Standard or custom, where production is actually decided?

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Houston takeaway

The room worked through a standard-versus-custom mount decision for a 600-unit e-bike production plan, repeatedly testing proposals to "lock in" one option against the underlying cost and order-volume figures. A recurring thread was the distinction between the 180 confirmed dealer pre-orders and the 420 forecasted units, since break-even calculations for the custom extrusion option shift substantially depending on which number is treated as real demand. Several attempts to declare the decision settled, in either direction, were met with requests to verify the exact thresholds and were shown to rest on treating the forecast as if it were already booked. The conversation also touched on a field-reported failure mode (a creaking adapter plate, possibly moisture-related) and on the risk that locking in the custom die's geometry now would constrain future choices, including a fourth frame size, before that need is confirmed.

4Open questions

Needs attentionShould the 420 forecasted units be treated as reliable enough to justify tooling costs, or does the decision need to wait for more confirmed orders?Open full report

Standard or custom, where production is actually decided?

Standard or custom, where production is actually decided?

Houston is seeing

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