Slate Still Hasn’t Set the Final Price for its Affordable EV Pickup

[-]

alfredadamski@reddit

My idea would be to also create a much simpler version for emerging / developing countries on the African and Asian continent. It would be also great to produce a version with a solid and simple diesel / petrol engine. If Slate were a Chinese company, they certainly could produce a very simple version for way below 20k EUR/USD, perhaps even below 15k EUR/USD. In it's current form it looks a more lifestyle vehicle.

By the way, Jay Leno test drove the Slate recently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6_9_HHLOSY

[-]

rankinfile@reddit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Hilux_Champ

~14k to 20k USD in Thailand depending on build.

[-]

alfredadamski@reddit

I am aware of the Toyota Hilux Champ. That's what I had in mind when I suggested a simpler version of the Slate for less sophisticated markets.

[-]

DocPhilMcGraw@reddit

Honestly, if I was them, I would try to go back to the drawing board to make some changes to see if it's at least possible to drop some kind of crate engine into this thing. I think there is definitely a market for a cheap no-nonsense truck, but the people that would want one are not going to want an EV.

Heck, they could even try to sell it as a kit truck. Focus on building the shell and let people put whatever powertrain they want in it instead.

[-]

squarebody8675@reddit

Exactly, I watched the video with jay lenno and thought wow if that was a 3cylinder turbo with a manual I would buy that for $24k

[-]

rankinfile@reddit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Hilux_Champ

~14k to 20k USD in Thailand depending on build.

[-]

acideater@reddit

There is not enough volume to justify that price.

Frankly, a 3 cylinder turbo 2 door base pickup truck should be cheaper than that, but Americans want options and they have accepted expensive cars.

[-]

Lucky_Professional_@reddit

they might be able to do that actually for the next 3 years while the cafe fines are $0. but thats the whole reason this things electric. u cant build an ice vehicle that small anymore without getting put in a higher mpg bracket than a prius.

[-]

demonkeyed@reddit

People say that but many people want this because it a simple little EV truck and there’s nothing like it on the market.

The next cheapest EV truck is like $60k until (if) Ford makes something.

[-]

DocPhilMcGraw@reddit

There isn’t enough people who want a cheap EV truck to scale production to make this venture profitable though. That’s why they would need to revisit the powertrain.

There’s a reason why even Tesla is struggling to create a sub $30k EV.

As far as Ford is concerned, I’ll believe it when I see it but something tells me they will likewise struggle to hit that $30k mark. Much in the same way that they couldn’t keep the Maverick at $20k.

There are also gently used Ford Lightnings for less than $35k on the market right now.

[-]

demonkeyed@reddit

Disagree.

Plenty of people have 2+ cars per household and could certainly have one be a cheap EV truck.

Maybe this isn’t the truck but there are potentially millions of people who would want one.

If Tesla made a truck for entry level it would be Model 3 sized and $40k. They probably still will eventually.

[-]

DocPhilMcGraw@reddit

I hate to break it to you but social media engagement isn’t the same as actual sales.

You can also pay to have bots on your social media or for influencers to advertise for you.

I mean Canoo also had prototypes and social media presence too, but you know what happened there.

[-]

demonkeyed@reddit

I hate to break it to you, ransom guy on Reddit, but you probably aren’t as informed as the people running this company about what will sell.

Canoo was a very different beast. This company has actual backing from investors, former auto execs, and many more functional mules.

[-]

DocPhilMcGraw@reddit

And you think Canoo didn’t have any backing or investors? I think you’re highly misinformed bud. But I guess we shall see right? I mean if you’re right we should see a successful launch by the end of the year, no?

[-]

demonkeyed@reddit

I was very aware of Canoo. There were early warning signs and my insider friends (mostly early Tesla engineers) warned me about the CEO years ago when I was looking at jobs there. The Slate team has a much better reputation and history.

But yes time will tell and I’m always a “show me” person so I’ll patiently wait to see what they can accomplish.

If they ship 1 customer car by the end of 2026 they’re on schedule.

[-]

caterham09@reddit

I think the vehicle is likely dead regardless, but if it's over 25k they should just pack it up.

[-]

sabertoot@reddit

Even at 25k, consumers simply don't want a two door daily. See the Civic, Accord, Wrangler, etc. Two door models make up less than 10% of the market today, and most of that 10% are sports cars.

[-]

Vibingcarefully@reddit

Why do you say that? You write it and expect it to be truth. many of us are fine with the two doors. You talk about the "market" but this hasn't been marketed yet.

[-]

Topikk@reddit

In the extreme off chance incentives come back and they can get this thing to consumers around $20K, I think it's compelling as a 3rd vehicle for families, which was common use pickup use case for decades.

[-]

trail-g62Bim@reddit

I don't think there are a lot of people that can afford a third vehicle, even at that price. It's one of the reason the swiss-army knife crossovers have become popular. People can't afford extra vehicles to fill niches.

[-]

chiggenNuggs@reddit

Yeah this was only the case when a new base model 2 door pickup was sub-$20k and a working, used pickup could be found for only a few thousand. Even then, the extended and four door cabs were more popular with households. Two door pickups have always catered to work/commercial applications.

Either way, only high-income households can afford tertiary/niche vehicles anymore, and if they do buy one, it’s not going to be a stripped down EV pickup with zero options.

The only legit use-case I’m convinced of at this point is for a local delivery or service truck. When a business wants a small truck for literally as little cost possible, this might be an attractive option when you consider total cost of ownership/operation.

[-]

Hinagea@reddit

You're right and I think most people are missing this point. It's a work truck first and foremost. A truck that isn't trying to roleplay as a semi or a minivan. It's pure utility first and foremost. Utility doesn't equal luxury or niche use cases as people seem to think

[-]

sabertoot@reddit

Agreed, but I bet at that price some people would swallow the inconvenience of a two-door as a second car.

[-]

NathenJee@reddit

Most people will probably choose the Telos truck simply because its 4 doors.

[-]

Mend1cant@reddit

That wasn’t very common, and only among people with enough disposable income to take on another vehicle, and also at a time when trucks just weren’t anything more than for work. Why would I want a truck as a third vehicle when I can get an f-150 specd to be almost luxurious as a daily driver. One less car payment, one less car to pay insurance on, registration and taxes, etc.

[-]

Topikk@reddit

I have no desire to daily a truck, but it would be great to have one around.

[-]

Slideways@reddit

Wait until you hear about buying used.

[-]

Topikk@reddit

Please tell me where I can get a used EV truck that takes up as little garage space as a Slate.

[-]

Mend1cant@reddit

Let’s say you have a $30k car for practicality, now add in a (at best) $25k truck that’s just lying around not used.

Or, you spend $50k on an F-150 hybrid that gets around 25 mpg combined, roomier and more comfortable than the base trim civic, and only takes up a single parking space.

The slate makes some amount of sense for corporate fleets, but it just doesn’t fill the need for a second vehicle when the total cost is more than that of just having a mid size truck instead of two vehicles.

Smart would have been doing it the Rivian method, with an out-the-door small truck or a hatchback. The modular customization is going to be used by single digit people, but you could absolutely convince buyers to look at a basic electric hatch back from the factory.

[-]

Topikk@reddit

I think I already mentioned that I don't want to daily a truck. It's not a cost thing, I'm a car enthusiast and I get zero enjoyment from driving pickups.

[-]

LewdDarling@reddit

That's such a niche market though. Why buy this over a retired work truck for 10k? If it's going to be a 3rd vehicle that's not getting a lot of miles put on it then you negate the advantages of an EV. And the base model slate legitimately less equipped than most fleet spec trucks.

[-]

TurkeyBLTSandwich@reddit

This exactly, American incomes haven't kept up with a "2 car garage" for about 10 years now.

So if you're dropping some serious dough on a vehicle it's going to have to have multi utility. No more "fun weekend cars" so a coupe or two door isn't going to fit the bill, especially when you have drop off or something else to do.

That's why everyone and their mom is getting a 4 door SUV, it has practicality and utility. A sedan sure is great on fuel but it's ultimately a tool used for transportation with not a ton of cargo room vs a suv or cuv.

So as much as I'd love a pick up, if i had to choose between this and a hybrid maverick USED for about 10k more? I think i'd get the maverick IF I HAD TO CHOOSE.

But since we're in r/cars and i'm semi adjacent to personal finance, i'll just drive my old sedan until the repairs catch up to a down payment on a new toyota camry....

[-]

Skensis@reddit

Actually, we have been seeing more households with 3 cars over the past decade.

https://www.bts.gov/browse-statistical-products-and-data/info-gallery/share-households-vehicle-available-1960-2022

[-]

openmind365@reddit

Kids are still living at home with their parents past the 25-30 year mark than ever before as well. Keep that in mind.

[-]

JillierHaroldLamaar@reddit

That doesn't mean a whole lot without knowing which vehicles. I own three registered vehicles and the KBB value of all of them might break $30,000 if I'm lucky.

[-]

guyfromnebraska@reddit

https://www.bts.gov/browse-statistical-products-and-data/info-gallery/share-households-vehicle-available-1960-2022

That's gotta be due to children living at home much longer, and them needing their own vehicle to get commute to work/school.

[-]

FencyMcFenceFace@reddit

American incomes haven't kept up with a "2 car garage" for about 10 years now.

See I disagree here.

They absolutely can. The problem is they want all the luxury features and shit they don't need, so the out the door price ends up being $50k+ for a giant truck/SUV when they easily could have gotten a CUV or sedan for the family stuff and then a maverick for the hauling. Or getting a small commuter for their office job instead of a giant SUV. You get the idea.

Car buying is more about status though, which is why fewer people do that. But it is absolutely doable for households.

[-]

-seabass@reddit

Especially because the base maverick which is not nearly as stripped-down as the slate starts under $30k. The slate needs to be $17k.

[-]

RabidBlackSquirrel@reddit

My 1999 Ranger was ~$11k new in 1999. It's pretty well the full stripper spec, crank windows, no AC, rubber floors, single cab. Did option 4x4 weirdly but that's about it.

That's somewhere around $22,000 today. That's where the slate needs to be, bring back that entry level market floor that just doesn't exist any more in the truck space.

You can look up old Monroney stickers for fancy late 90s trucks and do an inflation conversion and compared today, it's fairly similar pricing. It's not even so much that trucks got more expensive as much as the entry level market evaporated and we all got poorer as our wages inflated away.

[-]

dantose@reddit

About the same, but a 2005 Corolla, crank windows, stick shift, 12k then, 21k equivalent today. I'd pay 25k to make it electric in a heartbeat though. If they can hit that number, I could see it being a winner if it's pushing 30, there's just too much competition there.

[-]

lellololes@reddit

I wonder what the ratio of basic V6 (or equivalent) half ton pickups is today when compared to 10, 20, and 30 years ago.

They've turned into luxury vehicles and status symbols.

[-]

throwawayainteasy@reddit

They've turned into luxury vehicles and status symbols.

Turned into? Bro, there have been "luxury" trim trucks for decades.

The 2005 King Ranch 4x4 F150 had an MSRP of something $40,000. That would be $65-70,000 today, which is right about in line King Ranch model today (2026 MSRP of about $66,000).

[-]

lellololes@reddit

Yes. And what is the ratio of King Ranch spec trucks to a standard cab / base engine model in 2005 versus today? Read my comments more carefully.

[-]

throwawayainteasy@reddit

The XLT (mid range) has been their best selling trim forever, with the other trims being roughly a bell curve around that.

So, about the same, actually.

[-]

Tambushi@reddit

I can’t believe there are people that buy domestic brand pickups for over $100k. I see so many of them every day.

[-]

FSUfan35@reddit

very few people are spending over 100k on a truck. 70-80k? Yes. 100k no

[-]

opeth10657@reddit

I wonder what the ratio of basic V6 (or equivalent) half ton pickups is today

Basically the only place you find them are in fleet trucks. The base model Silverados don't offer one, only the turbo 4, and it's a $2k option to upgrade to the 5.3 on a minimum $45k truck. If you're paying that much, you might as well get the v8

[-]

lellololes@reddit

The turbo 4 counts as a V6 equivalent here. It is perhaps better than the V6 from an output perspective at least.

The base models exist but people keep paying more and more for the loaded ones.

[-]

Yankee831@reddit

While I don’t disagree (we have a Maverick) if you watch the CEO interviews it’s pretty clear the price point is only one aspect of their pitch. The simplicity and customizability appeals to hobbyists that have been priced or tech/skilled out of cars. I can’t afford to do really any serious modifications to our Maverick. Body panels, window regulators, complex hardware/features, needing a full shop to really modify a vehicle.

Back in the day a backyard mechanic could hack their car together their taste. The hobby is dying as people are just not interested in diving into a modern vehicles guts for some LOL’s. I have an 88 F150 i can do whatever I want to without having an auto tech background. The Slate is trying to appeal to that market which has been mostly left with older and older used cars.

I think it’s an admirable goal, I like it but I also don’t personally want one. I think a lot of the SXS, Sidewinder, spyder crowd came about for similar reasons.

[-]

-seabass@reddit

But the customization for the slate is what, a bed cap and some body panels? What customization is available on the slate that you couldn’t do for similar money on your maverick?

[-]

Yankee831@reddit

Basically everything. Like a cap is several thousand dollars, the body is angular so a wrap isn’t straight forward, Body panels are not built to be just popped on and off without fitting, wiring is integrated into the doors so can’t easily take off doors, ect. I’d say the Slate to the Maverick is like a SXS to a jeep.

I’m much more capable of modifying my vehicle than the average Joe. Not bragging, no shade thrown. Just I grew up with a dad and family that worked on our own stuff, built stuff, figured things out, ect. I’m privileged with the people and tools to do things like that. But the juice is just not worth the squeeze. It’s not a lot of fun to dive into modifying modern vehicles on your own dime. I can see that angle being a real benefit to Slate and could see paying Maverick money for.

[-]

-seabass@reddit

Are you under the impression that the bed cap on the skate is going to be cheap? They haven’t announced pricing, but the “SUV package” is going to be several thousand dollars, I’m sure. You can get a maverick bed cap for $2600. Even less if you get a soft-sided one.

I just feel like all this talk of customization is just pretending a bug is a feature.

[-]

PlatinumElement@reddit

The main difference is with the Slate, it’s not just a cap, it literally turns it into an SUV with an interior, a rear seat, and bulkhead removal.

[-]

-seabass@reddit

Right but the maverick already has 4 doors and a back seat by default.

[-]

Snoo93079@reddit

Which would be literally impossible.

I dunno, I think there's a chance. /r/cars tends to dance between enthusiast and "everything had to be rational".

This offers a niche that some may find appealing.

[-]

-seabass@reddit

I just feel like people who want something as basic and stripped out as the slate want to pay quite a lot less than the cost of a base maverick, not just a couple thousand less. And they probably are not the type of people who have charging at home, making gasoline even more appealing. I feel like a small, super basic gas truck could be made and sold for under $20k. The Nissan Versa was still in the teens base price like a year or two ago, and I imagine a similar amount of parts and labor could be used to make a mini truck.

[-]

Snoo93079@reddit

I think people are ignoring the "I get to fuck with my car" option this provides that literally no new vehicle today does.

I can see this being a bit of meme car for 20 somethings

[-]

Spidaaman@reddit

Isn’t that aspect pretty much the same thing scion tried to do?

[-]

Snoo93079@reddit

While I recall Scion selling affordable cars geared towards 20-somethings I don't recall them being modular

[-]

DankChunkyButtAgain@reddit

Also most importantly Ford is a recognizable global brand with a very robust service network.

What is slates service network going to be? Random repair shops that pay amazon money for a certificate?

[-]

Sensitive_Box_@reddit

I think thats what it actually is. I watched a Jay Leno video on this truck just last night and they mentioned it.

[-]

deleted_by_reddit@reddit

[removed]

[-]

AutoModerator@reddit

No rage bait, memes, trolling, copypasta, or low-quality joke posts or comments.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[-]

PlatinumElement@reddit

I miss normalizing two door dailies since the vast majority of daily driving is done with only one person in the car. Everytime I end up with a four door daily, I just never fall in love with it and within a couple years go right back to a two door. I have a feeling I’d absolutely love my Civic Type R if it were a coupe instead of trading it in on a GR Supra in April.

[-]

Logitech4873@reddit

Why would a utility vehicle be a daily driver?

[-]

trail-g62Bim@reddit

Because there aren't a lot of people these days that can afford a non-daily driver. If you want to sell in a very small volume, you can get away with that, but not if you want to sell in any real numbers.

[-]

Logitech4873@reddit

I mean in most of the world, pick-up trucks and vans are for commercial use – not personal use.

[-]

Shmokesshweed@reddit

In America, we like to buy F-150s just in case we need to haul 20 4x8 sheets of plywood and tow 13,000 pounds on any given day where we commute to the office, grocery store, and little Timmy's soccer practice.

[-]

Logitech4873@reddit

Yeah but in practice you usually just buy trucks and never take the tonneau cover off :p

[-]

Nickelnuts@reddit

The guy infront of me at the GM parts counter was ordering a rubber bed mat to protect his spray in bed liner from scratches......

[-]

trail-g62Bim@reddit

Did he say that or did you assume? Most people get the rubber mat to keep things from sliding around.

[-]

Nickelnuts@reddit

Old guy in a Denali, literally said he was getting it to protect his spray in bed liner from scratches. Asked the parts counter guy if someone could lift it in for him.

Lol I love the downvotes. Didn't mean to offend the guys that just put golf clubs back there and nothing else 🤣

[-]

Xbc1@reddit

They didn't say that and they didn't assume. Just typical reddit making shit up.

[-]

Shmokesshweed@reddit

😆😆😆😆

[-]

sabertoot@reddit

What real "utility" does a regular person need that isn't solved with an SUV? People don't have third cars anymore. The cars they have need to carry people.

[-]

Skensis@reddit

Third cars are more common now then at any point since we've been tracking.

https://www.bts.gov/browse-statistical-products-and-data/info-gallery/share-households-vehicle-available-1960-2022

[-]

sabertoot@reddit

That doesn't tell the full story. What percentage of that is teenagers with cars, or a relative in the household? Both of those have grown substantially, especially as home sizes grow. By third cars, we typically mean an additional non-daily vehicle.

[-]

q0vneob@reddit

Well its really not that hard to understand. American trucks are nice enough to be a daily driver, can fit the family and all your weekend trip/hobby/project stuff. They're practical enough to be an only vehicle in a land where roads are big and people have yards.

[-]

NathenJee@reddit

They also don't wont a truck with wind up windows and plastic body panels.

[-]

CTMechE@reddit

I agree. Some do like them, but it's a very limited number. I want to like the Slate, and I like the idea of the simplicity it embraces, but I'm just not gonna be buying a 2 door small pickup at any fair price, much less the suggested mid 20s price point.

My general take is that a BIG portion of why pickups are so popular is because they offer the potential (and the image) to "do it all." Carry people comfortably, haul cargo, tow heavy stuff, and handle off road/snow with 4x4. 4 door pickups passed 2 door models in sales numbers back in 2004.

But so far, the Slate is a tiny bed, 2 door 2 seater 2wd vehicle. It can't "do it all" and won't sway very many people who want a pickup, and those who didn't want one certainly won't be moved by the SUV kit for even more money.

[-]

sabertoot@reddit

Agreed, I think they would have had a better shot by trying to make a cheap Rivian R3 competitor.

[-]

CTMechE@reddit

Yup. And a no frills interior, composite bodied vehicle that meets modern safety standards would be great to get for a spare car my 15 yo might be able to drive next year. But it's gotta have 4 doors and 4-5 seats and secure cargo storage.

[-]

TunakTun633@reddit

It basically has to be, no? Their initial price target was $27.5K before government incentives.

[-]

blainestang@reddit

Sort of. The original price target was <$20k after $7500 credit.

Even if they could have sold it for $23k, for instance, why wouldn’t they charge $27,500 which results in $20k to consumers when that’s already a really strong price for any new car?

I’m not saying they WILL be able to prove it lower than $27k, but we don’t know what they could have sold it for without the credit just based on what they would have sold it for with the credit.

[-]

BrandonNeider@reddit

This is why these credits are silly. If they end up selling the car for 20-25k it shows that the $7,500 was just artificially increasing the price.

[-]

Spidaaman@reddit

Doesn’t seem like you understand how a manufacturer incentive works

[-]

wtcnbrwndo4u@reddit

God forbid the incentive gives the manufacturer an incentive.

[-]

JustThall@reddit

Profit is evil - reddit joe

[-]

GuyMcTest@reddit

Didn’t that happen towards the end of the original Bolt? 7500 credit expired and the next model year Bolt was 6000 less

[-]

BrandonNeider@reddit

yep

[-]

MNAAAAA@reddit

I don't understand this line of argument. If they sell for 20-25 and survive longer term, then yeah, you could say that. But not much can be discerned in that direction when only considering the starting price in like the first couple years.

[-]

Paxa@reddit

Yeah? You think your choice of a car wouldn't be affected if oil and gas in the US didn't have massive subsidies and it cost $15 a gallon?

[-]

krische@reddit

Well, I mean that was the purpose of the credits. They were there to let the manufacturer charge more for the vehicle so it could be profitable.

[-]

ElegantBiscuit@reddit

That's also assuming that $20k with credits was ever going to happen in the first place, and I'd bet that even if the credit was still around, it was never going to. Their primary vehicle is an ultra compact 2 door pickup that was designed to appeal to extreme cheapskates, basically a segment that everyone has abandoned because of margin and low demand and catering to the most difficult of customers. They would have nowhere near the sales volume to make back the capital costs of setting up production through such slim margins, and there is no way that the price wouldn't have been jacked up. And as it stands you can already get a 2-3 year old maverick for mid 20s. The business case for slate was always shaky at best, but take away the tax credit and I just don't think there is one anymore.

[-]

pisspeeleak@reddit

Tbh I think the business case for it could have worked pretty well. 20k and no gas bill is actually an insane value proposition for a recent grad or someone who just needs A car and doesn’t care what it is, or someone who wants a fun project for the sake of a fun project

[-]

jrileyy229@reddit

"we're working with our suppliers to find cost savings".... At this point in the game, you can read that as "we are going to cost way more than we promised... Just like everyone in the industry predicted"

[-]

Salty-Dog-9398@reddit

Recent changes to tariffs have blown up the Chinese suppliers that everyone has turned to, but has even blown up the USMCA sourcing. It’s a nightmare.

[-]

Dr_Disaster@reddit

Granted, Slate was trying to hit this price before the t-words severely impacted the cost of auto manufacturing in the US. Car makers don’t get much margin to play with in order to hit consumer price targets. 15-25% hike in costs can kill a vehicle very easily.

[-]

wwiybb@reddit

Yeah. Pretty much this, the tariff stuff probably wrecked this company unfortunately. I bet the area in Indiana where it was going to be built was going to benefit.

These would be good for things like part runners for dealerships/parts stores etc. I would love to replace my UTV that I use for truck type things but I need something awd for the winter

[-]

Dr_Disaster@reddit

I think they would be good for young drivers too. The generation doesn’t really care about cars, don’t really drive much, and certainly don’t manage maintenance. As a parent, if I had to get my son something to drive around in, a Slate would sound like a pretty good option. I don’t have to worry about how he’d ruin it being an inexperienced driver. The body is plastic and panels can be easily replaced if it gets damaged. As he gets older and his life changes, I can add the conversion for the hardtop and extra seats.

I think this was Slate’s target audience as their marketing seems very youth-targeted to me.

[-]

jrileyy229@reddit

I'm sure trade changes and EV rebates absolutely crushed them... I don't think anyone would deny that.

[-]

ScoffingYayap@reddit

I'm setting my prediction at $35000

[-]

metengrinwi@reddit

They’re going to just find a way to import it from China that skirts tariffs and meet the price target. That’s how Amazon works.

[-]

powerplay6699@reddit

youre right but i kinda want them to fail just so we can stop hearing about "affordable " evs that arent

[-]

lumpialarry@reddit

The Slate proves that internet commentariat doesn’t really want a small simple truck like an early 90s ranger. It really just wants a truck with an early 90s ranger price tag.

[-]

ShazbotSimulator2012@reddit

I mean I did want a cheap small simple truck so I bought one. It's 20 years old and I could buy three more for what this is going to end up costing.

When it was being pitched as a below 20k truck I was interested. At closer to 30k it's a lot harder to justify.

[-]

CurrentCondition6978@reddit

'All I want is a simple V8 pick-up for $20k"

"with a 10 speed auto"

"and air suspension "

"4wd of course"

[-]

Lucky_Professional_@reddit

100pct that and people dont want to admit that ev's are just more expensive to build than ice vehicles. on top of that, its a startup and us made. i think this truck is cool, i like the idea (do not like the bezos involvement), but this thing is probably gonna end up close to 30k with how little were hearing about pricing.

[-]

Nefilim314@reddit

And always talk about what they could get in the used market like it’s a fair comparison.

Like no shit you can get more car for an equivalent price in the used car market. It’s not like a used cheap truck wouldn’t be even cheaper than a used overpriced hatchback. You can buy a used Nissan Versa for a song, but no one talks about that.

[-]

trail-g62Bim@reddit

People don't want simple, cheap vehicles. They want luxury vehicles for cheap.

Every person who says they want a cheap vehicle always seems to have that "one thing" that is stopping them from buying the cheap vehicle.

[-]

GT3Racer@reddit

Difference for me is that fact its an EV and there's obviously no manual. Mini trucks with a 4 banger and a manual are awesome.

[-]

Dazzling-Rooster2103@reddit

They gotta hurry up man.

Especially with Ford targeting $30k for their EV Mid size truck that should be coming out next year, and I am sure that will have way more base features.

[-]

AmNoSuperSand52@reddit

Also a Ford Maverick hybrid can be had for $2k more than the speculated $25k price tag for the Slate

And the Maverick has back seats, speakers, powered windows, double the towing capacity, and can go 550 miles on a tank

[-]

RiftHunter4@reddit

I thought this was a typical reddit lie, but yeah. You can get a base Maverick XL on steelies for about $27k. MSRP is $30k, but they're discounted for some reason.

That said, I admit that the Slate sounds like the more fun option. The Maverick is very much a typical Ford pickup in its design. The Slate is designed to be DIY'd from factory. The Slate is more appealing from a build perspective, though, that is admittedly niche.

I could see Slate picking up clients who want a fun EV for around town. Its cooler than a typical Model 3. I think it makes some sense as a 2nd car.

[-]

Darshadow6@reddit

Yeah but the base battery is only 150 miles estimated which means probably closer to 100. Which limits the use of it pretty hard. And the extended range probably puts you at model 3 price. And you can diy almost any car fairly easy not to mention if you modified your car to have normal options you would probably be over the cost of similar vehicles.

[-]

InsertBluescreenHere@reddit

Yea i love the looks of the slate. Reminds me of the square body s10 or squarebody rangers

[-]

PlatinumElement@reddit

Yep, plus the Slate has a WAY cooler packaging layout. Stubby two-door truck or Stubby two-door SUV goes way harder than a “dropping your kids off at school then being an uber-driver” four door layout.

[-]

djimboboom@reddit

I want a ford maverick so bad, but my local ford dealers markups are insane. Wish Ford would start selling direct to consumers.

[-]

Beardedwrench115@reddit

Not to mention a massive network for dealers and aftermarket suppliers for parts and repair

[-]

jaraldo3@reddit

From what I understand, they are making most of it open source so any shop that has access to something like Alldata can work on it.

At least that’s what they said on Jay Leno’s Garage.

[-]

haudi@reddit

What good is that if you can't get parts easily? Ford has a huge parts and service distribution network. What does Slate have?

[-]

unmistakablyvague@reddit

Definitely needed for inevitable record breaking recalls!

[-]

trail-g62Bim@reddit

This is the key the "this is perfect for fleet vehicles" people are missing. When you buy fleet vehicles, you want to make sure you can get it repaired ASAP. Last thing you want is someone at work breathing down your neck because a vehicle is out of commission and you can't get it fixed, especially if you are the one that made the decision to switch from Ford/GM to a company no one has heard of.

[-]

Beardedwrench115@reddit

Exactly! With fleets it's not IF they will break, but WHEN. and how long it takes to fix.

And don't get me wrong, I don't want slate to fail. I like their 2 dood SUV, but can't help but see issues.

[-]

trail-g62Bim@reddit

Yep. And somebody at each company is making that decision. We all just want to do our job and go home without issue. Why put your neck on the line to switch to slate?

Only big advantage is the press release saying you are all electric and I don't think that gets you anything these days. Maybe that got you some good PR 10-15 years ago but not now.

[-]

Beardedwrench115@reddit

I think a small business might get some good points for using one, or maybe a big fleet that can afford to lose some money. But I don't see these being super popular. I think they should focus more on the SUVs and try to fill in that market.

[-]

Mend1cant@reddit

I could really only see it for a business that has a larger campus. My company would find a use for it, but at the same time a basic side by side off roader works even better since we have dirt and snow to deal with.

[-]

Beardedwrench115@reddit

I can see something like an auto parts store that delivers to local shops using one. Most of the local advanced auto and O'Reilly's use Mavericks and small vans like Nissan nv200s.

[-]

Msteele315@reddit

Except for me "dealer network vs. Right to self repair" has me leaning towards the Slate.

[-]

Beardedwrench115@reddit

I'm all for Right to repair, but that doesn't mean anything if slate goes under and parts become unavailable.

[-]

nicerakc@reddit

Dealers suck, but I’d take FORScan + the huge amount of parts and knowledge publicly available over Slate.

[-]

enfuego138@reddit

Right now the case I see for getting this over a Maverick hybrid is that you can’t find a Maverick hybrid because they’ve all been sold.

[-]

Shmokesshweed@reddit

Nah. They make 150k a year now. Supply is there.

[-]

RedditPoster05@reddit

Are most of them hybrids? Didn’t afford do away with the standard hybrid option and make the gas only the standard.

[-]

Shmokesshweed@reddit

Still mostly hybrid.

[-]

demonkeyed@reddit

Or you want an EV

[-]

enfuego138@reddit

I’ve got an EV. Need to update my flair.

[-]

demonkeyed@reddit

I meant people in general, but congrats.

[-]

Jack_Tors@reddit

Is that still the case? I know the hybrids were difficult to find initially, but I thought they had caught up and hybrids are readily available now? Search engines show 14k new hybrids on lots - or is your point that most of them are sold?

[-]

demonkeyed@reddit

Maverick hybrid for $27k?

[-]

StockAL3Xj@reddit

New hybrid Mavericks start at $28k MSRP but maybe you could find them for less.

[-]

demonkeyed@reddit

Wow these have come down in price I guess. When I looked a few years ago they were more and dealers were optioning and marking them up a lot.

[-]

NathenJee@reddit

Well the Ford emblem on the hood reduces it to junk status. So prices will inevitably drop.

[-]

RevvCats@reddit

Most mavericks you’ll see on the lot are in the low 30s, it’s hard to find a no options base, but yeah for 7-8k extra you get a lot more capability. For 35k you can get an AWD maverick with the 4k tow package.

[-]

SoupPot23@reddit

My problem is that 35k can buy a lot of truck, so it's a harder sell at that point for a compromised unibody-style vehicle.

[-]

aoeudhtns@reddit

You had to really deal hunt to avoid a markup. I was able to get an XLT hybrid, luxury package, 360 suite, and a few other options like hard cover for $33k out the door. But that was more the exception than the norm during peak demand.

[-]

Lucky_Professional_@reddit

ford said the maverick was gonna be 20k, what makes u think that truck will actually be 30k? theyre all just gonna get more and more expensive.

[-]

rugbyj@reddit

First one to blink really though isn't it. If Slate up the price Ford will just up theirs.

[-]

munche@reddit

Ford targeted $39,995 for the Lightning and go look up the starting MSRP of one of those

[-]

flavorburst@reddit

I was pricing used F150 Lightnings today, man, there are some really good deals out there even for the extended range model with lower miles. I saw one locally that was a 2023 Lariat with 30k miles for $34k which is pretty compelling.

[-]

leedle1234@reddit

From the way they've been talking about accessories and aftermarket I think they are banking on that being their money maker. Sell the vehicle at basically no margin and make the money on upgrades and bringing people to ecosystem. Sell slate brand lifestyle accessories, bed campers, roof racks, push bars, auxiliary lights.

I can see that working, it being a 2 door makes it a niche enthusiast product to begin with. It definitely interests me more than a maverick or even Tacoma/Frontier/Ranger simply due to the styling.

Everyone is criticizing it saying it won't sell well, but were they really claiming it would be a crazy volume seller and take large market share from pickup competitors? I feel like people would be cross shopping this as a lifestyle or second vehicle like wranglers, miatas, mustangs, not trucks.

[-]

Car-face@reddit

Sell the vehicle at basically no margin to get people in the door and make the money on upgrades and bringing people to ecosystem. Sell slate brand lifestyle accessories, bed campers, roof racks, push bars, auxiliary lights.

The problem is that you'll be able to get a bunch of shit that isn't Slate brand that does the same thing, and the Slate brand has no cachet and no justification for a premium other than being "official".

It's a bit of a catch-22 - they're trying to make the car appeal to people who like customisation and are willing to do it themselves, but the sort of people who want to customise and do it themselves are less likely to just shop a catalogue and buy the official part. They're more willing to try something different, cheaper, and outside the "Slate ecosystem", and that kills the strategy of relying on aftermarket parts making up for the lack of margin on the actual vehicle.

[-]

sackbomb@reddit

A cachet-22, if you will.

[-]

FesteringNeonDistrac@reddit

Yeah I was noodling around with the configurator and it seems like this might be an option for somebody that wants a wrangler but can't afford it.

I'd probably be pretty excited for it if I didn't have my keitruck.

[-]

Kermut@reddit

That seems like a really weird cross-shop unless you are looking for a small two door truck-shaped object…

[-]

FesteringNeonDistrac@reddit

I mean they config one on their website without doors, a roll bar over the back and seats in the bed as an example. If you want alfresco motoring with your friends, it fits the bill. It's very wrangler-esque. Considering the snow pile at the mall is as far off road most go, it doesn't need to be "trail rated"

[-]

Kermut@reddit

No that’s fair, I didn’t realize the doors (and top?) come off

[-]

Legend13CNS@reddit

I'd probably be pretty excited for it if I didn't have my kei truck

That was the entire reason I was excited in the first place. I would love to have what is essentially a kei truck (in spirit, not size) that's capable of doing modern speeds on the interstate. My friend has a true kei truck, and it really feels like you're taking your life into your own hands once you cross 80 km/h.

[-]

FesteringNeonDistrac@reddit

Fear of death is part of the charm. That and a bed that you can lay a 4x8 sheet flat in, but yeah, it's a tin can.

[-]

RunnerLuke357@reddit

You can find decent condition used Wranglers in any configuration you'd want for much less than a Slate will cost. This is for a different audience, the Wrangler doesn't even come with crank windows anymore.

[-]

GodsFavoriteDegen@reddit

Aren't most Wrangler buyers Jeep People®? Shaking them out of their tree is going to be a big ask.

My perception might be skewed by the Jeep People® that I personally know. They all have a Wrangler for a summer daily, and a Cherokee for a winter daily, and a Comanche for buying mulch, and a second Comanche for when the first Comanche breaks down, and an extra Cherokee that's pretty rusty but it has a great interior that they'll swap into the first Cherokee if they ever get around to it, and a hoard of Jeep parts in their basement that they didn't really need but they got a great deal on at the swap meet and hey you never know when you might need a spare grille or a set of wheels. Jeep People®.

[-]

Looptydude@reddit

I'm interested because I average less than 20 miles a day, and am not interested in most of the features and tech in modern cars. I love to tinker, refurbish, and make things, and loading lumber and projects in my impala police car sucks because the back seat is meant to not fold down for obvious reasons. If it hits the 25k price point, I will definitely be in the market.

[-]

C0git0@reddit

I’m still hopeful. Leno seemed excited about them when he took one out for a drive. Exactly what I need for a cheap around town truck to run errands.

[-]

withoutapaddle@reddit

He twice pointed out all the rattles and creaks. Mr Regular also sat in one and said it felt like the crappiest interior he's ever seen (I think he said something like "worse than the worst rental car you've ever been in").

I really like the idea of this vehicle A LOT, but I'm afraid people won't settle for hugely lower quality and tons of missing features to save 10% vs something like a Maverick.

I mean, the panels were visibly misaligned on the unit they customized and brought to a huge video shoot for Jay Leno.

I think people are underestimating how many corners are being cut here to make the cheapest small truck. I suspect it'll be like the cyber truck, where some owners adore it and some regret it, but it'll fail to find a large enough market because it'll barely be cheaper than much more fully featured vehicles.

[-]

Nacho_Mommas@reddit

I also have a 2017 GTI and am looking on getting a newer used GTI or maybe a Golf R within a couple years. If this Slate actually takes off and the quality is good, I might go that route instead if I can push myself to go the EV route.

[-]

withoutapaddle@reddit

I think it would be hard to go from a GTI to a stripped out economy mini truck. I added an F-150 to my stable, and even being 3 years newer than the GTI, it feels noticeably less premium, with lower quality materials, speakers, screen, etc. The Slate will feel pretty low quality on the interior, and will feel pretty slow too, being 600lbs heavier and 30hp less than a GTI.

[-]

youknow99@reddit

If it was genuinely cheap, all of that would be ok. But at $30k? Hell no.

[-]

withoutapaddle@reddit

Yep. It looks like you're getting $20k of value when you compare it to what you get for $30-35k from others.

[-]

KarmaticEvolution@reddit

He was also somewhat excited about Canoo…these companies just seem to get startup capital and perish. Let’s see if Aptera ever comes to market after 10 years.

[-]

rapzeh@reddit

The problem is, it looks like it might not even be cheap.

[-]

jrileyy229@reddit

I think you're missing the point... 20k entry level price point is gone. 30k even seems optimistic now

[-]

ChicSheikh@reddit

Gotta be a slow news day if they're reporting on stuff that hasn't happened.

Next up: Mary Barra still hasn't retired from GM, and in a shocker, Honda still hasn't revived the CRX!

[-]

ikilledtupac@reddit

We will never see that thing on the road.

[-]

trail-g62Bim@reddit

I think it will make it out. There will be an initial rush from the people that really, really want one and then it will die out.

[-]

Nacho_Mommas@reddit

I like the car I just don't know if I'm ready for an EV. I just got done customizing one online and I like the SUV fastback. I really hope this takes off and goes one for more than a couple years. I'm not an early adopter so if I ever to decide to jump into an EV and want to get a Slate, it probably wouldn't be for at least until they are out for 3 years.

[-]

Skensis@reddit

Yup, there is a certain type of person, especially in my area that will love this car and rave about it.

But I don't think there are enough of them to support such a truck at scale.

[-]

UnusualHound@reddit

The type of person in my area this truck would be perfect for will not buy this truck because their 2003 Tacoma still has another 20 years left in it.

[-]

mushy-shart-walk@reddit

Like the prelude.

[-]

DocPhilMcGraw@reddit

There are people who thought the same of Canoo.

[-]

Jack_Tors@reddit

Definitely a niche vehicle; they are hoping for a core "diy" group to embrace it. It's a neat idea if you can deal with the limited range.

[-]

Krankjanker@reddit

On the road, likely not.

At airports, large commercial property, manufacturing facilities like Boeing, places where you need to drive stuff around and don't have to meet NHTSA/DOT regulations for safety equipment, I think that will ultimately become their sole market.

[-]

phxees@reddit

This sub has said that about a lot of cars on the road today. They might not be successful mid to long term, but they have the right money behind them to reach customer deliveries.

[-]

KingHauler@reddit

It's not going to be under 30k, it's just not happening.

[-]

Animats@reddit

Slate needs to stop running those fake "Slate is Here" ads. It's not here. It's not shipping. It's not even priced yet.

[-]

gravis1982@reddit

would buy immediate

[-]

sprockets22@reddit

Or I can buy a S10, complete with engine and Tran rebuild, suspension, and interior come in less than 27k

[-]

Salty-Dog-9398@reddit

I know everyone is getting their digs in on the business model, but I think the biggest challenge they will face is the risk that NHTSA decides to regulate manufacturer -offered aftermarket accessories.

Automakers offer lots of aftermarket parts, but nobody offers kits to convert a truck to SUV the way slate plans to. Seems like an egregious workaround for FMVSS. Of course 3rd party aftermarket exists, but it’s cost prohibitive

[-]

markyymark13@reddit

I love the idea of this, an American made electric Kei truck. But in order for that idea to actually work, it needs to be cheap. This thing coming in at over 20K is dead in the water.

[-]

zcar28@reddit

The “internet” keeps comparing the Slate to a Maverick, but I see it more along the lines of a Kei truck. And those are rising in popularity.

[-]

DangerousLiberal@reddit

They need to reduce the battery size much more and get the price to 15-17k to have a chance. I’d drive a used Tacoma.

[-]

KeyboardGunner@reddit

$15k barely gets you a UTV these days. That's just not a realistic price point for a made in america EV.

[-]

solo118@reddit

I still dont see how they get it done under 30k, their accessories/options are not even super expensive so where are they profiting?

[-]

KeyboardGunner@reddit

They probably won't be profitable for years. I'd bet they are banking on batteries and other EV components getting cheaper over time.

[-]

dodecohedron@reddit

Looking at how basic it is, $25k is an insanely high price.

Crank windows and no radio? Cool, I'll take it for $18k or less.

$27k? I can buy a used GTI for that much.

[-]

demonkeyed@reddit

If you’d pay $18k without a stereo or power windows, what would you pay with both of those options?

They may end up optioning power windows or including the kit for like $500. A stereo is awfully cheap…

[-]

dodecohedron@reddit

I wouldn't pay extra for either of those things because I want a vehicle that's $18k. Paying more defeats the purpose. This is a game of "let's get to a price lower than anyone else," because if you play the game of "what is the price when we offer the usual amenities," you lose to conventional automakers.

[-]

demonkeyed@reddit

Which conventional automaker has an ev pickup anywhere near this price range?

[-]

dodecohedron@reddit

By the time this thing drops?

Carmax, lmao. F150 lightnings. They're moving for $40k now - in two years? Easily below 30.

[-]

demonkeyed@reddit

It’ll drop by the end of the year if sold as scheduled.

Comparing it to a used truck isn’t really fair.

[-]

IBelieveInSymmetry11@reddit

The entire used luxury car market and really any well optioned car that's a few years old.

So many people would rather a better anything than a new bargain vehicle. This is why there are almost no low priced cars anymore. The market has spoken.

IMO the flaw in Slate's thinking is that it sees that hole in the market as opportunity when it's just plain dead.

[-]

dodecohedron@reddit

Market doesn't care about fair. Market cares about cheap.

Maybe with new vehicle incentives or new EV credits there might be slightly more of an impetus to buy new, but you're not going to convince me that $25-$27k isn't heinous base price considering you have the (massive) used car market nipping at your heels and it's not even that far behind offerings from conventional automakers.

[-]

demonkeyed@reddit

Sorry dude very few people are cross-shopping used cars with 50k miles of butt sweat vs new ones.

[-]

dodecohedron@reddit

Sorry dude the people dumb enough to be worried about things like "butt sweat" aren't looking at a vehicle without radio or infotainment

[-]

demonkeyed@reddit

Dumb enough to prefer a new car over a used one? Sure.

[-]

mustangfan12@reddit

They need to scrap this project and go back to drawing board

Its just not going to be competitive especially if Ford releases their 30k EV truck

[-]

Nicktyelor@reddit

I'm curious what they could even pivot to instead of this. This cheap-o stripper spec segment is intriguing to me, especially as an effort to fight the ballooning average cost and complexity of new cars. But is this just a dead-end area of the market with unstable, vanishing profit margins? Is a CUV or subcompact worth pursuing instead?

[-]

Legend13CNS@reddit

But is this just a dead-end area of the market with unstable, vanishing profit margins?

I think it will be until the stripper spec EV segment can be made cheaper. Which means either drastic progress in battery tech or massive subsidies return. The Slate is a great idea, but too expensive if they hit their target of $27k (original "$20k" price was $27k minus the now-cancelled EV credit).

What I'd really like to see is an "Americanized Kei Car" for low cost EVs. Rules in a similar spirit of max size, max power, standardized tire size, etc. adjusted for our market needs, and then make them meaningfully cheaper to own/insure. If I ran the zoo, I'd say the Slate is the perfect size/power to template those rules off of.

[-]

Nicktyelor@reddit

This does beg the question imo, why not just make this a stripper ICE truck? Effectively a Kei truck for America. I suppose they'd need to shrink this down further by like 3 feet if it were technically Kei-sized...

I remember hearing last year about (current US admin) encouraging Kei car manufacturing here in the states but don't really know if any concrete steps have been made towards that goal.

[-]

Legend13CNS@reddit

Put over-simply. Real Kei cars in Japan exist because of government policies and cultural differences, not purely the free market. They're far cheaper to register, get inspected, and insure. They're also cheaper to develop due to different safety standards. Gas is expensive (compared to the US), space is at a premium, and owning a car is not even necessary in larger cities. They wouldn't exist as we know them if they weren't a government defined special class of vehicle.

The policy forces in the US push the other way at the moment. CAFE and safety standards indirectly reward making vehicles larger. Consumers don't gain anything by choosing a smaller vehicle when it comes to registration cost or insurance cost. Gas is not that expensive for most. A car is required most places, so people want it to be well equipped. And realistically a copy-paste Kei car/truck wouldn't be up to the tasks of the American market when it comes to speed and safety. That's why I think we need our own formulation of the idea.

[-]

deleted_by_reddit@reddit

[removed]

[-]

AutoModerator@reddit

Political discussion is prohibited. However, if your post involves politics AND CARS, please consider submitting to /r/CarsOffTopic.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[-]

mustangfan12@reddit

If they gave it a reasonable amount of standard features it could do decently as a CUV with a truck bed. But like honestly cheap new EVs are in a weird spot in America.

Something like an Equinox EV or Nissan Leaf isn't very appealing to normies not into EVs, but is appealing to EV enthusiasts not rich enough to get a Tesla or don't want to be associated with Elon. A truck this stripped down will not get non EV enthusiasts into this truck and it likely won't even appeal to EV enthusiasts because its too expensive, stripped down and has poor range. There's not really a market anymore for cheap cars super stripped down because used cars have gotten so reliable.

[-]

Entire-Initiative-23@reddit

I think they just massively fucked up with the design.

The Slate is 175 inches long with a frunk, two seats that are right up against the bulkhead, and a five foot bed.

The Maverick is 200 inches long with five seats and a four and a half foot bed.

A Slate the size of the Maverick would have a frunk, 2 seats, a foot of space behind the seats, and a 6 foot bed. That size and cargo capacity with 1500 pound payload, 4000 pound towing, and 300 mile range is actually a useful light truck.

[-]

HawtGarbage918@reddit

I still suspect the long-term plan here is for Amazon to a) use these as delivery vehicles, or possibly b) develop a business model where people can buy them under favorable terms by agreeing to work for Amazon as a delivery driver. Basically work off the debt of the loan, at least in part.

I'm sure they would couch it in more favorable terms ("Part-time Amazon delivery drivers receive $10,000 off the price, plus 25% off all add-ons!") but it basically amounts to "Oh you're too poor to buy a new car? We have a fix for that..."

[-]

Car-face@reddit

Why would they use these instead of vans?

the largest constraint Amazon have in their delivery vehicles is volume, and these simply don't have the ability to provide that.

Not to mention the security issues that come with a pickup with a bunch of amazon boxes in the back...

[-]

FreshStartLiving@reddit

Even if $25K, that's for a truck with barely 150 mile range. This vehicle should be targeting the price range of a golf cart.

[-]

threesimplewords@reddit

You haven't priced golf carts lately have you? Many carts and especially UTVs are quite literally in this exact price range.

[-]

FreshStartLiving@reddit

Nah...even a 6 seater battery powered cart is $12.5K. UTV, different story.

[-]

Wiggles69@reddit

These things are going to be one of those cars that no one bought new but turn into a super-niche cult favourite.

[-]

CarpeNivem@reddit

Being cheap wasn't their only goal. They also wanted to make it entirely in America, and they wanted to make it "fun and easy" to customize. So if y'all are going to spout off alternatives with similar costs, be sure to include their customization and how much production is domestic, because that's relevant.

[-]

CarpeNivem@reddit

Being cheap wasn't their only goal. They also wanted to make it entirely in America, and they wanted to make it "fun" to customize. If y'all are going to spout off competitors available for less, be sure to include their ease of customization and how much of their production was domestic. Just saying.

[-]

Searching4Scum@reddit

Maybe they're waking up and realizing they should've made it hybrid/erev and are letting the accountants crunch some more numbers

Because EV only, I'm still highly skeptical in a post-tax rebate world

[-]

OldRed91@reddit

I don't necessarily blame Slate. The problem is the price of everything necessary to build a car keeps going up.

[-]

Senior-Damage-5145@reddit

$12k for used ones in a couple years

[-]

blackbirdproductions@reddit

My bet is that it will start at a price similar to the Ford Maverick since it's the closest comparable, and even at that price (maybe $30k) it will likely sell slow since most economy and budget focused buyers will likely go to Toyota or Honda, or even a base Ford Maverick which offers much more than a base model Slate offers.

[-]

Weak-Specific-6599@reddit

Hopefully they can sell to fleet customers. Plenty of city maintenance and local tradesmen could utilize this vehicle. Not saying they would, but they could.

[-]

Shmokesshweed@reddit

Any fleet manager that proposes buying these and taking on an insane amount of risk should be out of a job immediately.

[-]

Weak-Specific-6599@reddit

How is this different from the companies who took the risk of buying Rivian vans at the beginning?

[-]

Shmokesshweed@reddit

What companies are those?

[-]

Weak-Specific-6599@reddit

Google is your friend

[-]

2Drogdar2Furious@reddit

Realistically I'd be a customer at $20k... assuming the towing capacity is close to my Ranger I have now. I dont take it far but it basically only leaves the house when I need my trailer.

[-]

stealthybutthole@reddit

1000lb tow rating lol

[-]

2Drogdar2Furious@reddit

My wifes crossover has a higher rating.... this thing is DOA 😑

[-]

stealthybutthole@reddit

Exactly, this thing is a truck that literally can't do any "truck stuff" except haul a piece of 4x8 plywood in the bed. Which a minivan can also do.

[-]

2Drogdar2Furious@reddit

Pfff, so can a miata https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Ft9es43p2u3y21.jpg

[-]

A-Cheeseburger@reddit

I really want it to succeed man. Surely small cheap cars aren’t that niche? My sense of perspective is off since everyone here in Seattle area has Tesla and Porsche and shit, but I can’t be that small of a market

[-]

CriticG7tv@reddit

New AFFORDABLE EV coming to market!

Price not yet announced

o_o

[-]

deleted_by_reddit@reddit

[removed]

[-]

AutoModerator@reddit

Political discussion is prohibited. However, if your post involves politics AND CARS, please consider submitting to /r/CarsOffTopic.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[-]

Mitchlowe@reddit

This thing is dead on arrival

[-]

HighFiveKoala@reddit

I won't be surprised if they price it at $30,000 and then fail

[-]

SamyboyO6@reddit

They should have put a cheap 4-banger in it and shot for $15-18k starting price

[-]

Mother____Clucker@reddit

Ever since they announced this thing, I've figured it wouldn't sell well. People are constantly talking about how they just want barebones transportation, but sales moving ever up-market proves that the market as a whole just isn't interested. Slate is probably aiming to make money on accessories, but most people aren't going to spend large sums of money on a-la-carte options they have to install themselves.

I imagine it might do well with couriers/delivery drivers in large cities, but it's not going to do well with the general consumer. At least in my opinion.

[-]

grumpypantaloon@reddit

I skipped through the recent Leno video and the lady was very hard to listen to, but from all the words they said without saying much I got to be pretty sure that if it will start at 30k it will be for not many units and not for long. They hinted at discussing not including AC, that tells me they had to do a lot more compromises than planned.

[-]

Scazitar@reddit

I mean as much as I try not to be cynical but something like the Nissan leaf is 29k. More range and it's got all the basic features.

Like yeah it's not a truck but like the value proposition is really going out the window.

[-]

koopa00@reddit

It's an important factor to point out because EV buyers and truck buyers aren't the same group. The majority of all EV truck buyers are new to trucks in general.

[-]

Pdxlater@reddit

Basic features like 4 doors. Also, I’m willing to bet Leafs get a discount off MSRP at the dealer.

[-]

czarfalcon@reddit

Especially given that most people finance their cars. In a world where the difference between a $25k car and a $30k one is a few extra dollars per month, most people are going to choose the option with more creature comforts.

[-]

inoicic@reddit

I’m on the other side of the fence as the majority.

The thing I love about Slate is literally how you can make it yours. You can rip pieces off, add things YOU want, or do nothing at all. I mean they don’t even paint the thing, they rely on wrapping it if you want that option.

Sure, go get a used truck for around the same price with more options if you wish, you wouldn’t be the demographic for this car which a lot of people have trouble seeing.

If this really does come under $30k, I’d consider it as a second car pretty seriously. You can literally let your mind run free and treat this as a blank “Slate” vehicle.

[-]

trail-g62Bim@reddit

This thing makes absolutely no sense for fleet sales. Fleets need repair networks and the people making decisions at companies that buy fleets aren't putting their neck on the line to jump ship from what is working for them to a startup.

[-]

inoicic@reddit

The repair network can be a normal shop down the road… it doesn’t require a dealer. Assuming parts can be available (we aren’t sure of this yet).

And yea I’d argue someone buying fleet sales do require a basic vehicle at a cheap cost. You aren’t dealing with the complexity of an ICE either, so maintenance shouldn’t be wild, if anything. Also… no need for fuel for fleets and minuscule electric costs.

[-]

GT3Racer@reddit

I was very interested when they incentive was still active but not as much now

[-]

airfryerfuntime@reddit

$40,000.

Mark my words.

[-]

thatgymdude@reddit

The terrible range and not having a 4 door option are the main roadblocks to this truck. There is a reason every pickup truck has 4 doors now and that 25k supposed price will be unattainable while they will force models optioned over40k to the public and go surprised pikachu when no one buys them. Everytime I look at this truck I just think "why not get a Maverick".

[-]

downvote-away@reddit

Golly that's weird because they keep collecting all these clicks and likes and faves by yelling it's gonna be under $25K.

They wouldn't just go out and LIE would they?

[-]

r3dk0w@reddit

Probably going to be $25k, but there's only one available in the whole world.

Probably $40k with a radio, mirrors, ac+heat, and more than 100 miles of range.

[-]

NoGoodUsernames2@reddit

The only thing you listed there that it doesnt have standard is the radio. Your choice of speaker setup would add anywhere between $0 (a Bluetooth speaker you already own) and maybe $1k (speculating, no idea) for Slate to put a couple of speakers in the dashboard slots.

[-]

r3dk0w@reddit

You're making a lot of assumptions based on pre-released advertising.

[-]

RunnerLuke357@reddit

Mirrors are a requirement, and AC is standard equipment, they've directly stated that. As for the radio, they expect you to add one after-market. This doesn't have "options" the same way everything else does. They will sell you a grey 150 mile range truck or, a grey 250 mile truck. Every option is aftermarket or through their accesorir department.

[-]

aoeudhtns@reddit

Everything is a-la-carte and install-it-yourself AIUI.

They will probably sort the orders by inverse total price and start fulfilling that way.

[-]

koopa00@reddit

I think this is a pretty cool truck but the options are so extremely barebones that it's hard to imagine it being very successful. It's great that you'll be able to get a new EV without a giant tablet, but not even a radio by default? Crank windows? 150 mile range (and $5K for more)? People who claim to want a truck that barebones are the same people who don't want an EV. This really feels like a second/third car for a family at a time where people probably aren't lining up for that expense.

I'd love to see more trucks hit the market with this footprint. 5' bed and a total length under 175". Even the Maverick is quite a bit larger and has a smaller bed. If you want something Slate sized, you have to buy a 30 year old Ranger, Tacoma, etc. (which I still see a ton of on the road every day). There's definitely a Slate sized hole in the market, this just doesn't feel like the vehicle that will fill it.

[-]

mr_lab_rat@reddit

Yeah, with how stripped down that thing is they can’t afford to bloat the price.

It looks like they were gambling on the incentives staying longer.

[-]