How well is Slate Auto known outside this community?

[cadblu]

I’ve asked many friends, associates, and colleagues if they ever heard of the Slate truck. Surprisingly, many of them are car buffs, and well acquainted with everything automotive. Based on my personal experience, only 2 out of ~ 20 people I queried ever heard of Slate. As a startup business with less than 4 months of exposure, much of this is understandable. But when I provided some brief details of the truck, they became noticeably interested.

Was wondering what your experience has been when discussing Slate with your associates. Thanks for your input.

 

[sodamo]

I admit, being retired, to having a small group of friends, some off grid, some having EV or PHEV. Only recall 1 express zero knowledge/awareness of Slate. A couple are even interested. The one guy with zero lives in a condo and his current vehicle is less than year old.

 

[Lanthian]

Only a couple of my friends are "car guys", and none of them had even heard of Slate before I brought it up. I think it'll gain more momentum as they near production, or at least I hope so.

 

[The Weatherman]

I saw the same level of knowledge among my friends regarding the Maverick before its release.

We all know how that has turned out. 😀

 

[motorolas]

My older sibling who’s somewhat of a car guy called it the Amazon Truck. So SEO is working on folks who aren’t super interested in the Truck. But vaguely aware of its existence.

 

[Luxrage]

My car friends and my 350+ person DFW car club I'm in all know about it, but that was partly my doing not shutting up about it. I do see Slate's name pop up from random commenters in random automotive articles talking about EVs or trucks, so it's gaining some online spread.

Slate has done no 'proper' advertising so I'm not surprised. I bet if they started doing some web or TV/Streaming ads we'd probably see more. Like Rivian has been doing partnering with Disney.

If Mercedes can get in Mario Kart, what's stopping Slate?

 

[B1050]

As with most "different" vehicles most peoples first experience will be seeing it on the road for the first time and wondering "what is that"?

 

[atx_ev]

I’ve asked many friends, associates, and colleagues if they ever heard of the Slate truck. Surprisingly, many of them are car buffs, and well acquainted with everything automotive. Based on my personal experience, only 2 out of ~ 20 people I queried ever heard of Slate. As a startup business with less than 4 months of exposure, much of this is understandable. But when I provided some brief details of the truck, they became noticeably interested.

Was wondering what your experience has been when discussing Slate with your associates. Thanks for your input.

i have multiple friends tell me about slate as something I would be interested in. I know quite a few people that have heard of it as well.

 

[sodamo]

They only person I care who knows about Slate Auto is my wife. I'm slowly introducing the idea to her that I'm buying one in 2027. Kinda eased into it yesterday. LOL.

I’ve never broached the idea directly (yet), but will share when I read something interesting. She surprised me the other day when I overheard her tell a mutual friend of my interest. Sounded like a good sign.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

Most Americans learn about a vehicle from...

• The salesman on the dealership lot
• Ads - online or television
• Media - car sites, etc
• Friends and family

• I don't think Slate will be advertising until they have a demand < production issue.
• They don't have salespeople.
• And friends who want to remain friends won't be recommending Slate until they're real and proven.
• So I think most people will learn about Slate from media

That's just idle thought. Zero facts to support that.

 

[sodamo]

Most Americans learn about a vehicle from...

• The salesman on the dealership lot
• Ads - online or television
• Media - car sites, etc
• Friends and family

• I don't think Slate will be advertising until they have a demand < production issue.
• They don't have salespeople.
• And friends who want to remain friends won't be recommending Slate until they're real and proven.
• So I think most people will learn about Slate from media

That's just idle thought. Zero facts to support that.

Almost agree, except # 3. friends will talk to friends about the Slate, too early to recommend, not to early to discuss.

 

[Mac-Tyson]

I’ve asked many friends, associates, and colleagues if they ever heard of the Slate truck. Surprisingly, many of them are car buffs, and well acquainted with everything automotive. Based on my personal experience, only 2 out of ~ 20 people I queried ever heard of Slate. As a startup business with less than 4 months of exposure, much of this is understandable. But when I provided some brief details of the truck, they became noticeably interested.

Was wondering what your experience has been when discussing Slate with your associates. Thanks for your input.

Slate has gone viral, I would say it has the same name recognition at min as Rivian or Lucid. Slate's marketing team is killing it and now you even have content creators that are naturally covering the truck without the need to be paid by Slate. It's doing everything right including a nationwide tour. But it's still not a household name. That likely won't happen until people are actually driving it and it starts spreading by word of mouth. But it's definitely not like Fisker or Canoo where I only learned about their existence when they went out of business.

 

[Adam W]

I learned about Slate within the first few hours of their big reveal presentation, and had a reservation a few minutes later. I don't even follow auto news, but it was all over my social feed that evening. I think they're doing just fine, and even if a fraction of their current reservations turn into orders, they probably have at least a year's worth of production sold already. Once those early trucks start hitting the street, it will only get more people on board.

In comparison, I only learned about Telo when people started comparing the Slate to it.

 

[Thutchis]

Its a fine balancing act Slate Auto has to walk. With production over a year away, they don't won't to lose interest momentum too early. But at the same time they need to build awareness ahead of releasing it. Vaporware can really kill a business.