Slate Auto Raises Another $650M as $25K Electric Pickup Nears Launch

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Skensis@reddit

I'm curious how many trucks a year does Slate need to sell to be a profitable and sustainable company.

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well their production capacity is just 150,000 so they aren’t trying to outsell the F-150. The benefit they have though is on accessory sales, which means they can still make money on 2nd and 3rd Slate owners as well.

They also don’t need to sell as many as you traditionally would think not just because of the accessory sales but the fact that outside of different battery sizes every base Slate comes off the line the exact same, simplifying production.

Finally the fact that they designed it to be easily wrapped instead of needing a paint shop saved them a lot of money in up front costs. $7.8M for their wrap factory vs $600M they would have needed for the paint shop.

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SirLoremIpsum@reddit

The benefit they have though is on accessory sales, which means they can still make money on 2nd and 3rd Slate owners as well.

I would say they were intentionally designed to make money here.

Ala putting the tiny toner cartridge in a printer to sell it.

Every item will now be sold retail + labor instead of being built by a robot. I think they trimmed too much - e.g. not including a radio, wind up windows. No factory SUV.

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

The radio I think is one of the biggest drawbacks since while personally I use my phone for all my audio not everyone is going to like that. While they are designing it for easy install of a double din radio not everyone is going to know that’s an option.

The idea though about the stripped down nature is about consumer choice. Paying only for what you want/need and nothing that you don’t.

One other aspect I think they went too far but I also understand is no speakers. Like I don’t think Slate intends for people to chose to have no speakers but just wanted to give them a choice on Day 1 between a BYO Speaker option with their Bluetooth speaker mount or their Premium Speaker option. The only other choice would be include cheap speakers of very poor quality in every base Blank Slate.

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SirLoremIpsum@reddit

The idea though about the stripped down nature is about consumer choice. Paying only for what you want/need and nothing that you don’t. While also being a blank canvas for you to customize however you want. It’s why they call it the “Blank Slate”

I get that - I really do.

But I feel that it is an intentional choice to make money that is masquerading as 'consumer choice'.

If you make the assumption that 100% of customers will opt for the radio as an option, you can easily make more money by taking it from a cheap robot installed device to an post-build add on that charges retail + labor.

I feel the Slate is too minimal, and instead of being honest to what they feel customers want they have pared it back TOO MUCH so they can meet a price point (and brag about it) while knowing that customers will instantly throw that back in on their accessory shop.

One other aspect I think they went too far but I also understand is no speakers. Like I don’t think Slate intends for people to chose to have no speakers but just wanted to give them a choice on Day 1 between a BYO Speaker option with their Bluetooth speaker mount or their Premium Speaker option. The only other choice would be include cheap speakers of very poor quality in every base Blank Slate.

Again they are saying "we want you to have a choice" and you're happy for it!

But I see some choices (not all) as being specifically about moving cheap production costs into a more expensive retail cost.

Taking out what I feel are mandatory (a basic screen, radio, speakers) just so you can purchase it at retail is not 'pro consumer giving them a choice', that is anti-consumer stuff ala how the Printer manufacturers give you the tiniest toner on a printer and force you into huge mark ups.

"Oh wow this printer was $50! that's so cheap"

3 months later "what a $90 toner?!?"

Like wind up windows - that is purely performative. It's choosing to be worse just so you can advertise how quirky and old school you are. The cost of the vehicle would not be more expensive had they opted for electric windows - this is not expensive or complicated or heavy.

Can you imagine if they had air-con as a "post sale" add-on you could pay for extra? (NOTE I am not saying there' no air con everyone mistakes this). Just imagine if it was - and 100% of customers opted for it.

That is how I feel about the radio, electric windows.

The "we don't sell it as an SUV but you can pay us later to make one" is part of it too. Simplifying their own costs to sell you cheap up front but get you on the retail + Labor + accessories - that's not as pro consumer as you're making it out to be with all the "it's so good we have choice!".

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

Also apparently the design inspiration here actually came from the Motorcycle Community since their Chief Design Officer who comes from Volvo is really big into Bikes. They also have someone who used to work at Harley Davidson working on the accessories aspect of Slate.

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Beriev@reddit

I'm surprised at the hostility towards this thing, but I think it comes from the assumption the truck is meant to compete with daily driver trucks like the Maverick, when it's an apples to oranges comparison. From what I can tell, the design of the truck itself seems to align near-perfectly to position itself as the US equivalent of a kei truck, and not as the Japanese ones are used in the US (as quirky curiosities for the most part), but rather as they're used in Japan for work. That's stuff like carrying cargo, light trade work (e.g. plumbing or electrical work), and deliveries, but all within the confines of a city and at short ranges.

Something Maverick is definitely much better all-around at the same price point, but I can see many of the bells and whistles people are looking being a massive drawback for a work truck - it means more stuff that can break. The gas engine increases performance and range, but also means much more maintenance comparatively. Sometimes you just want something that's cheap, simple, and carries a good bit of cargo or people between local places; a normal pickup is overkill for this, but the Slate is perfect.

I can agree with sentiment it's an awful daily driver, but it's a damn good second vehicle if you own your own business. And while imported kei trucks from the 1990s are certainly cheaper, the Slate has modern safety standards, can actually keep up with traffic easily on US highways (I understand it's a struggle with imported kei trucks normally), and can be purchased new (which is a big thing for corporations).

Although I don't have a ton of proof that Slate is going this way, the fact that the website has a dedicated page advertising it as a fleet vehicle and business truck speaks volumes: https://www.slate.auto/en/fleet

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chameleon_olive@reddit

A kei truck doesn't cost 25 (most likely higher, let's be real) thousand dollars. A small, simple and rugged runabout sounds awesome until you realize it's the same price as an actual, functional car.

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Beriev@reddit

And yet a kei truck does not accomplish the same thing - if it did, every small business would be using one as opposed to something like a Maverick or 90s pickup. At the end of the day, they are a 25 year old truck with nonexistent safety standards, woefully underpowered for US roads, and still using ICE engines - even with Japanese reliability, you'll still need oil changes and further upkeep. Slate trucks can be bought new, are actually fast enough for US traffic, have modern safety standards and EV means basically zero maintenance and can sit for months without needing to be run, while being simple enough to have no electronics that break.

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chameleon_olive@reddit

You literally just made an argument about how a slate can do kei truck tasks but slightly safer. "Slightly safer" is not worth 3-4x the price for most small businesses. In terms of the demographics of who works in a lot of small businesses that could actually use these (local plumbers, farmers, etc.) none of them want or can use EVs anyway due to practical or political reasons.

On the other hand, large fleets for big companies require massive support and production infrastructure to maintain said fleets. There's a reason why tiny car startups aren't supplying UPS or state police. Slate is not large enough to be attractive to large companies, not to mention the fact that their vehicles are too small.

That leaves the consumer market. If you haven't already realized based on the reality of vehicles sales in the US, nobody actually wants a tiny truck with no features. Reddit can scream about their manuals and crank windows or whatever, but the average consumer wants their aspirational 100k tank with massage chairs, not a mobility scooter with a windshield, and certainly not for 25k.

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Shmokesshweed@reddit

That's cool. But it doesn't change the very large chance that this is DOA at 25k.

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agnaddthddude@reddit

why?

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Shmokesshweed@reddit

Because it makes no sense from a value perspective. Why would I buy this if I can get a Maverick XL for the same money with many more features?

And why would I buy this when the Ford EV truck releasing somewhat soon will be (supposedly) 30k?

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MembershipNo2077@reddit

Yea, this needs to be like Kei truck cheap. Instead they are pricing it like it's much more than that.

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SqueezyCheez85@reddit

You must not know what a kei truck is with a statement like that.

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MembershipNo2077@reddit

Considering there's one in my driveway, I guess not.

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SqueezyCheez85@reddit

Then why don't you understand why it's priced so cheaply.

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MembershipNo2077@reddit

The slate has about the same level of features as my Acty and isn't significantly larger, except it's an EV. Why would it be priced the same as a maverick?

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SqueezyCheez85@reddit

The Acty is a motorcycle engine on go cart wheels with zero safety features.

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leedle1234@reddit

Kei cars absolutely have safety requirements and have had them for decades at this point (since the 660cc era started) Aside from the modern passive stuff, ABS, auto braking, they have to pass passenger 50kph frontal and 32/26 kph side impacts, they get made with the same high strength steel structures with crumple zones too.

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HeyyyyListennnnnn@reddit

That's a misunderstanding of how cheap vehicles are made cheap. There's some cost reduction in removing features or using cheaper plastics, but most of the cost reduction is in spreading development costs over a large number of models over a large number of years.

e.g. in the other poster's Acty, the engine design can be traced back to 1988 with the development costs spread over multiple generations of 7 or 8 different models. Each generation of Acty has been sold for over 10 years with minimal change, further reducing development cost per vehicle sold.

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MembershipNo2077@reddit

This is like a non-sequitur? It doesn't seem to relate the world in which a Slate should cost $25k which is more than 4x what a new Acty costs.

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SqueezyCheez85@reddit

My electric dirt bike was 40 grand cheaper than my truck. Does that surprise you?

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MembershipNo2077@reddit

Do you think dirt bikes are small trucks? Boy you are really off on a tangent.

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SqueezyCheez85@reddit

You think a 30 year old kei truck is the same as a modern electric vehicle meant to be registered and driven in the United States?

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MembershipNo2077@reddit

Did you know they make kei trucks that aren't the literal one in my driveway? Do you also wear a helmet inside? Did you know the Ford Maverick is not a kei truck?

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November87@reddit

You can't

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SwiftCEO@reddit

Is the Maverick $25k? I’ve been seeing closer to $30k for the XL trim.

I don’t think anyone is holding their breath for a $30k EV truck from Ford. Not that I believe Slate can hit $25k either.

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munche@reddit

This car is "close to release" and they haven't announced official pricing

Do you think that's because they're having a really easy time meeting their aggressively low price goal?

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

Price will be announced and Pre-orders will open in early June.

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munche@reddit

Tesla announced the price and pre-orders for the Cybertruck in 2019

The car went on sale 4 years later and the actual price was more than double that $39,995 they claimed

I get that everyone wants to believe but seriously, can you think of a single EV that met their super cheap price goal? Especially from a new automaker?

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

First Slate isn’t Tesla, second they have been very careful about price announcements for accessories and wanted to wait until all the parts of the truck were finalized before announcing the price. Only giving a loose range for flexibility up until this point so that they don’t over promise and under deliver like the Cybertruck for example. That lets me give them the benefit of the doubt for now and if they truly do follow through on having test drives over the summer for reservation holders that goes a long way as well.

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munche@reddit

I have many, MANY issues with Tesla but they at least had a decade of making and selling EVs before they missed their Cybertruck price goal by 100%. Ford promised the F150 Lightning would be $39,995 and the real car ended up being like $60k. These are automakers who actually have experience making cars and they all missed their price target.

Meanwhile 95% of the "We're making a super cheap EV" startups never ship ANYTHING and the few who do, the thing quietly comes out costing 50% more than it was advertised at.

But people just really want to believe I guess

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

Well because if Slate doesn’t come in at a true mid-20K price point they are DOA unless there’s a significant price jump in the next couple months. So they have no track record so either you can be optimistic that they will meet their promise or you can be pessimistic which in my experience is usually just people wishing that the truck fails.

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munche@reddit

I have no skin in the game, I think the reality of owning this car will hit a lot of people in the face who just like the retro design and I don't really care for trucks anyhow but hey it'll be nice if at least some percentage of the trucks on the road aren't 8000lbs

It just seems they are at the peak of the hype cycle and this happens over and over again with EV startups. I'll remain skeptical until there's something actually concrete out there, and the longer they are out building hype without shipping product the more it looks like every other vaporware EV.

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Lucreth2@reddit

This can't possibly be correct, can it? My Maverick is 1 ish year old and was $35k for a hybrid lariat with options and accessories.

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Shmokesshweed@reddit

Depends on where you're at. I see 25-26k XLs near me, at a discount from their MSRP.

I have no idea if they're gonna hit 30k.

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dantose@reddit

Sure, local pricing can change that, but that cuts both ways: The cheapest Maverick at the closest dealership to me is $29k, and my state has a $3250 rebate for EVs under $35k.

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KarmaticEvolution@reddit

I was so surprised to see a ‘25 for $28.4k in my area (Orange County, Ca). Only one close to that price though.

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4Rascal@reddit

Used to live in SoCal there’s definitely a markup for trucks there used or new

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KarmaticEvolution@reddit

Mark up for all cars in general! I see them typically priced at least 5-10% higher than most of the country. It's definitely expensive to live here, now more than ever.

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xlb250@reddit

I drive up to OC to get a discount

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KarmaticEvolution@reddit

Sam Diego is definitely higher COL than OC these days, used to be a semi secret.

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4Rascal@reddit

I agree and I feel there is an extra large premium on anything remotely sporty/cool like v6 accords/camrys, SI

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KarmaticEvolution@reddit

Especially unique/enthusiast cars with the advent of online auctions. No more hidden gems, which is great for the sellers!

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xlb250@reddit

I drive up to OC to get a discount

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SwiftCEO@reddit

Unless the median price paid is $25k, it’s not worth making comparisons with outliers.

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hi_im_bored13@reddit

Think its fine when that $25k price doesn't even exist yet lol, at least some examples of a $25k maverick exist irl right now

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Nefilim314@reddit

I’m seeing the same thing. I hear “but you can wheel and deal it down with a variety of promotional discounts” but that’s not really the point of MSRP then.

For example, my id Buzz is often cited as horribly overpriced. I negotiated it down $12k.5k from 72k to 60k. I cross shopped a similarly specced Toyota Sienna which came out to be… 58k, and they weren’t rolling out incentives at all because they sell every one.

Are we going to say the id buzz is appropriately priced because I personally negotiated it down to a segment competitive number?

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therealrenshai@reddit

I mean, you might see the same if the Slate sits like the Bizz has. Negotiating a good price on a car that’s not selling doesn’t mean the initial price wasn’t higher than it should be.

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Car-face@reddit

I think the difference is that if VW takes a haircut on the Buzz, they still stay afloat through the rest of the range.

Slate takes a haircut on their vehicle, and they run out of money. It's one of the reasons budget startups fail - their reputation is basically "cheap product", but people don't want products that are synonymous with being the cheapest thing they could buy, and there's no downward room to move if the demand isn't there.

I think the Slate has other appeal in how it looks, but I don't think it's enough to justify dropping 30k on it for that reason, vs just getting something better for the same money.

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atomicskiracer@reddit

This also isn’t just competing against other new trucks. It’s competing against a depreciated used market for people that utilize them for minimal miles as a secondary (or third) vehicle.

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guy-anderson@reddit

Why would I buy this if I can get a Maverick XL for the same money with many more features?

People seem to forget that the Slate is an EV when they make this comparison.

No fuel costs, near zero maintenance, free EV parking everywhere.

As an urban fleet vehicle, a second car, or even just an urban truck it's actually a really compelling.

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Clover-kun@reddit

As an EV apologist, it's a terrible EV and just makes more sense to spend a tiny bit extra and deal with fuel costs in exchange for a MUCH nicer vehicle in the form of a Maverick. If it absolutely HAS to be an EV, then there's very little argument for this truck compared to a used F150 Lightning. And realistically Slate is never going to hit their $27k price point.

free EV parking everywhere

Only when charging, and we're still dealing with douche nozzles triple parking their F350 dually with a bed that's never seen a spec of dirt and a hitch ball that's never see a coupler

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dantose@reddit

Why would I pay $3000 extra to lose EV powertrain and half a foot of bed?

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agnaddthddude@reddit

what if Ford sees the slate pricing and raise the price of Maverick to get more $$?

the article says they have already 160,000 pre orders and even without the 7.5k EV rebate it has only increased in price from 20k to 25k (supposedly)

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Shmokesshweed@reddit

what if Ford sees the slate pricing and raise the price of Maverick to get more $$?

They won't. They have no competitor in this space.

the article says they have already 160,000 pre orders and even without the 7.5k EV rebate it has only increased in price from 20k to 25k (supposedly)

$50 preorders are largely irrelevant.

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agnaddthddude@reddit

well, I love the slate. I hope it won’t be a DOA

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Standard-Juice-3738@reddit

Are you getting one?

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agnaddthddude@reddit

If they sell in Iraq. I would love to. Same for Lighting, or many other electric vehicles.

I’m serious. every time i take stuff to my home village i have either to rent a pickup or fully load my range rover

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Thomas_633_Mk2@reddit

From memory bro lives in Iraq so he probably couldn't even if he wanted to. Also somehow I suspect he prefers his Maybach

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

It really just depends on what price point they come in at. The $25K price point isn’t official it’s just a mid-20K price range. They have been working with their suppliers particularly their battery supplier who have a bunch of extra batteries from cancelled EV projects to try to get that down to a low mid-20K. We will know in June when the official base price is announced and preorders begin how successful they were.

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BlazinAzn38@reddit

It was a $50 refundable deposit and the orders launched when the tax credit was still on the table. I’d be shocked if they convert 10% of those

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DK4E2XFpbETJrj@reddit

But it'll be cool and unique, and while I agree the Maverick could be considered a better value, it will never be that.

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Shmokesshweed@reddit

Is cool and unique enough for the price and features to move serious units here and turn a profit? I don't think so. But I could be wrong.

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amppy808@reddit

A $25k electric pickup has insane value. To say it’s DOA is ridiculous.

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Shmokesshweed@reddit

For who? People who can afford a 2nd or 3rd vehicle with this range and minimalism?

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JuliusCeaserBoneHead@reddit

You cannot get the Maverick for that price lol. Unless your ford dealer also deals in cocaine

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Shmokesshweed@reddit

https://visor.vin/search/listings?make=Ford&model=Maverick&agnostic=false&car_type=new&trim=XL&sort=cheapest

Some are clearly expired listings, but not all. As always, depends on your area.

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idkbruh653@reddit

This. It’s spartan, but it’s not spartan in the way that people have been asking for. It’s spartan to the point that it will likely become a niche product that appeals to a certain buyer. And I don’t think there’s a big enough base of that type of buyer to make this thing the hit some are predicting it will be.

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BlazinAzn38@reddit

It comes less equipped than like a 2005 Accord for 10% cheaper than a maverick and it doesn’t even have paint options. Just feels like an extremely niche vehicle that doesn’t work when the margins on it are very small.

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

I like the Maverick but there are pros to this truck over the Maverick (which I also have only seen at $30K+):

Biggest being, it’s cheaper over the life of the vehicle. First it’s an EV so all the common cost savings from that are applied (charging cheaper than gas, no oil changes or other upkeep costs, etc). Second, if you get into crash and need to replace body panels that will be much cheaper and easier to fix. Finally, if you have a 3D printer a lot of the accessories you can make yourself.

When it comes to usability it has a frunk so actual locked storage. The frunk will also have a drain and cup holders for tailgating. Finally, you have a bigger bed for hauling and probably the largest bed size to cost ratio in pickups in general.

Finally, it’s much more DIY friendly as it was designed to be. It’s a truck you can get as teenager/young adult and upgrade throughout its life to make your dream truck as your finances and needs change. While you learn to be more handy on it from it being a much less intimidating platform than other vehicles. Also great for the small business owner looking for an easily wrapped vehicle to promote their company or cheap truck to supply their feet also wrapped for the prior reason. For me, personally it’s a great option to replace my current truck which was my first vehicle but is now my secondary vehicle for various reasons and uses where my luxury sedan daily driver isn’t a good option for.

The advantages of the Maverick: Better for long distances and is a 4 door at its base price. While the base Maverick isn’t great at towing it’s still better than the Slate Truck. Base Maverick is FWD Hybrid (or AWD for ICE I believe) which many people find more attractive (Truck owners tend to prefer RWD over FWD though). Finally, it does come with a lot more features but if you are interested in the Slate that doesn’t probably matter that much to you. In conclusion it’s the better truck if you want it to be your primary vehicle that you buy as is off the lot and keep as is for the life of the vehicle.

For Ford’s Universal EV Pickup let’s see what it looks like and its full specs before we can properly compare.

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GaviFromThePod@reddit

Because it fundamentally doesn’t understand the pickup truck market. Through the 90s pickups were work vehicles because they weren’t refined enough to be everyday usable vehicles. In that era people would have both a pickup and a sedan. The pickup could be a single cab. Now pickups are luxury vehicles, everyday vehicles, and people have consolidated two vehicles into one. The Slate will fail because it doesn’t understand the pickup market. The number of people who want a barebones basic truck is very small and the number of people who want that truck to be electric is even smaller. If you want a basic truck you can buy a 10-year-old F-150 and it will cost less than the slate and you will get more truck. This is a vanity vehicle for hipsters. It’s not a good or appealing vehicle. Maybe if it cost $15k people would buy it.

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WhateverItTakes117@reddit

Because at $25k it's massively overpriced. If you need something practical in that price range, you can get a new maverick. Let alone a CPO maverick that will be a much better vehicle, for less money, and still under a warranty backed by the manufacturer.

For an EV, you can get a used low mileage Chevy blazer EV for $25k that has super cruise, heads up display, panoramic moon roof, everything. Plus an 85 or 100 kwh batter. For that price just fold the back seat down and use the hatch instead of the bed on a slate.

Honestly a stripped down, utilitarian truck needs to be like $15k before it makes any sense financially. There are just so many options that are so much better, that spending $25k on something without a radio is just dumb.

And $25k is the starting price. They'll probably be over $30k by the time people option in basic features.

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young_jason@reddit

The main selling point is the low price, but it’s so bare bones that hardly any new car buyers will be interested. Its competition isn’t other new vehicles, it’s used ones.

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AmericanExcellence@reddit

because then i have to charge it, and it's barebones nothingness for that bargain.

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ob_knoxious@reddit

I feel like their only path to survival is corporate and government buyers.

My city has a handful of Rivian's as city vehicles for maintenance. They did it as a trial and it works great but a stripped down R1T is still too much for a bulk order with taxpayer dollars.

But a Slate? That's something I could see cities ordering in numbers. But even still that's a brutal market to be in, very low margin.

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Hrmerder@reddit

It’ll be 25k for the ‘ubfe (ultra basic founders edition).

Which will come on a crate shipped from Amazon with no rims or tires, no back tub and some assembly required… That’s a joke fyi

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Patrollingthemojave0@reddit

Am I the only one still interested in this? A little truck for me to run errands, drive to calls for my firehouse, and occasionally drive to work if my daily driver is getting work done, this is like perfect for me.And its an ev!

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darkkn1te@reddit

The slate actually fits all my needs. I live in a city, but have a garage so its relatively small size is good for parking and i can charge it overnight. It's good for a trip to Home Depot. My wife has another vehicle we use for roadtrips and such so range doesn't matter to me. I don't camp. I don't offroad. I wouldn't tow anything all that far. My next vehicle will be an EV, but I don't want a used one. I don't like any of the bells and whistles that come with modern cars. If it is actually cheaper than every other new EV you can get, it's ideal for me.

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flapsmcgee@reddit

Yeah this is basically the truck r/cars has been asking for and they all hate it lol

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5tudent_Loans@reddit

They hate the price that they know it will actually launch at. They have always loved the vehicle but price demand is what caused it to potentially exist in the first place

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

I’m very interested in this as long as they come out at a true mid-20K price-point (preferably low mid-20K)

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Patrollingthemojave0@reddit

If the can hit 25 or 26k I would definitely buy it. There is just nothing else on the market in that form as an EV.

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WhateverItTakes117@reddit

Just get a CPO blazer EV or Honda Prologue for $25k. Waaaaaaaay better vehicle for that price. Both in terms of general car stuff (like interior) and better in terms of EV stuff (like battery capacity, integrated features, etc). Fold the rear seats down and use the hatch instead of the little slate bed.

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

How does the Jeremy Clarkson quote go, "This is brilliant but I like this"

Also the fact is I'm looking for a replacement for my old Pickup, if I was looking for a Blazer EV or Honda Prologue like EV it would be a replacement for my Sedan.

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roox911@reddit

Doesn't even need to be cpo. New Equinox lt ev's are being discounted to that target price all over.

And as you said, way more features, comfort, range etc etc

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MembershipNo2077@reddit

I am still interested simply because it would actually suit me nicely to have an EV replacement for my Acty. However, $25k is wild.

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Legend13CNS@reddit

I go back and forth on it. I liked the idea way more at $20k, even though that required the EV rebate and wasn't truly $20k sticker price. But I also find myself thinking "what do I do that would be improved by a Slate?" followed by "what would the Slate do that a $5k Danger Ranger or other used pickup wouldn't do?". Or taking it even further, how much truck could I get for $25k if I bought used?

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AcMav@reddit

I'm also in the interested camp. It covers my commute to work fine, and is far more utilitarian than the other EV options. I'm not cross shopping a Rivian or EV Silverado

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jca_ftw@reddit

First off, if ANYBODY really wanted a 2 seat truck with a tiny payload, then Toyota and Ford would still make them! The reality is that market died because volume dwindled to nearly nothing. You literally cannot tow anything with a 1000lb capacity. A tiny little 2 person aluminum camper maybe, but there is no market for a vehicle that can only tow something that small for less than 100 miles. And that supposed extended range version with a larger battery will have even less GVWR so there goes the bed capacity.

Secondly, people don’t really want “poverty-spec” automobiles no matter what the “experts” here on Reddit are saying. $25k for zero features feels like a waste of $25k to the vast majority of consumers.

Third, with only 2WD available, the sales in all the northern states will be minuscule. For example, in Colorado and Utah and places like that, they never even sold 2WD versions of RAV4, CRV, etc.. The only 2WD trucks for sale were work trucks, and this ain’t that.

So they will sell a few thousand, and all of those owners will come on Reddit touting how great it is, and they will be insolvent by 2029, 2 years after launch. At the tiny margins they operate with, they need to sell >50k units in each of the first couple years, and hope for a buyout.

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StradlatersFirstName@reddit

First off, if ANYBODY really wanted a 2 seat truck with a tiny payload, then Toyota and Ford would still make them!

Ford no longer sells a sedan, yet Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, Kia, and Hyundai sell sedans and turn a profit. People can only buy the products that are manufactured and companies have great power to limit the options available to consumers.

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kstetter@reddit

Ford discontinued some of their most popular crossover SUVs last year to move people upmarket, and have had a large dip in sales due to it.

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alfredadamski@reddit

Why not create a special low-cost version for emerging market countries, e.g. countries in Africa and Asia. Then set up CKD assembly facilties in those countries. Perhaps create also version with a combustion engine.

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sprockets22@reddit

I wish slate made a 4 cylinder super mini pick up instead of all electric. I’d buy it. Make it 4cyl, 4x4 (mybe), standard.

Let people buy the roof racks, farckles, campers, Lifts, an everything else they want. Jeep markets half doors for 1000$ a pair.

So, like a Jeep gladiator but much smaller.

I can’t do shit with electric cars right now my apartments had charges stripped by the homeless. The ones on the street stripped too. You basically must drive out to charge (LA) Right now electric doesn’t work.

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maybetoomuchrum@reddit

The thing I fucking hate about this truck is the value of the truck is only about 15k. It's almost useless. But instead of investors being happy with doubling their return, they're going to demand triple and charge 25k.

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erbot@reddit

Slate is dead on arrival. Prove me wrong

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dogsaybark@reddit

At first it was the $20,000 electric truck. Now it’s the $25,000 electric truck. Just before launch they will promote the amazing and affordable electric truck starting at just $33,500! Sticker will be $42,000 with destination fees.

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

It was under $20K with federal incentives and mid-$20K without them. The incentives are gone but the truck is still mid-20K. The media reporting it was 27-28K was just assuming that under-20K meant $19,999 and adding $7.5K to that then rounding up or down. It was never officially that price point and most media report it as $25K now. Though that’s not confirmed either the only thing that has been confirmed is that it’s a mid-20K price range.

They have said that they are working with their suppliers particularly their battery suppliers who have a lot of left over batteries from cancelled EV projects to try to get that price down to the low mid-20s. But we will see in June if they were successful or not when they announce the official base price.

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2Drogdar2Furious@reddit

So its rated at 150 miles... other EVs see a 40-80% range reduction when towing. What good is a truck that can only pull a trailer 75 miles?

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

Hence why they didn’t focus on towing capacity and in general most people don’t get compact pickups to tow. It also has a 240 mile battery option.

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2Drogdar2Furious@reddit

Towing capacity is the entire point of a truck 😑

If you never plan to use the load bed (which is probably on 6ft on this) and not planning to tow anything then there's no point in having a truck... as I type this though I realize 80% of assholes in trucks dont need them and I doubt this vehicle will appeal to them.

I'm also assuming the larger (barely adequate?) Battery brings the price up over $25k.

I just dont see who this is for I guess and I dont think it will do well... I've been wrong before though and time will tell 🤷‍♂️

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thisisthatacct@reddit

Small trucks were never for towing

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2Drogdar2Furious@reddit

They are, just not as heavy as larger trucks. If it isnt for towing or hauling then it isnt a truck 😑

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thisisthatacct@reddit

And you can tow the same as a 90's ranger with a crown Vic. The small trucks were economical and functional, no frills and not absurdly large. Why be so hung up on "hurr not a truck?"

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2Drogdar2Furious@reddit

Because loading the bed will reduce the already small range. And your example is more a testament to an old school fullsize car than a half size truck.

Also, I'm clearly not the target audience for this but I just dont get it...

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thisisthatacct@reddit

I don't need more than two seats, I like the ability to pile stuff in the bed for the house or my fun cars or go camping, I like having lockable storage space, I like not having: a monstrosity that sucks to park, something so tall it needs a ladder to reach anything in the bed, something that has high maintenance costs, and a big engine with high fuel costs. It does everything I need, nothing that I don't, it's cheaper than anything else new and cheaper to run than anything new or used. 1000 lbs towing is enough for anything I'll probably use it for. 1400 lb payload is the same as the most common f150. I don't see what's not to like

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2Drogdar2Furious@reddit

I'm the exact same as you on all those points except I regularly tow an 8''x10' trailer. I have a two seat ranger with crank windows. I've made sure the AC is working and I've added a Bluetooth tape deck adapter for the radio and that's it.

I can load my lawn mower in the trailer, or an entire pallet of 2x6s (they are a lot cheaper that way) and pull it (slowly) where ever I need... the closet place to buy lumber is about 30 miles away, I'm bot sure this truck has enough battery to make it there and back. The large battery option would (probably) make it to lumber yard but definitely would make my favorite camping spot which is some 500 miles away up in the mountains.

And adding enough battery range to this to make it practical would probably price it out too high for most to consider....

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OldArtichoke433@reddit

This is the automobile that gets produced as a response to what many people want in a survey but they will find out the same people don’t really need. As a result those same people will likely not put their money where their mouth is especially at $25k.

I would personally identify myself as the target audience as I put down the $100 pre order years ago for one. However I will not be biting at $25k as it was enticing at under $20k with $7,500 tax rebate back then.

150 mile range with zero creature comforts for an essentially unfinished automobile at or near the same price as a Ford Gladiator does not make sense to me at all.

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GaylrdFocker@reddit

I'm hoping they go the way of Fisker Ocean, and I can get one for like $10k.

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Snoo93079@reddit

Why would you want it to fail? We should want more diverse options

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GaylrdFocker@reddit

Because it's not a great product for $25k, and they haven't even stated it will cost $25k that's just their hope.

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Snoo93079@reddit

Just because it's not a good value for you doesn't mean we should want another option off the market, no?

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GaylrdFocker@reddit

Bring Chinese EVs to the US and it'll increase options and lower prices.

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KarmaticEvolution@reddit

You would risk bricking your car with no OEM support?

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GaylrdFocker@reddit

Fisker released the software to the public. Would expect them to as well if they have sold any.

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

Even if they don’t and they sell well enough to either make a profit or give investors enough reason to believe that they are on the road to profitability you will be able to get one for $10 with relatively low mileage one likely in 5 years.

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Snoo93079@reddit

Very excited for this! If I had the space I'd buy one as my home depot hauler.

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Mojave_Idiot@reddit

It’s nearly irrelevant to the conversation on price alone but in this market/form factor I’m eternally more interested in the MT1. I dunno what’d I do with a slate with the range and towing/capacity numbers.

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

Sadly the MT1 has a much more difficult path forward since they need raise a lot more capital just to get to their low volume production goal. Which in itself is unproven strategy of being able to scale to full scale production.

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Mojave_Idiot@reddit

Which is a shame but it is what it is.

I just rationally don’t see the purpose for a slate when you can fold down the seats in a Chevy Bolt. I don’t see the novelty carrying it much farther but what do I know.

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

The Chevy Bolt isn’t a pickup truck and not a replacement for one either.

It’s best to think of Slates capabilities more as an upsized BEV Kei Truck than a down sized Full Size BEV Truck (which is a better description of Telo). Just with a 5 star safety rating, ability to drive at highway speeds in every state, and infinite more customization possibilities.

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Mojave_Idiot@reddit

Obviously not, there’s an element of facetiousness to my comment, but when you compare raw utility it’s hard to ignore especially with what the bolt offers at a given price point. Or a leaf.

This thing was marginal at 20k. 25k is crazy. You’re slicing up such a specific market.

We’ll see. I still think the whole thing is 90% performative. And a whole lot of people are going to spend about 6 months with a single cab truck and tap out, I’ll bet on that.

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

Well they are trying to get it down to a low mid-20s we will know in June if they are successful or not. But I will say it being single cab does have one benefit in that it has 0 competition at this price point. Whatever market there is for this Slate will own. Plus if Slate can convert even just a quarter of their reservations to sales they will likely be the best Selling BEV or 2nd Best Selling BEV on the market (pending how quickly the Ford Universal EV which will come out later can scale).

Like I don’t think this is going to outsell the Maverick or Ford Universal EV Pickup. But sell well enough to establish a strong enough niche for them to then come out with more higher volume models. That remains to be seen and it really all depends on what price point they come out at. $25 or less and they have a chance imo.

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Mojave_Idiot@reddit

I can agree with that if they can get sticker on the base slate truck to be 24,999 it’s going to look like a win.

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Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)

Well we will know in June when the official Price is announced and Pre-Orders open whether they have a chance or if they are DOA.

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costafilh0@reddit

This is gonna gonna be hot for about a week. Than it will tank and stay there until they fix it or lower the price or take it behind the barn and kill it.

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