Article: "Ford’s $30K Electric Pickup Could Crush Jeff Bezos-Backed Rival"

[Tran]

Another click baity title what a surprise...

https://www.autoblog.com/news/fords-30k-electric-pickup-could-crush-jeff-bezos-backed-rival

 

[RevCaptJack]

You got this Slate! I’ve been waiting for a minimalist basic EV since they first started coming out.

 

[SLATEchad]

Another click baity title what a surprise...

https://www.autoblog.com/news/fords-30k-electric-pickup-could-crush-jeff-bezos-backed-rival

If Ford can get their act together. Nearly everyone was expecting to see a new vehicle on August 11, but instead we heard all the stuff we already knew and got to watch some employees react to seeing the truck. Lame. Makes me think they must have a lot further to go in the development of this thing and another big negative against them is their dependence on stealerships that are incentivized to squeeze more money out of the consumer on the front and back end with maintenance and repairs. Will they build these vehicles well or will they be built to fail so they can make money off repairs/maintenance and parts?

I’ll also add that I want the Ford truck to be a compelling and competitive option. Hopefully instead of killing Slate it will just keep them accountable to their pricing and keep them cheap.

 

[LoneWolfo6]

If Ford can get their act together. Nearly everyone was expecting to see a new vehicle on August 11, but instead we heard all the stuff we already knew and got to watch some employees react to seeing the truck. Lame. Makes me think they must have a lot further to go in the development of this thing and another big negative against them is their dependence on stealerships that are incentivized to squeeze more money out of the consumer on the front and back end with maintenance and repairs. Will they build these vehicles well or will they be built to fail so they can make money off repairs/maintenance and parts?

I’ll also add that I want the Ford truck to be a compelling and competitive option. Hopefully instead of killing Slate it will just keep them accountable to their pricing and keep them cheap.

Fords Lightning was a hit (for a party napkin sketch design) first few years, as they sold to true believers and some first time truck owners.

Then they got cheap and started taking features out of later year models, but still selling it at outrageous over priced $$ number

So it faltered in sales and dealerships couldn’t give them away.

And now we see none on the lots.

“From America, For America”

Too late the ship has already sailed, $30k EV truck won’t do it.

 

[danielt1263]

I think someone who is looking at a Slate SUV with the extended battery out the gate would be better served with the Ford EV or even the Hyundai Kona EV (which is already out.) Such people aren't looking for a cheep pickup truck, they are looking for a cheep SUV with extended range.

In the case of the Kona, sure it will likely be more than a Slate SUV with extended range, but those two extra doors... For someone who needs a back seat for the kids/carseats, will very much want those extra doors.

 

[SichuanHot]

A 4 door EV pickup like the Maverick will set it apart enough from a Slate for those who need a crew cab layout with a pickup bed. More smaller, cheaper EV trucks is a good thing.

 

[Dorbiman]

4 door pickup is a non starter for me already. I’d rather nab a used Bolt than go with Ford’s offering, which will likely have a tiny, tiny bed.

 

[atx_ev]

Another click baity title what a surprise...

https://www.autoblog.com/news/fords-30k-electric-pickup-could-crush-jeff-bezos-backed-rival

This is how FUD works.

When you think about it, if they even had a picture they would have put it in the PR. They literally have nothing.

 

[SLATEchad]

This is how FUD works.

When you think about it, if they even had a picture they would have put it in the PR. They literally have nothing.

That’s what’s perplexing to me. They had a prototype to show the small group of employees they sent out to the design center, so they certainly could have pictures and show what the thing will look like even if it’s still conceptual. Unless the employees were just paid to act like they saw a new vehicle, they have one they could have shown us and they didn’t. Not a good marketing strategy IMO, just annoying.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

The Ford CEO has said "more coming". Remember that Ford attends major auto shows. I suspect we'll see some actual product reveals at one of those. And remember that Ford will be generating multiple vehicles. So we'll see the truck at an upcoming show. Maybe a year later a small SUV. A year later a van, etc. They can keep our attention for years. Hey, maybe they have a two door hidden behind that curtain.

It makes sense to do it this way - if you want to keep the vibe alive - to release information in stages. Ford's first event was for investors - not for you and me. Investors. The next event is likely to be for you and me.

Slate, BTW, is showing mastery at this. They're having YouTubers visit. They're driving the early prototypes around the country. They're gonna let us drive more production-representative prototypes next year (NOBODY does that). And they've excellent at releasing social media shorts. They're very responsive to reservation holders.

You don't have to show all your cards day one. And not everything an automaker does is actually aimed at you. There are investors and media to appease too.

 

[SLATEchad]

The Ford CEO has said "more coming". Remember that Ford attends major auto shows. I suspect we'll see some actual product reveals at one of those. And remember that Ford will be generating multiple vehicles. So we'll see the truck at an upcoming show. Maybe a year later a small SUV. A year later a van, etc. They can keep our attention for years. Hey, maybe they have a two door hidden behind that curtain.

It makes sense to do it this way - if you want to keep the vibe alive - to release information in stages. Ford's first event was for investors - not for you and me. Investors. The next event is likely to be for you and me.

Slate, BTW, is showing mastery at this. They're having YouTubers visit. They're driving the early prototypes around the country. They're gonna let us drive more production-representative prototypes next year (NOBODY does that). And they've excellent at releasing social media shorts. They're very responsive to reservation holders.

You don't have to show all your cards day one. And not everything an automaker does is actually aimed at you. There are investors and media to appease too.

I disagree. Nothing masterful about the way Ford is doing this. Slate did it masterfully by giving us something to look at and get excited about. Ford held a sweaty, hour long event where we learned almost nothing new and we didn’t get to see a vehicle to get excited about. I was left annoyed, not excited at all by Ford’s event. I’m also much less excited about a 2027 (maybe?) vehicle than a 2026 one. Of course Slate will have to actually come through on that timeline, but they’ve said in recent interviews that they’re on track.

 

[AZFox]

Will they build these vehicles well or will they be built to fail so they can make money off repairs/maintenance and parts?

... and profitable subscriptions.

During the reveal event Jim Farley said

It'll be fully connected, with a brand new digital experience no one's seen in our country.​

Because everyone wants a Brand New Digital Experience in their 4-door pickup!

 

[KevinRS]

... and profitable subscriptions.

During the reveal event Jim Farley said

It'll be fully connected, with a brand new digital experience no one's seen in our country.​

Because everyone wants a Brand New Digital Experience in their 4-door pickup!

That is another part of the appeal of slate, not getting tied into a quickly outdated possibly buggy integrated infotainment system. I keep vehicles 10+ years. I had a 2000 Focus for 15, then a Versa for 10 so far, hoping to get the slate before it's transmission goes. An infotainment system only gets updates so long, if the screen stops responding to touches or gets hard to see, or just stops getting updates and stuff stops working, how much are you out to fix it? My mother's 2016 trax is 700+ for a replacement, and it doesn't even have navigation.
If a phone or tablet is your infotainment, updates are independent of the vehicle manufacturer, and you can always swap it out for a newer model relatively cheaply.