They don't need to do validation testing because it's not a car. Emissions and crash standards don't apply (though the company has pledged to meet those standards, it's not required for validation).
Validation testing is a lot more than demonstrating that it meets legal requirements. (and motorcycles DO have emission standards, they're just not the same).
It also includes things like:
Making sure the engine performs properly and has acceptable durability. It's brand new ... there's no experience with it.
Making sure the engine starts and runs properly in -40 and +40, and below sea level in Death Valley and at high altitude like Pikes Peak, and that the transmission works properly in all temperature extremes. (They haven't even announced a transmission supplier yet.)
Making sure the vehicle itself works properly when it's cold, hot, raining, or snowing.
Making sure the suspension doesn't fall apart when driven on bumpy roads.
Making sure the vehicle remains stable when driven in extreme conditions. If you don't do that, lawyers follow.
Noise, vibration, harshness, getting rid of squeaks and rattles.
Verifying that all of the electronics work properly in every conceivable circumstance.
The door latches and locks have to survive thousands of openings and slammings and lockings. Cold, hot, wet, freeze/thaw, car washes, dust storms. It all has to work.
The wiper motor and linkage has to survive thousands of hours of use, wet, dry, frozen solid with its output seized because the windscreen is frozen, etc.
The heater has to work in Alaska. The defogger has to work in Maine. The air conditioning has to work in Arizona.
And on, and on, and on.
This vehicle might classify as a motorcycle, but he wants it to have airbags and have good collision performance. Means even though the government might not require it ... it has to be tested. The airbags have to fire off when they should. And they have to NOT fire off when they shouldn't - like when you go over the worst bumpy road you can imagine.
It's expensive, it's time-consuming, and unless you want a lot of really angry customers, expensive warranty claims, and the bad reputation that follows ... you have to do it.
Established vehicle manufacturers can short-cut some of the real-world testing because they have the experience to know what's needed, new vehicles are usually built on a lot of existing components that are already validated (engines, transmissions, wiper motors, door latches, etc) and they have test rigs that can put the vehicle through a lot of abuse in a shorter time.
This thing is being developed from square one (which I think is a big mistake), which means they can't short-cut it.
