Test drive

[smack daddy]

Wonder when there will be an opportunity to actually test drive one of these. I have a reservation and I don’t want to buy it site unseen and not to have driven it. I also wonder if they are going to have special opportunities for those that have a reservation to drive it? Slate should really be thinking about rewarding those that are willing to take the plunge and be the Guinea pigs.

 

[cadblu]

Wonder when there will be an opportunity to actually test drive one of these. I have a reservation and I don’t want to buy it site unseen and not to have driven it. I also wonder if they are going to have special opportunities for those that have a reservation to drive it?

According to Slate.Auto FAQ’s;

“Reservation holders will get an exclusive first chance to sit in a Slate. Later in 2026, we’ll have vehicles available for demonstration drives.”

My thoughts:
I am anxious to learn about the logistics of the test drive. For example, how far will we need to travel for the opportunity? And can we drive it solo without the Slate representative on board? And for how long?

Note that Tesla lets you take a test drive, keep it overnight and return it the next day. Now that’s what I call a test drive.

 

[JImmy]

Yes hoping we get to test drive first. I live between Portland and Seattle and can't wait to see and drive.
I am a deposit holder.

 

[IamSpotted]

According to Slate.Auto FAQ’s;

“Reservation holders will get an exclusive first chance to sit in a Slate. Later in 2026, we’ll have vehicles available for demonstration drives.”

My thoughts:
I am anxious to learn about the logistics of the test drive. For example, how far will we need to travel for the opportunity? And can we drive it solo without the Slate representative on board? And for how long?

Note that Tesla lets you take a test drive, keep it overnight and return it the next day. Now that’s what I call a test drive.

For me, f it is further than Nashville or Atlanta to get a test drive I'll be disappointed. Im not flying to California just to get a test drive and see it in person.

 

[NowThatsDamp]

Hopefully the Warsaw plant will have a demonstration center. I'd love to visit the factory. Seems like offering that opportunity would fit well in their "American manufacturing" mantra.

"Hey American, come check out our American utility truck at our American factory! It'll be a fun time!"

 

[E90400K]

If I need to drive one of my ICEV several hundred miles in a compressed time period to go see and test drive a Slate, I will amuse myself with the irony.

 

[beatle]

My guess is Slate will be touring the US with a truck or two to show reservation holders so everyone doesn't have to descend into CA or IN directly, though they may also do one at the factory.

Ford did something similar in 2021 for the Lightning. Even though the events were only open to reservation holders, the spots to attend still went super fast (an hour, tops) and I missed mine. It was in DC so I wouldn't have had to drive far, but I'm not sure how many they had all over the country. As a result, I didn't get to ride or drive the truck before I took delivery in 2022.

I think test drives may be pretty limited and/or very short due to the sheer number of people who want to drive it, and the logistics of moving a lot of trucks around the country, but if they can actually ramp up production as quickly as they say they'll be able to, maybe this will be a non-issue in the fall. Since they're so small, I bet they can fit 9 or even 10 on an auto carrier truck!

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Hopefully the Warsaw plant will have a demonstration center. I'd love to visit the factory.

A quote from this article indicates that Slate wants to do this.
Slate begins work to transform R.R. Donnelley Plant into EV factory
WVPE 88.1 Elkhart/South Bend | By Mike Murrell
Published August 28, 2025 at 5:24 PM EDT

“We will re-industrialize the site to house everything from battery-pack assembly to seat manufacturing and general assembly,” said Slate CCO Jeremy Snyder during his remarks. “We hope that the space where we are meeting today will be our customer-experience center, where customers will be able to visit, interact with us, take a test drive, purchase and drive their new Slate truck home.”

I also recall hearing subsequent reports that being able to purchase and take delivery from the factory will not happen although in this factory tour video, Chris Barman reiterates that test drives will be available:

My point is, things change. Be patient while Slate works things out and we'll see how this goes.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

A great way to get people in Slates for test drives would be auto show "ride and drive" events. Jeep and some other OEMs have these at major and regional auto shows. I remember doing one in Providence RI. You can give thousands of rides to people at these shows.

Some other offbeat advertising ideas...

• I'd donate a nicely wrapped Slate to every significant university with a campus. So the kids see it and ask "what is that".
• Then I'd loan a Slate for a week to every single YouTube influencer and auto channel in existence. Hint, all OEMs have a program like this.
• Then I'd NOT do regional deliveries. I'd get a Slate into the hands of a few early buyers in every metro area in the USA - because I'd want people to see Slates.
• And I'd offer a $500 discount to every buyer for the first year who's willing to take a free "Slate" advertising wrap on their truck.
• And maybe another $500 discount if they're willing to attend the regional BEV car meets that happen every year (can't remember the organization, but somebody organizes these across the USA).

Kind of crazy ideas. But it's kind of a crazy vehicle. Anybody else have ideas to promote Slate?

I know all us fanboys/fangirls/fanothers want test drives. But it's not us that matters for Slate to survive. It's the other 15.5 million people buying cars each year - who have never heard of Slate.

 

[Bayfire2441]

A quote from this article indicates that Slate wants to do this.
Slate begins work to transform R.R. Donnelley Plant into EV factory
WVPE 88.1 Elkhart/South Bend | By Mike Murrell
Published August 28, 2025 at 5:24 PM EDT

I also recall hearing subsequent reports that being able to purchase and take delivery from the factory will not happen although in this factory tour video, Chris Barman reiterates that test drives will be available:

My point is, things change. Be patient while Slate works things out and we'll see how this goes.

I don't remember what's all been said or not, but I think it was along of the lines of they won't do tours at the factory. That said, maybe they can't sell the Slates from the factory due to IN's laws.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I don't remember what's all been said or not, but I think it was along of the lines of they won't do tours at the factory. That said, maybe they can't sell the Slates from the factory due to IN's laws.

In all the speculation, hope, and hype, it's hard to keep track of what Slate announces and how it changes as time progresses. They're still learning how to make this work. I don't think it's a good idea to make decisions based on bad info or someone's guesses - someone who isn't a Slate representative.

 

[Bayfire2441]

In all the speculation, hope, and hype, it's hard to keep track of what Slate announces and how it changes as time progresses. They're still learning how to make this work. I don't think it's a good idea to make decisions based on bad info or someone's guesses - someone who isn't a Slate representative.

Even the reps don't seem to have the same answers. I agree its a good idea not to rely on much until we get to production.

 

[The Weatherman]

I’m curious how they are gone make these early vehicles available for test drives. This a big country and spreading them early so most reservation holders can get to them looks like a big challenge.

Hell I’m sure my reservation is in the top 2,000 but I live 110 miles from the nearest metropolitan area in KY or TN.

I wouldn’t mind that drive, but I doubt either Nashville or Louisville will see one anytime soon.

 

[IHeartSimple]

Whenever they do public test drive events, I hope they let people like me jump to the head of the line.

Why? Because all I want is 30 seconds of butt time to make sure I won't be all cramped up. (I remember a rental car once that was so cramped it was literally painful to drive.) They'll get a lot more ppl like me through in an hour than ones who want to drive around the block.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Whenever they do public test drive events, I hope they let people like me jump to the head of the line.

Why? Because all I want is 30 seconds of butt time to make sure I won't be all cramped up. (I remember a rental car once that was so cramped it was literally painful to drive.) They'll get a lot more ppl like me through in an hour than ones who want to drive around the block.

I was able to sit in the one they brought to Cleveland last year. I was pleasantly surprised by how much room there was in the cab. Just my 2¢.