Coming back to the folders market, there is a clear demand for electric assist folders but the main competitor for folders now is electric scooter including the public ones like the Lime, overboards, self balancing monowheels... all kind of electric powered transportation system that are booming now what wasn't the case when Helix KS project was started.
Actually, many potential customers for folders aren't cyclists at all, they even don't care of the fitness benefit of cycling and all these people are now more attracted by all these new electric powered transportation system than by folders.
And one more thing about the wheel size, for me small wheel is an advantage,
I like the behavior of small wheel bikes, they provide much more fun that big wheels. In Asia there is a big market for small wheel bikes with a lot of models, many of them aren't folders. There are many brands unknown is western countries and western brands are selling a lot of small wheels bikes in Asia (Moulton and Brompton are selling a lot of bikes in Asia, Bike Friday too, Pacific Cycle is selling the Birdy...).