This is the small truck Tesla should have produced...

[cadblu]

In true Tesla fashion they produced a way overpriced and over-hyped Cybertruck. They are now sitting out in Tesla dealer and service centers all over the country. But I still won't rule out that Tesla is secretly developing a small, sub $30K truck behind the scenes to compete with Slate. They are already working on a budget Model Y that will also be in this price range. Stay tuned, this budget EV truck thing is going to get very busy in the coming 12 months!

 

[P99Guy]

I second that!

 

[ucfknights123]

I still see difficulty with mass market acceptance of this type of vehicle. If the core target audience is lower economic (hourly) wage earners and young people starting out in life who want an affordable, warranty-carrying new car, I see the Slate's slow DCFC rate as an issue. The target audience mentioned above are usually not private homeowners who can have access to private overnight charging. 30 minutes to 80% SOC is just 120 miles of non-winter range. Another 30 minutes needed for the remaining 60 miles of range might be a deterrent to market acceptance. Usable range is really just 30 to 120 miles (90 miles) per 30 min. DCFC. Fine if you charge at home, not so good if you live off of public DCFC.

It's a tough business model to rely on the $7,500 tax rebate being (a) still in existence in 2027, and (b) applicable to wage earners who earn enough to pay $7,500 in income tax (to get it back as a max rebate), and (c) a 140,000 in annual unit sales to get the cost of production to hit the pre-rebate price of $27,000.

At a $27K price point, the 4-door Maverick hybrid XL is a far better choice.

Personally I thought the target demographic was people or families as a secondary car. Could buy a $10k golf cart, could buy a $20k mini-truck.

I also suspect the price will magically come down if and when the tax credit goes away. Costing in the low $20k’s is the main reason it works.

 

[ucfknights123]

I think that's my position here, what is the target demographic that's going to be the core sales generator. Is it the weekend warrior who drives an aging F150 that he needs to replace? Or is it the fresh out, with money from his first job to buy a cheap new automobile? Does a 2-door, 2 seat cab suffice? Swapping to a makeshift 2-door, 4-seat SUV that will be a total PITA to get into the back seat I'm not seeing much of a market for it. Ask Ford about it's 2-door Bronco (I have one). Is the small bed good enough for the guy switching out of an F150?

I'm sorta that guy, I'll be moving from a midsized pickup that's aging out. I don't need what it can provide as a truck anymore as when I bought it 15 years ago. I need a cheap, 2-door cab with a bed to throw smelly-ass bagged trash into to go to the dump and to haul gasoline and diesel fuel home. Shit you don't want in the back of your sedan or SUV.

I think the Slate may be trying appeal to too much of a broad market that it actually negates itself. 140,000 is a lot of units to move. If the tax credit goes away, the Slate is dead IMO. I hope I'm wrong.

Anyone who wants a second car for going around town, going to Home Depot, hauling a bike to a ride, an 16 year old, etc. You would definitely fit into a targeted category but certainly aren’t the only category.

I’m not sure why you’re insistent they’d keep the price the same after the credit goes away.

 

[BeachHead]

At $20K it's a great truck for a multi-car fleet, and great for a single young person who can't afford a $50K new vehicle. But in between that at $27K without tax credit pricing support, the Ford Maverick gives you easy-access 4-doors, and a nearly same sized bed, with 400-mile range recovery in 5 minutes for a few thousand more in price, which is just $10 more a month in car payment.

If the idea is the now married young person can expand the pickup into the SUV as his family grows, I get that. But how many young people get rid of their 2-door, 4-seat sports coupe when the baby comes along? Lots.

I'm not trying to piss on the Slate at all, I'm just mulling over the business case for it. It may be just too in-between.

Well, does anyone know if the tax credit will still be in existence when the Slate begins delivery? If it is, then it must be considered in your business case, which then gives the Slate a significant price advantage. If it isn't, then your points are valid, assuming every other factor between the two remain the same. Which, to me, is unlikely. I think the very rich investors in this venture are smart enough to have some sort of alternative plans in case the tax credit disappears. Plus, I also think it unlikely the Ford product sees no pricing changes between now and then, again, unlikely.

My suspicion is that absent the tax credit, the Slate initially sells for a lower price than $27K, and price increases on the ford will be such that there is still a financial gap between the two...IF Slate considers the ford as a direct competitor product.

In any case, it will provide some entertainment as we watch how things play out.

 

[ucfknights123]

I think the very rich investors in this venture are smart enough to have some sort of alternative plans in case the tax credit disappears.

Bingo. You don’t get nine figures of investment funds without being able to show a viable product and pricing strategy.

Letting cost drive price is a small business strategy and ultimately why most fail.

 

[YDR37]

It's a tough business model to rely on the $7,500 tax rebate ... At a $27K price point, the 4-door Maverick hybrid XL is a far better choice.

The Maverick is only $27K because it's made in Mexico. The business model for the Maverick assumes the absence of tariffs on imported vehicles. It's true that the price of the Slate may be affected by political developments, but the price of the Maverick is very much at risk as well.

 

[YDR37]

But according to the White House:

"For Canada and Mexico, the existing fentanyl/migration IEEPA orders remain in effect, and are unaffected by this order. This means USMCA compliant goods will continue to see a 0% tariff, non-USMCA compliant goods will see a 25% tariff, and non-USMCA compliant energy and potash will see a 10% tariff."

Cars are part of the USMCA.

The White House has been changing its mind a lot lately, and may do so again in the future. I believe the current policy (as of March 26) is that

Importers of automobiles under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be given the opportunity to certify their U.S. content and systems will be implemented such that the 25% tariff will only apply to the value of their non-U.S. content.

So at least for now, there would not be an automatic 25% tariff on the full value of an imported Maverick. But there would still be a 25% tariff on any non-US content in that imported vehicle.

And regardless of the current policy, it could change next month. Or the month after.

 

[Crimpcap]

I have been shopping for a $27k Maverick hybrid. They do not exist. Supply and demand has upped the cost by greedy dealers. One of the things I like about Slate is direct to consumer sales.

 

[BeachHead]

To quote myself:
In any case, it will provide some entertainment as we watch how things play out.

You all are proving that part right, and it's just been a couple hours!

Yes, politics are going to be a factor in several different ways between today and when these become available. These days, nearly every product and the companies that build them have to deal with a less than stable environment, with a lot of unknowns. I'd say that's why the CEO's make the big bucks, but they are still paid way too much for even that...IMHO.

A couple other observations regarding this maverick vs. slate discussion. These are two pretty different vehicles, so how many people who are shopping one or the other will cross shop them, beyond price neighborhood? I know one, myself, who isn't. My interest in the slate is that I'd like to investigate the true EV world without investing a whole lot to do so. For my use case, of up to 100 miles in a day of around town driving, and the ability to recharge in my garage overnight the slate truly hits that mark. The maverick isn't even in that ball park. So, for me the competition is limited to EV only vehicles. I know that's pretty anecdotal, but not everyone is just shopping on price alone.

 

[cvollers]

I still see difficulty with mass market acceptance of this type of vehicle. If the core target audience is lower economic (hourly) wage earners and young people starting out in life who want an affordable, warranty-carrying new car, I see the Slate's slow DCFC rate as an issue. The target audience mentioned above are usually not private homeowners who can have access to private overnight charging. 30 minutes to 80% SOC is just 120 miles of non-winter range. Another 30 minutes needed for the remaining 60 miles of range might be a deterrent to market acceptance. Usable range is really just 30 to 120 miles (90 miles) per 30 min. DCFC. Fine if you charge at home, not so good if you live off of public DCFC.

It's a tough business model to rely on the $7,500 tax rebate being (a) still in existence in 2027, and (b) applicable to wage earners who earn enough to pay $7,500 in income tax (to get it back as a max rebate), and (c) a 140,000 in annual unit sales to get the cost of production to hit the pre-rebate price of $27,000.

At a $27K price point, the 4-door Maverick hybrid XL is a far better choice.

I think Slate has the second car market square in their sights. People who want a low cost commuter or small businesses that need a low cost light duty hauler. This is not a car for first time, low income buyers living in an urban apartment building.

 

[cvollers]

To quote myself:
In any case, it will provide some entertainment as we watch how things play out.

You all are proving that part right, and it's just been a couple hours!

Yes, politics are going to be a factor in several different ways between today and when these become available. These days, nearly every product and the companies that build them have to deal with a less than stable environment, with a lot of unknowns. I'd say that's why the CEO's make the big bucks, but they are still paid way too much for even that...IMHO.

A couple other observations regarding this maverick vs. slate discussion. These are two pretty different vehicles, so how many people who are shopping one or the other will cross shop them, beyond price neighborhood? I know one, myself, who isn't. My interest in the slate is that I'd like to investigate the true EV world without investing a whole lot to do so. For my use case, of up to 100 miles in a day of around town driving, and the ability to recharge in my garage overnight the slate truly hits that mark. The maverick isn't even in that ball park. So, for me the competition is limited to EV only vehicles. I know that's pretty anecdotal, but not everyone is just shopping on price alone.

100% with you there. At well over $4/gallon for regular unleaded in my area, I’m ready to cut the gas fuel cord for a EV commuter that does double duty as a business advertisement with custom wrap. The whole thing is getting deducted as a business expense. [edit: I saw regular at $4.85/gallon in my area today (6/9/25). Ouch.]

 

[cadblu]

This truck should appeal to current Tesla owners who want a second vehicle to haul stuff around locally. The charging plug is Tesla standard, so home charging is a simple matter. As a "car guy" who likes to do mods, given the modular architecture and huge customizing options, it can become the "project car" that I always wanted. In addition, it can easily evolve into a fun hobby; way less expensive than restoring an old car which I have always wanted to do.

 

[bartflossom]

The Maverick and Bronco sport are built in the same plant and Ford originally thought the BS would outsell the Mav and wound up severely underestimating the market for the pickup. A large portion of the buyers are suburbanite retirees who just want the utility and economy. Same was true for the 80's mini-trucks. I just worry a bit because that demographic is the most resistant to ev's.

 

[Daley]

I also suspect the price will magically come down if and when the tax credit goes away. Costing in the low $20k’s is the main reason it works.

Just like in 2019 after Tesla lost the credit, the Model 3 magically dropped in price about $5k. And the Chevy Bolt dropped $5k in 2020 for the same reason. But all the people who support these atrocious tax rebates tell me they’re necessary to support the EV market. No, it’s just another money grab brought to you by lobbyists.