Is FORD Preparing to Release a SLATE Competitor?

[Trace26]

This is why I question the Slate's viability. The GM Bolt models were sold at $28K before the $7,500 tax credit (so under $20K) and sales were not great until right at the end of their production run. And most were bought by Uber drivers. GM didn't find them profitable.

While Slate thinks the answer is an inexpensive EV. History indicates that is really not the case.

Actually they were around mid $30k until 2023 when they dropped the starting price to 28k and that's when they started to sell. If slate can keep they're price point in the mid 20k range it will sell pretty good.
And you have to remember, most of the people who will buy a mid 20k but not a low 30k car, never were able to utilize the tax credit.

 

[GaRailroader]

This is why I question the Slate's viability. The GM Bolt models were sold at $28K before the $7,500 tax credit (so under $20K) and sales were not great until right at the end of their production run. And most were bought by Uber drivers. GM didn't find them profitable.

While Slate thinks the answer is an inexpensive EV. History indicates that is really not the case.

The thing about the Bolt and the Leaf is they are not pick-up form factors. Right now a small EV pick-up doesn’t exist but it looks like Slate will be first to market with one. In 2 weeks Slate had 100k reservations, 3 more months have lapsed since then and I be they have a whole lot more than 100k now. I am glad my reservation was placed in the am of 4/25.

in my household, I’ve always driven the 2nd car. Typically that has been a pick-up. (My wife would not drive a pick-up). The beauty of having a pick-up as a 2nd car is that it offers some utility that can’t be covered with the first car. An affordable pick-up will always have more appeal to me for a 2nd car because of the utility it offers over the primary car.

 

[The Weatherman]

On the other hand, if this rendering is accurate to any extent, I think it beats the Slate in the "looks" department.

To me, that looks too much like the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Never was a fan of that thing.

 

[The Weatherman]

Front view of the compact truck rendering

The front view looks a lot like the Mach-e, to me anyway.

 

[Letas]

Cost is not going to be an advantage for Slate. For what it is, its actually expensive. I also don't expect the best driving experience when it comes to NVH. Slate will need to work hard on selling the customization and durability benefits.

This is a key point I think gets missed a ton here. The Slate is not inexpensive for what it is, evidenced by the fact that their CEO has stated they expect to be profitable in the first year.

Slate needs to WIN on build quality, and customization. Not dinky wraps, let me build exactly the car I want. And that includes AWD.

 

[KevinRS]

How big is that bed even? 3 feet? Seems like there's little utility added over the SUV version, it's the same SUV trunk, just open to the air, so insecure.

 

[GaRailroader]

It would be funny if it's just an electric Maverick. Lol

Maverick Thunder.(heard this on a podcast recently)

 

[Driven5]

The front view looks a lot like the Mach-e grill slapped on a Santa Cruz, to me anyway.

Fixed.

 

[skidoofast]

On the other hand, if this rendering is accurate to any extent, I think it beats the Slate in the "looks" department.

so if this rendering is correct Ford is going to make a EV Hyundia Santa Cruz???? now reading Im not the only one that thought that LOL

 

[Doctors Do Little]

It's kind of interesting, I looked up Consumer Reports' list of "top EV's":

1) BMW i4 (I admit that this is slick for a sedan)
2) BMW i5 (slightly less slick?)
3) Porsche Taycan (really?)
4) Ioniq 6
5) Kia EV9
6) Tesla Model Y
7) Q4 E-Tron
8) Kia Niro
9) Tesla Model 3
10) Mustang Mach-E
11) Kona
12) Ariya

They are currently testing A6 E-Tron, Optiq, Vistiq, Sierra EV, Ioniq 9, Mini Countryman EV, 26 Model Y, VW ID Buzz, Volvo EX30, Volvo EX90

The rest of the current EV models -- they either didn't think made the quality grade or didn't have enough data to do anything with.

That leaves a LOT of white space for Slate, and it's upcoming legacy manufacturer small truck EV competition. If Slate came in on price AND somehow made CR quality grade, it would really open up the audience for those who buy only CR-recommended products.

(Disclaimer: CR pretty much hates pickup trucks. It only likes the Ridgeline, Maverick, and Maverick Hybrid.)

CR take on Slate below.

 

[PACMAN]

Front view of the compact truck rendering

If it looks like that, I’ll stick with the Slate. If it’s boxy and kind of retro (like Bronco styling), then I might have a decision to make…

 

[Doctors Do Little]

If it looks like that, I’ll stick with the Slate. If it’s boxy and kind of retro (like Bronco styling), then I might have a decision to make…

I feel ya. Ford could have a winner with a mini-bronco EV. But, it’s still Ford.

 

[AZFox]

To me, that looks too much like the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Never was a fan of that thing.

The front view looks a lot like the Mach-e, to me anyway.

If it looks like that, I’ll stick with the Slate. If it’s boxy and kind of retro (like Bronco styling), then I might have a decision to make…

Remember Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers, on public radio?

Their personal make-up artist was Bud Tugly.

Apparently Bud is working in a skunkworks at Ford now.

That looks like a Bud Tugly design to me.

 

[PACMAN]

Remember Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers, on public radio?

I miss Car Talk so much! That was the best show on public radio for decades.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

So then, why is everyone upset the tax credit went away for the Slate? If inexpensive EVs are what the market needs, but that part of market can't take advantage of the tax credit, why is it thought Slate's destiny is tied to the tax credit? It makes no sense.

Regardless, GM gave up on the Bolt.

I'm a snob, apparently, but I found the Bolt to be YU-guly (the worst kind of ugly).