohnnyC]

depends on WHAT it looks like

any pics of it?

 

[Chamba]

None yet. The founder says it will be revealed in Q4 of this year. In my order reservation, I can choose between 4 door Ute, 2 door Ute or SUV. He's aiming for the size of a 3rd gen Hilux.

 

[sogncab]

$25 is a weird number. Has a pyramid scheme/scam feel to it.

I'm optimistic. I hate modern vehicles. I want much more basic options. The replacement for my 80 is most likely going to be a Grenadier at this point since it's less than half the cost of having an 80 made new.

I wish them luck, and I'm going to keep an interested eye on them.

 

[bhsdriller]

no

 

[sogncab]

Screw it. There's an option to pay through Amazon. They should add paypal.

Thats $140k in capital raised.

 

[JohnnyC]

chatgpt sucks.... but... i did ask it with what was known about the truck right now.... what would it look like

this is what it rendered... resembles the ARO 244... hope its not a slate look alike

and:

and pickup reo runabout t4x.... which they should have called the ¨Speed Wagon¨ but:

 

[EWheeler]

Not excited. If it was Toyota that was bringing it to market as a legit competitor to the Jeep JK/JL in the US market, excitement would exist.

 

[wchevron]

Good luck to them. I'd be more than surprised if this actually goes through. I think the problem today is, to build an inexpensive car/truck you have to cut most features people want. I'm own a Jeep and am also on a Jeep forum. (I know, I know, don't bash me for it) There are always people creating new threads about Jeep getting rid of manual shifting, getting rid of diesel, why a 4 door Jeep and not more 2 doors, why not more horsepower and less electronics. Why, because Jeep sees what is selling and its 4 doors, gas engine, automatic, more electronics bells/whistles. That's what 95% of consumers want. The other 5% want a stripped down Jeep but its not profitable for them. I think REO is going to find out the same thing. If you are going to build a more affordable truck, with less features, you're market is going to shrink considerably, which in turn is going to either drive them out of business or force them to raise prices

 

[pb4ugo]

There's no Tech here. This thread needs go to CHIT or just Go away.

 

[charliemeyer007]

CONgress will not allow it here. Detroit will protest a car for less than $30,000 will put them out of business.

 

[sogncab]

CONgress will not allow it here. Detroit will protest a car for less than $30,000 will put them out of business.

The issue will likely be emissions, and safety. As I understand it the safety stuff can be skirted under a certain number of units. Companies like Rezvanni, Icon, or Revology aren't meeting those collision standards, but I think they're limited to something like 200 units per year. All build $250k plus vehicles though.

The emissions likely won't be an issue? I think that is pretty easy to do with modern engine management? MPG might hose them, but also might not apply to a small manufacturer. Built here is the biggest thing they have going for them.


Tesla did it. Grenadier seems to be doing okay despite getting their teeth kicked in by tariffs.



I agree with their mission statement completely. I don't want a massively oversized and bloated vehicle packed full of crap that will barely survive the warranty period. There's a reason I daily a POS 50 year old vehicle.


I think there's a market. It's just small. And it's real hard to be profitable when small.
Flip side is, vehicles are retardedly expensive. The market does need a less expensive option. Cheapest Toyota Tacoma is $32k with out tax, options, or dealer fees.
Just went shopping with the girlfriend to get a used sedan for her daughter. The days of a $500 beater are long gone thanks to the cash for clunkers debacle.
20 year old jap sedan, 200k miles with some rust, $5k. Ridiculous.

 

[TheBussman]

we'll see what components are going to be installed in it. hopefully it doesn't ship with a kia engine or worse.

 

[devo]

It will probably suck just like the band

REO Speedwagon - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[sogncab]

hopefully it doesn't ship with a kia engine or worse.

I was hoping it wasn't a Toyota engine. They seemed to have forgotten how to do that.

 

[clrussell]

If it actually comes to market and it’s under 25k I’ll buy one tomorrow.
I want a simple, reliable, serviceable vehicle. That’s why I drive a 40.

 

[archie73]

$25k on the pickup is intriguing, but what I need is a commuter. Needs awd and better mpg. Wife wants something bigger than a Highlander, so there goes mpg. The ev Kia is tempting, but I would like the look of the ai p/u…

 

[70fj40]

I don’t think they will be able to build and sell it for their target price. If they could somehow bring this plan to fruition and actually build and sell something that would be usable in modern traffic at a price even close to twice the target price it would be exciting enough that they would be bought out by one of the big auto manufacturers who would quickly turn it into something else entirely and ruin the whole thing. This is a cool idea and I’d love to see it happen. The problem in the USA is for every person that wants basic functionality and a mechanical truck type platform there are thousands that want plush, cushy comfort. In the HVAC/Refrigeration industry which I have been a part of for nearly 40 years I see guys everyday running service out of $100K trucks with every option available. (Think Denali Ultimate or F350 King Ranch/Platinum) Trucks that just 30 years ago would have only been owned by a few affluent guys that had them custom built. It would be fantastic if this startup succeeds and I hope they do.

 

[FJ404345]

Only USA


I'll just stay will my "Fück It Edition" 's

 

[Living in the Past]

$25 is a weird number. Has a pyramid scheme/scam feel to it.

I think of Amway when I think pyramid. Only way to make money was to recruit other people to sell Amway and take a cut of everything they sell and people they recruit sell and so on.