Questions answered and unanswered on 6/24

[tubes]

Let's talk about we know and what are our predictions on what will be (and won't be) revealed on 6/24. I've got a sinking feeling we're going to be left asking for more. I've seen a lot of chatter on some threads that imply so many things will be answered on 6/24. I don't think so.

My thoughts below. Let's talk, or throw me brickbats if I have this wrong.

What We Know

• Pricing for the "Base Slate and Key Accessories" (per official communication)
• Your delivery window based on reservation priority (and presumably location which has been mentioned a few times)
• Ability to see the delivery window on our account
• Ability to put down $250 to pre-order which only gets you in line for your delivery window
• 30 days to decide whether to put down that $250 or not
• You won't be able to order accessories or wraps - that is finalized later closer to delivery, but you can "make" your truck to be ready

What's Fuzzy

• Pre-order gets you a window, you can make your truck. Will it show a price for everything or not, i.e. will Maker be updated with a price?
• Will there be price clarification for delivery/destination fee?
• The communications say "base slate," surely there will be a price for the extended range, right?
• Battery chemistry?
• Slate U. Anything?
• Will the delivery partner (Carvana?) be identified?
• Will the delivery process be clarified?
• Will we get better pictures of the interior?
• Which specifications will be clarified? Probably towing per the leak. Others?
• When is Slate seriously going to be having regular and widespread "show and tell" events?

My Prediction

• We'll get the price for the base slate and the extended range version
• We'll get a price on destination charge, but not home delivery
• We'll get the price for the SUV kit, wheels, roof rack, front speaker, a basic solid wrap and slatelets
• We'll get updates to basic specifications on towing, range, vehicle weight, exterior size, and perhaps motor HP/torque
• Slate Maker will NOT be updated to include prices. Your garage will not have a price.
• We will NOT get prices on most accessories like the cubbie, power window, front light upgrade, etc.
• We will NOT get new interior pictures
• We will NOT get any more information on Slate U
• We will NOT get information on the delivery partner
• We will NOT get a picture of the frunk and exact dimensions
• We will NOT get clarification on battery chemistry
• We will NOT get detailed specifications
• We will NOT get information on financing or the process to buy the thing
• There will not be a blizzard of events to see a Slate in person any time soon, probably not until October at earliest
• Test drive events will continue to be fuzzy and apparently far into the future, probably very near to first delivery window

I hope I'm wrong, but I think that what is revealed on 6/24 is going to be quite minimal, basically exactly what they said in their email. I'm not even sure they'll give us a price on the destination charge. I think more information about the vehicle's specifics won't be revealed. We won't know what the dash display looks like. Interior pictures won't be updated.

In summary, we will be craving and crying for more.

 

[EV Trek]

Slate sent me this information a few days ago. “On June 24th, when pre-orders open, full pricing will be announced at the same time. That means you'll see the exact cost of the base truck, the extended battery, and every accessory and kit before you're asked to make any non-refundable commitment”
I must have deleted the answer to my question on the prices in the Slate maker but I was told that any build you have already will show the prices and any new builds will show as you select each accessory.
I hope that helps.

 

[GaRailroader]

That means you'll see the exact cost of the base truck, the extended battery, and every accessory and kit before you're asked to make any non-refundable commitment

In the email I received it only mentioned the blank Slate and key accessories. I’m starting to think that the 3rd scenario in Mike the Car Geek’s latest video is what is at play.

 

[tubes]

Slate sent me this information a few days ago. “On June 24th, when pre-orders open, full pricing will be announced at the same time. That means you'll see the exact cost of the base truck, the extended battery, and every accessory and kit before you're asked to make any non-refundable commitment”
I must have deleted the answer to my question on the prices in the Slate maker but I was told that any build you have already will show the prices and any new builds will show as you select each accessory.
I hope that helps.

Helps a lot and blows away one of my big "NOT"s, which is a good thing!

 

[OldGoat]

Good ”fuzzy” questions Tubes. For me, I just need to know the battery price difference. I plan to drive the bare bones Slate for a few months to see what I really need to add and I’m betting it will be fewer things than many of you. Trailer hitch for sure but e-trailer.com to the rescue if needed. Over cab roof rack but there will be many aftermarket options coming if Slate’s pricing is too steep. I’ll be paying attention to what future posts have to say about Slate accessories and particularly the ease or difficulty of installation. Depending on what tires they use I would like to know their wheel prices as I might be mounting up some snow tires for easy change outs seasonally. Snow tires made a big difference on my former RWD vehicles.

 

[EV Trek]

In the email I received it only mentioned the blank Slate and key accessories. I’m starting to think that the 3rd scenario in Mike the Car Geek’s latest video is what is at play.

What I received was a reply from a direct question I sent via their contact us on the website. Not the generic email on the price announcement that everyone got.
It was from this person:
STEPHEN
SENIOR SLATE AGENT

 

[sodamo]

Sure we expect 100%? Heck no, but an opening of the info faucet where we get more as it becomes available. Their will be sufficient date when time comes to convert your prorder to a real order. exciting

 

[tubes]

I'll be much happier if the complete pricing comes through on the 24th as Stephen from Slate says. That will go a long way to putting down a deposit.

What baffles me a bit are the lack of good interior shots of the controls and instrument panel. Who knows, maybe they'll surprise.

 

[EV Trek]

I'll be much happier if the complete pricing comes through on the 24th as Stephen from Slate says. That will go a long way to putting down a deposit.

What baffles me a bit are the lack of good interior shots of the controls and instrument panel. Who knows, maybe they'll surprise.

Prototypes with fake buttons and displays is why you don’t see closeups of them.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

IMHO, a very important fuzzy question is a very unambiguous list of what Repair Pal sites have signed on, and in what capacity.

 

[Shrink36s]

IMHO, a very important fuzzy question is a very unambiguous list of what Repair Pal sites have signed on, and in what capacity.

I have a repair pal shop in my town, but they do not appear to do electric vehicles. The nearest shop that does is 70 miles away. Oof.

 

[tubes]

I have a repair pal shop in my town, but they do not appear to do electric vehicles. The nearest shop that does is 70 miles away. Oof.

I have one close by (4 miles) and he has a sandwich board out front that says "We service EVs." Here's to having some hope.

 

[slatefan53]

My biggest question about 6/24 is what timezone / when can you actually place the pre-order? 12:01 AM UTC, EDT, CDT or some 8AM, 10AM.... and what timezone?

Also, does your Pre-Order # dictate your place in line. I had a reservation in the day it was announced. Will some combo of Reservation Date + PreOrder # dictate delivery?

Will options dictate delivery. i.e. Will a Base Blake Slate with ZERO changes be fulfilled first.-or, will those willing to drop more on SUV kits, Wraps move to the front or back of the line?

 

[EV Trek]

My biggest question about 6/24 is what timezone / when can you actually place the pre-order? 12:01 AM UTC, EDT, CDT or some 8AM, 10AM.... and what timezone?

Also, does your Pre-Order # dictate your place in line. I had a reservation in the day it was announced. Will some combo of Reservation Date + PreOrder # dictate delivery?

Will options dictate delivery. i.e. Will a Base Blake Slate with ZERO changes be fulfilled first.-or, will those willing to drop more on SUV kits, Wraps move to the front or back of the line?

I was told by a Slate agent it goes live June 24th 12:30 pm eastern 9:30am pacific time.
aA of now nobody knows how they will figure the delivery window, just wait till the 24th to get yours.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

>> Will options dictate delivery

That's a really great question. If options are shipped separately (or later), and both batteries are available at scale, it should not be an issue.

But back in the early days of Maverick, what you ordered very much determined whether or not you'd get your car. Not because they were maximizing profit, but because suppliers could not meet demand. An example was the spray in bedliner. Suppliers and subcontractors just could not execute to meet demand.

I'd love to know what guidance Slate has given suppliers. It's not 150,000 vehicles. Are they guiding 10,000 in 2027, 0r 50,000? Some other number? It matters, because that's what suppliers invest in. As a supplier, you are living on a shoestring or a razor's edge. Overinvesting means losing money. Consumers always focus on the OEM, but the real story is the many hundreds of suppliers feeding the OEM.