Articles and Videos of Interest That Don't Merit Their Own Threads

[KevinRS]

https://fortune.com/2025/09/09/the-...s-opening-up-capacity-from-battery-suppliers/
Not really any new info there, besides that they are now shopping different suppliers since they don't have to worry about qualifying for the tax credit anymore, and other manufacturers are reducing plans. They do quote "deliveries to customers by the end of 2026"

 

[Mac-Tyson]

This video came out 4 months ago during the release, but I just ran into it today.
It’s all in Korean, so I don’t understand, but it had shots of the prototypes in the different configurations.

I only go to YouTube, Reddit, and here for my slate social media, so there may be other videos with the Slate in the different configurations.
Was fun seeing Chris saying, “please, hold on for a minute, and wait for our trucks to leave”, and have seven of the prototypes making a turn out the tunnel and “driving” down the ramp. That was pretty nice to see at time of launch seven prototypes coming already made and shown off. I didn’t catch that from other videos and I take it this impressed potential investors compared to some of the other EV startups that are around/failed.



Showed Truck, SUV, Fastback, and a few other truck onfigurations, as well as the Slate while being wrapped. Looked like maybe 6-8 people were installing wrap sections and adding the topper to the truck. Nice touch with the curtain and the “Work in progress” sign.

It was a good walkthrough and interior shots that I didn’t see months ago in a wider angle.

Don’t know what they were saying, but there were good short video shots of the truck.

Google translated the comments and they are not too dissimilar to the comments with other US based viewers.

The rear seats look like they could potentially be pull down, giving you more cargo space capabilities even in the SUV Kit configuration.

 

[AZFox]

AutoWeek posted an article about a future hybrid body-on-frame pickup from Hyundai. This one's not really a Slate competitor, but it's interesting nonetheless.

The pickup, expected before the end of the decade, will be the brand’s first traditional truck. Unlike the Santa Cruz, which rides on a unibody platform and leans toward lifestyle buyers, Hyundai says the new model will deliver the durability and towing capacity US truck buyers expect.

Hyundai’s New Pickup Aims Squarely at Tacoma and Ranger

 

[AZFox]

Here's a party pooper piece from a pessimistic prognosticator.

[...] Four years after the Rivian R1T started sales, we can confidently say electric pickup trucks are a failed experiment. Here are all the failed electric pickup trucks, as well as those that hope for a better fate.​

...​

Other companies like Slate Auto, Scout Motors, and Ford still hope to change this segment's fate, but succeeding will be nothing short of a miracle.​

...​

That's why Ford is changing its strategy and will build smaller EVs, including a compact pickup truck. At the August 11 unveiling, CEO Jim Farley was confident Ford could sell the truck at $30,000 without sacrificing comfort and features. If this proves true, Slate Auto's pickup will be dead on arrival. Ford's truck, which might or might not be called Ranchero, should arrive in 2027, one year after the Slate pickup, though.​

autoevolution: Pour One Out for the Electric Pickup Truck, the Automotive Fail of the Century

 

[Dorbiman]

Here's a party pooper piece from a pessimistic prognosticator.

[...] Four years after the Rivian R1T started sales, we can confidently say electric pickup trucks are a failed experiment. Here are all the failed electric pickup trucks, as well as those that hope for a better fate.​

...​

Other companies like Slate Auto, Scout Motors, and Ford still hope to change this segment's fate, but succeeding will be nothing short of a miracle.​

...​

That's why Ford is changing its strategy and will build smaller EVs, including a compact pickup truck. At the August 11 unveiling, CEO Jim Farley was confident Ford could sell the truck at $30,000 without sacrificing comfort and features. If this proves true, Slate Auto's pickup will be dead on arrival. Ford's truck, which might or might not be called Ranchero, should arrive in 2027, one year after the Slate pickup, though.​

autoevolution: Pour One Out for the Electric Pickup Truck, the Automotive Fail of the Century

I dig the alliteration

 

[Doug T]

This article points out the opportunity that Slate has. They are proposing a cost-effective work/commuter truck that gives many of us of fond memories of vehicles that we drove in the 80s and 90s. And we don't need to pay for extras we don't want but can deck it out to whatever level we choose. None of the vehicles mentioned in that article offer anything like this.

To me the key to success for Slate is to meet their stated goals of price and schedule. Do that with a reliable and safe truck and they will a have this specific market to themselves. I see many recommendations on this and other forums that add cost and/or risk to delivering on time and cost. For example: make if a four door, make it AWD, change the battery supplier or technology, etc. I hope Slate ignores this and maintains focus on their specific price and schedule goals.

I hope Ford is actually able to deliver an inexpensive truck but will believe is when I see it. To me their proposed strategy is to deliver the same type of trucks available now but build them with Tesla-like techniques such as Gigacasting and vertically integrated Giogafactories. I will just say this, Tesla did this with the Cybertruck and took 4 years to release a truck $20K over its promised price. Ford needs to do better that this to succeed. If Slate does this it will fail as did the other companies listed in this article.

 

[SadRobot]

The possibility of CA maintaining the EV credit just died today.

https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/newsom-reverses-ev-credit-california-21057761.php

With the tax rate on vehicles in my area being 10.5% I don't think I'd be able to even get a Slate under 30k out the door.

I'm officially out for now. I cancelled my reservation and got my $50 back. I'll be keeping my eye on Slate though and I do hope they succeed.

 

[cadblu]

They do quote "deliveries to customers by the end of 2026"

Yes, and Slate can claim success on this goal even if they only deliver a “couple of trucks” off the line in December 2026. To maintain credibility I’m sure they’ll find a way to deliver.

 

[sodamo]

Yes, and Slate can claim success on this goal even if they only deliver a “couple of trucks” off the line in December 2026. To maintain credibility I’m sure they’ll find a way to deliver.

Still hoping mine is November 😁

 

[Doug T]

Slate could really make a statement here by exceeding its stated schedule and price goals.

 

[sodamo]

Slate could really make a statement here by exceeding its stated schedule and price goals.

🤙 beginning 4th Q Delivery, low 20’s

 

[motorolas]

Carbuzz - Why Small EV Trucks Will Succeed Where Large Ones Failed

https://carbuzz.com/small-electric-trucks-slate-ford/

From the article
Ford announced its intention to build a $30,000 midsize electric pickup. Kia confirmed plans to build an electric midsize truck. Toyota teased an electric truck that may debut next year. Here’s why those smaller electric trucks make a lot of sense and could catch on when their larger forebearers haven't.

- Target the fleet market
- EV truck at a lower price point
- small EV truck won’t be expected to “do as much


2026 Electric Pickup Truck Pricing

Truck	Lowest Trim MSRP	Highest Trim MSRP
Chevrolet Silverado EV	$62,995	$88,695
GMC Hummer EV Pickup	$99,095	$107,195
GMC Sierra EV	$64,495	$100,695
Ford F-150 Lightning	$63,345	$84,995
Rivian R1T	$70,990	$115,900
Tesla Cybertruck	$79,990	$114,99

 

[Doug T]

Slate has clearly had its eye on the fleet market from the beginning. Remember the wraps such as "Witch on Demand", "Feline Therapist" and "CryShare".

I can imagine Slate collocating an accessory shop with the factory to apply the wraps and any other accessories required for a fleet order. It could then load the fleet onto train cars and efficiently ship to anywhere in the country.