Expected price now "Mid-Twenties" for Slate truck

[GaRailroader]

I disagree, except with the stimulus check thing thats spot on.

In terms of "what Slate does" its a compact electric truck/utility vehicle. Its specifically compared to rhe compact trucks of the 90s and 2000s, to which it has similar payload, a similar or smaller bed, and less towing. For the sake of argument let's include all the older 1500s in there as well.

Im looking at this from the perspective of the slate as a 2nd vehicle, partial daily, or weekend utility runabout, as i personally see the Slate best in those roles (and in a fleet sense as a sxs/delivery truck replacement.

Besides being electric, the Slate heavily differs from those vehicles in how it is modular from a "lego" perspective instead of a nuts and bolts perspective.

I don't think you can just say "besides being electric." For me and many others, that is one of the primary draws.

This!

 

[cvollers]

I don't think you can just say "besides being electric." For me and many others, that is one of the primary draws.

Show me another compact electric pickup, let alone one at this suggested price, and I'm all ears! I've been wanting one for ages.

If you just take away one of the biggest aspects of the Slate Truck, then sure, lots of other compact trucks can compete.

My 2005 Silverado can do everything the Slate can do, and more. But I also don't want to daily drive my Silverado anymore. I'm tired of paying for gas. My company will charge an EV while I'm at work, but (obviously) won't fill my tank of gas while I'm at work.

100% agree. If the Slate was an ICE at the same price (if they could put an ICE engine/drivetrain in the vehicle for the same price and still meet CAFE standards), the value proposition would be completely different. Just factoring in the difference in maintenance cost over the lifetime of the vehicle makes the Slate EV the clear winner. Also it will drive better, be cheaper to fuel, and is just plain cooler.

 

[SlatePossible2028]

100% agree. If the Slate was an ICE at the same price (if they could put an ICE engine/drivetrain in the vehicle for the same price and still meet CAFE standards), the value proposition would be completely different. Just factoring in the difference in maintenance cost over the lifetime of the vehicle makes the Slate EV the clear winner. Also it will drive better, be cheaper to fuel, and is just plain cooler.

Slate is cool looking but the drive train is definitely a turn off, if not a compromise.

Im one of those that believes the future is mixed market, as both ICE and electric vehicles have their limits. Imo the slate is what electric cars should be - simply useful runabouts with the potential for fun, while they offset the CAFE stuff for the proper drivers cars. Mach E is a great example of this in action, although kind of ugly. It walk so the proper mustang can stay alive.

 

[SlatePossible2028]

It can pass a gas station. XD
Sorry; I couldn't help myself!

The Slate would have less range than most similar trucks and 1500s, and therefore you'd simply be stopping at the charger instead of the pump lol

 

[SlatePossible2028]

It can easily be converted into an SUV.
Maybe someone like the way it looks.
Maybe someone likes the way it makes them look.
Low maintenance is a huge advantage.
There are countless others.

Another way to look at it is what the Slate Truck can't do, like require a transmission repair. Those suck!

If an old used truck had the same economic value as a brand new Slate Truck it would cost $27,500. That's how economics works. It's Natural Law.

Here's where I think we agree: If all you need is a subset of the Slate Truck's capabilities and you're willing to accept the additional costs and hassle of owning an old pickup truck, then the lower-priced option is the wiser choice.

SUV conversion....costs as much as a used SUV lol. But I do agree its a cool feature.

Whatever you just came up with for value doesnt quite make sense, seeing as values for many things rn, especially cars, are heavily inflated, and often influenced by meaningless hype or popularity. Peep the People paying $30k+ for stock 90s civics.

Or just....take a look at any given modern car. I wouldn't call the $35k Kias that will need an engine in 15,000 miles and have no proper anti theft worth the money.

No, reality is that the Slate is worth the money *in its particular market* which happens to be a market im in, hence why im here, but for a straightforward work vehicle with no other reqs besides "compact and utilitarian, used or not" there are certainly far better options. A used Ford Ranger from the 2000s could operate for the next 10-15 years without ever hitting the price of the Slate. Thats just reality.

Also, as someone who's worked on both, i think the "less maintainance" angle of electric cars is heavily overblown. No motor or trans, yeah, but the vast majority of work done to cars that age are suspension, brake and driveline components, all of which EVs have and of which the "brake and driveline" portions tend to be pricier. What you really save on is the oil changes, but again. If you're changing oil ever 3000 miles (the old standard) for the next 100,000 miles, you're only doing between 30 and 40 oil changes, and let's just say 35 oil changes, X $50, is $1750. Which, if we assume the Slate will (generously) be $25k, thats only about 7% of the price. The slate will still need tires and brakes and ball joints and so on. And while a car may need an engine or trans, the slate will, inevitably, need a battery. The real cost is the fuel and oil, and while charging does cost less than fuel (usually), the general higher entry cost for EVs and the often pricier components do heavily offset these savings.

Not trying to shut ya down here, but as someone who wrenches ive seen a bit of it all and the "EVs are low maintenance" stuff always irritates me as its simply inaccurate

 

[AZFox]

Whatever you just came up with for value doesnt quite make sense, seeing as values for many things rn, especially cars, are heavily inflated, and often influenced by meaningless hype or popularity. Peep the People paying $30k+ for stock 90s civics.

The value may not be there for you. That's perfectly reasonable.

30K+ for a 90s Civic is insane!... for me. For someone else it must not be.

See also: https://bringatrailer.com/auctions/

Ford Ranger from the 2000s could operate for the next 10-15 years without ever hitting the price of the Slate. Thats just reality.

You picked a Ford Ranger. Perfect example! That truck has a Cologne engine. I know about that engine.

The 4.0L Cologne engine is a great engine with plenty of power and torque. It's fuel economy kinda sucks. It has a special feature: three timing chains, two of which are on the rear side of the engine.

Somewhere along your 10-15-year Used Ranger Adventure you're going to need a $1,300 timing chain replacement, maybe even two times (interval is around 100,000 miles IIRC).

What's a typical oil change cost, $50? If so, 50 oil changes is $2,500. You'll also need to do a clutch replacement or transmission fluid service every once in a while. Differential fluid too. And that stuff smells like a "rear end".

Regarding ball joints, the ones in a Slate will be brand spanking new and the ones in a 20-year-old truck will have up to 20 years of wear. Same with shocks.

There's an Extra Hassle Factor.

Also factor in the value of your time.

Not trying to shut ya down here, but as someone who wrenches ive seen a bit of it all and the "EVs are low maintenance" stuff always irritates me as its simply inaccurate

If you do your own wrenching that saves you a lot of $$ and it might even be gratifying in and of itself. That's an advantage for you because most people pay someone else to do the wrenching for them.

 

[SlatePossible2028]

The value may not be there for you. That's perfectly reasonable.

30K+ for a 90s Civic is insane!... for me. For someone else it must not be.

See also: https://bringatrailer.com/auctions/



You picked a Ford Ranger. Perfect example! That truck has a Cologne engine. I know about that engine.

The 4.0L Cologne engine is a great engine with plenty of power and torque. It's fuel economy kinda sucks. It has a special feature: three timing chains, two of which are on the rear side of the engine.

Somewhere along your 10-15-year Used Ranger Adventure you're going to need a $1,300 timing chain replacement, maybe even two times (interval is around 100,000 miles IIRC).

What's a typical oil change cost, $50? If so, 50 oil changes is $2,500. You'll also need to do a clutch replacement or transmission fluid service every once in a while. Differential fluid too. And that stuff smells like a "rear end".

Regarding ball joints, the ones in a Slate will be brand spanking new and the ones in a 20-year-old truck will have up to 20 years of wear. Same with shocks.

There's an Extra Hassle Factor.

Also factor in the value of your time.



If you do your own wrenching that saves you a lot of $$ and it might even be gratifying in and of itself. That's an advantage for you because most people pay someone else to do the wrenching for them.

The 4.0 OHC is awful, but people also avoid that thing like the plague when buying Rangers and explorers. They tend to aim for the other engine options.

Electric cars need transmission fluid/gear oil as well in many cases

In regards to the $30k civic - the issue is there's a difference between actual value, and value within its own. Market. However cars like that have gone for prices that exceed value logic even within their own market. The way people are currently treating many Japanese tuner cars is essentially the same as walking into the dealership and offering to pay double simply because you like the car - its to the point of making no sense. Why this is happening is an entirely different topic, and brainrot, but the point is that there is a place where "its this valuable to ME" stops being a factor.

You seem a bit older. Im 28. You would be blown away at some of the ways millenials and Gen Z have completely lost the concept of value or even the idea of researching value. Its quite annoying

 

[AZFox]

The 4.0 OHC is awful, but people also avoid that thing like the plague when buying Rangers and explorers. They tend to aim for the other engine options.

Good luck with that! It's considered the most reliable engine they offered in those years, so the only way to go is down from there.

In regards to the $30k civic - the issue is there's a difference between actual value, and value within its own. Market. However cars like that have gone for prices that exceed value logic even within their own market.

The Actual Value of a specific car is is known precisely when a sale happens at an agreed-upon price. THAT is the value logic, plain and simple.

As illogical as some price may seem to someone who would have paid less, a price has been agreed upon that the buyer is willing to pay. That price is, literally, the actual value.

A brand-new-with-warranty Slate Truck is competing, price-wise, with used cars. Advantage Slate.

Cost-of-ownership goes beyond purchase price, as we've discussed. Advantage Slate again.

Slate offers some things that are unique.... you get the idea.

I've suggested that Slate should use penetration pricing (start by selling at a low price that gets lots of trucks on the road, revenues flowing, and production up, then gradually raise prices when the ongoing market value can be sussed out). Amazon used penetration pricing and it seems to have worked pretty well for Amazon.

 

[SlatePossible2028]

Good luck with that! It's considered the most reliable engine they offered in those years, so the only way to go is down from there.



The Actual Value of a specific car is is known precisely when a sale happens at an agreed-upon price. THAT is the value logic, plain and simple.

As illogical as some price may seem to someone who would have paid less, a price has been agreed upon that the buyer is willing to pay. That price is, literally, the actual value.

A brand-new-with-warranty Slate Truck is competing, price-wise, with used cars. Advantage Slate.

Cost-of-ownership goes beyond purchase price, as we've discussed. Advantage Slate again.

Slate offers some things that are unique.... you get the idea.

I've suggested that Slate should use penetration pricing (start by selling at a low price that gets lots of trucks on the road, revenues flowing, and production up, then gradually raise prices when the ongoing market value can be sussed out). Amazon used penetration pricing and it seems to have worked pretty well for Amazon.

The *non OHC* 4.0 is the most reliable. The later OHC version of the 4.0 is at the bottom of the list for it, surpassed by the available 4 cyls and 3.0V6. The OHC version of the 4.0 was among the worst engines ford made in the 2000s, alongside those junk Jaguar V8s found in the LS and Tbird, and the 6.Blow.

Actual value to that particular buyer, not from an actual objective standpoint. 2 different things but I digress.

I think the slate has great value new, and in its market, especially vs the maverick, Santa Cruz and whatever else may follow. I don't think its particularly good against used trucks, but then again I don't think those particular markets really overlap much.

This all is why I believe the slate's marketing needs to target its market of "new compact truck" and "new SXSs alternative" more than its current marketing, which i made a thread about elsewhere

 

[Letas]

I've suggested that Slate should use penetration pricing (start by selling at a low price that gets lots of trucks on the road, revenues flowing, and production up, then gradually raise prices when the ongoing market value can be sussed out). Amazon used penetration pricing and it seems to have worked pretty well for Amazon.

Seems Slate doesn't agree

"Jablansky told Sherwood that Slate expects to be profitable within the first year of operation, even if people simply buy the base Blank Slate with no add-ons.

“We expect to make money on each vehicle,” he said. "

If Slate is truly profitable in FY2027, I would argue they entirely lost the plot. No new company should be profitable in the first year of operation. Just the nature of startups.

 

[AZFox]

Seems Slate doesn't agree

Saw that. 🤔

To their defense, price isn't determined by cost, rather it's determined by what the market will bear

If cost is so low they can do penetration pricing AND make a profit, that's pretty impressive!

 

[SlatePossible2028]

I really do think $25k will be the make or break

 

[Letas]

Saw that. 🤔

To their defense, price isn't determined by cost, rather it's determined by what the market will bear

If cost is so low they can do penetration pricing AND make a profit, that's pretty impressive!

Fair! My optimism in the world wasn’t that high. Give me a 20k slate, $2500 in profit for them every Car off the line 😂

 

[AZFox]

Actual value to that particular buyer, not from an actual objective standpoint. 2 different things but I digress.

Fair enough. There's where our opinions diverge. I'm saying value is objectively the amount paid by the buyer, not what someone else thinks the buyer should have paid.

 

[AZFox]

The later OHC version of the 4.0 is at the bottom of the list for it

In your opinion.