Reusing and recycling accessories

[AZFox]

I can see wheels being one of the easiest things for them to do at the factory

That was my original thought, but now I think "Blank means blank".

Unless Blank mean leaving the space for the bumper blank, as in without a bumper installed.

 

[sodamo]

That was my original thought, but now I think "Blank means blank".

Unless Blank mean leaving the space for the bumper blank, as in without a bumper installed.

Might make sense that Blanks come of the line without bumpers or wheels but on a trolley thing that takes them to a finishing area for those installs?

could the % of these type mods affect how Slate treats them ?

 

[Letas]

I can imagine that their servers might be impacted on that auspicious day.

Once people can start doing some math and some opt out, gonna get a little crazy. Conversely, they might get an uptick of new reservations if popular packages are under some bogey amount.

Will be like watching an IPO.

I bet Slate is intentionally not releasing pricing yet, to see how legacy manufacturers respond to the tax credit going away. It's safe to assume current EVs will at least be considered to receive a price cut... just how steep we will see.

If the low end of current EVs drops from ~30-35k to 25-30k, Slate might do some scrambling.

 

[AZFox]

Might make sense that Blanks come of the line without bumpers or wheels but on a trolley thing that takes them to a finishing area for those installs?

I was thinking more of a Last-Mile installation, but yes.

Logistics would be vastly simplified.

At some some time in the future (when production supply exceeds current demand) you could be able to decide to buy a Truck in the morning, go to a Delivery Partner and buy it, and happily drive your Truck to a restaurant for a celebratory dinner that evening.

Last-Mile configuration eliminates the delay and complex tracking that would be necessary if options are installed and your custom-configured Truck is then shipped from Warsaw individually.

Instead, Blank Slates would travel by rail in bulk and be held at Delivery Partner facilities. The Delivery Partner could also have an inventory of Accessories.

This way the Delivery Partner could either put your accessories in the bed and bring the Truck to you or install the accessories for a fee.

 

[Letas]

I was thinking more of a Last-Mile installation, but yes.

Logistics would be vastly simplified.

At some some time in the future (when production supply exceeds current demand) you could be able to decide to buy a Truck in the morning, go to a Delivery Partner and buy it, and happily drive your Truck to a restaurant for a celebratory dinner that evening.

Last-Mile configuration eliminates the delay and complex tracking that would be necessary if options are installed and your custom-configured Truck is then shipped from Warsaw individually.

Instead, Blank Slates would travel by rail in bulk and be held at Delivery Partner facilities. The Delivery Partner could also have an inventory of Accessories.

This way the Delivery Partner could either put your accessories in the bed and bring the Truck to you or install the accessories for a fee.

I think Delivery Partners holding inventory is a big no, and goes against the whole model.

I'd imagine the supply chain goes something like...

Blank Slate:
Warsaw Factory -> 3PL (Rail or Ground) -> Customer (At Delivery partner, or at door, for a cost)

Slate with Installed Factory Add Ons:
Warsaw Factory -> Add-On Installation (Presumably near factory) -> 3PL (Rail or Ground) -> Customer

Slate with uninstalled (customer installed) addons:
Truck: Warsaw Factory -> 3PL (Rail or Ground) -> Customer (Same as Blank Slate)
Addons: Factory -> 3PL (Likely Fedex, UPS, DHL, etc) -> Customer.

They have made it clear these add ons are to be flat packed. That takes a significant amount of time and engineering, and the only benefit is that it lowers shipping cost.

Delivery Partners holding inventory opens a whole complexity of demand forecasting, min/maxs, etc at a MUCH smaller level- kind of the antithesis of Slate.

 

[AZFox]

Delivery Partners holding inventory opens a whole complexity of demand forecasting, min/maxs, etc at a MUCH smaller level- kind of the antithesis of Slate.

There's a "waterbed theory of complexity" in programming.

The waterbed theory of complexity suggests that in systems like programming languages, reducing complexity in one area will lead to increased complexity in another, similar to how pushing down on a waterbed causes the water to rise elsewhere. This principle highlights the challenge of managing complexity in design and user interaction.​

Our differing opinions lie in where the complexity should happen, either in Warsaw or where the customers live.

 

[Letas]

There's a "waterbed theory of complexity" in programming.

The waterbed theory of complexity suggests that in systems like programming languages, reducing complexity in one area will lead to increased complexity in another, similar to how pushing down on a waterbed causes the water to rise elsewhere. This principle highlights the challenge of managing complexity in design and user interaction.​

Our differing opinions lie in where the complexity should happen, either in Warsaw or where the customers live.

Maybe exists in programming, but would argue it is not nearly the same here. Centralized inventory management is a standard principle in warehousing. There are some downsides (increased freight cost, lead times), but in Slate's case the pros far outweigh these downsides.

In other words, yes it is more complex at the Warsaw location, but minimally so compared to the complexity it would add across the network.

 

[AZFox]

In other words, yes it is more complex at the Warsaw location, but minimally so compared to the complexity it would add across the network.

The Systems Thinkers at Slate will come up with a good solution, just you watch.

 

[Dorbiman]

I think Slate will roll Blank Slates off the line, all the same (minus battery). The trucks will be delivered to customers, and the options will be either packed in the bed/delivered at another date, or optionally installed before it gets to the customer. We've seen how legacy automakers handle this in the 2nd case. Take off parts are the customer's problem. Even in 04-06, if you bought the SAP (Sport Appearance Package) for the Pontiac GTO, the dealers typically either threw the take-off parts away, or handed them to the customer to deal with/take home.

Expecting them to have some sort of recovery program for semi-used parts seems like a bridge too far imo.

 

[AZFox]

Expecting them to have some sort of recovery program for semi-used parts seems like a bridge too far imo.

Early sets of stock wheels & tires could be sent back to Warsaw.

After that, those wheels & tires could be used over and over as Transport Wheels.

That way, eventually, packaged (not semi-used) tires and wheels can be installed at the Last Mile location, which could be the Delivery Partner's or customer's location.

Maybe a "wheel delete" (credit for not getting the stock wheels) option would allow you to install your own third-party wheels on a brand new Truck. Wouldn't that be cool!

Regardless, I don't think selling an EV with throw-away wheels is a good look. They should avoid doing that.

 

[Dorbiman]

I don't disagree, I just think it's a bit overblown. I suspect a fair number of people would keep them as spares or for a winter set. Or they can sell them. I doubt many would actually throw them away. My only point is that Slate is trying to run a very lean operation. Adding a slew of logistics complicates things and adds operation costs, and therefore end-user costs.

 

[AZFox]

Adding a slew of logistics complicates things and adds operation costs, and therefore end-user costs.

In some ways it simplifies and in other ways it complicates. Waterbed Theory and all...

if you somplify at the production end you can crank out more Trucks.

One way forces someone to order their Truck and wait.
The other doesn't.
That's an important convenience factor.

If convenience and fast delivery sells more Trucks, then extra cost (if it exists, which isn't a given) would be made up by higher sales.

What happens when production catches up? Excess Trucks need to be held somewhere.

We;re taking Forum Speculation to lofty heights here.

Slate will do the right thing.

 

[Letas]

Early sets of stock wheels & tires could be sent back to Warsaw.

After that, those wheels & tires could be used over and over as Transport Wheels.

That way, eventually, packaged (not semi-used) tires and wheels can be installed at the Last Mile location, which could be the Delivery Partner's or customer's location.

Maybe a "wheel delete" (credit for not getting the stock wheels) option would allow you to install your own third-party wheels on a brand new Truck. Wouldn't that be cool!

Regardless, I don't think selling an EV with throw-away wheels is a good look. They should avoid doing that.

Perhaps I don’t understand where you’re coming from on this as a whole. Slate has stated that they will install accessories at a cost at their factory before delivery.

If you want a non-stock wheel, why would you want them to do anything other than ship it to you with the wheels you ordered?

So you can install them yourselves?

If you get an “upgraded” wheel option on any car today (offered by the mfg), the car comes with that. You don’t also get the original set as well. Which feels like what you want….

This whole thing feels awfully over complicated

 

[AZFox]

Perhaps I don’t understand where you’re coming from on this as a whole. Slate has stated that they will install accessories at a cost at their factory before delivery.

At their factory?

Do you have a reference for that?

 

[Letas]

At their factory?

Do you have a reference for that?

I suppose I’m reading between the lines too much of what “before delivery” means. From a practical sense, it doesn’t make any sense to outsource these to the “field”.

And if they are, I would expect to have to eat the full cost of a second set of wheels. Reverse logistics for them would be expensive, clunky, and overall silly. I would expect to have to throw those 4 tires in your garage.