Article: "Slate Auto’s Sophomore Album Problem: What Comes Next?" -- what do you think?

[Mac-Tyson]

Under $20K does not even realistically register for me for something with 4 wheels that doesn’t rely on bubblegum, Bisquick and old tobacco juice to keep running. Under $25K? I’m following.

Under $25K is probably more realistic. But cars are cheaper than trucks and a Slate Coupe is going to be competing against used cars as well. If it’s possible to land at or under $20K for a Slate Coupe that would be a huge win. it would also help justify a mid-20K price Slate Truck more when people look at the line up. Since people expect a truck a to be more expensive than a car in the market currently. But you’re probably right it will likely land under $25K.

 

[Mac-Tyson]

Slate is going down a road traveled by few, why should they change? If successful, and I think they will be very successful, the most rational move would be a 2 motor version (AWD/4WD). This is just based on comments in the forums and on you tube. Then we have something for the ORV crowd. Keep in mind that Slate is a road legal platform. What you do with it after is your business. When it makes $$$ sense, they will probably go to LFP or whatever chemistry makes enough improvement.

There are plenty of start-ups offering EV sports cars, mini-vans, crew cabs, etc. Slate has a unique system and should focus on that. I feel that once they get to production they will find many ways to reduce cost. The only 3rd variation that I would like to see that makes sense is a longer wheelbase along with a longer bed. As the man said...don't count your hatches before they chicken...

I think AWD is all but confirmed multiple commentators who have seen the truck said that there is space for front motors already on the prototype. But I think they want to focus on a RWD truck first plus there will be negatives with an AWD Slate like extra cost, shorter range, and likely less frunk space. So I don’t blame them for focusing on the most affordable single motor truck for the launch base Blank Slate.

 

[Mac-Tyson]

They have not yet been successful nor yet failed; it's all just an academic exercise at this point. Yes, they have made a lot of progress to this point in just a few short years. But this is a huge endeavor for a group of humans to take on, let alone be successful. Asking "what's next" is so friggin premature it borders on insanity. Let's let Slate get the first Truck out as a real product and into the owner's hands so all the design and testing can be validated under real world conditions.

Slate 2.0 is going to be a design update based on the learnings from how Slate Truck 1.0 really turned out.

And from the Monroe video we do know Slate is already thinking about what a Slate Truck Refresh looks like. So we likely see that in a few years before a new model.

 

[Mac-Tyson]

That little fella screams, "TEEEEEELO" to me, but I don't hate it.

I've said it before....

The design looks like if KG Motors made their Mibot into a 4 door pickup truck. Honestly feel like a 4 door Slate will look more like a slightly bigger Slate Truck than a different design all together.

 

[KevinRS]

I do wonder what kind of safety rating the Telo truck would get with your legs being right behind the bumper? Modern vehicles have crumple zones for head on collisions that that design just doesn't have room for. Also is there any secure, out of sight storage? if not, it may work for a fleet vehicle, but kind of hard to use as a personal daily driver.

 

[RetiredOnPaper]

I think AWD is all but confirmed multiple commentators who have seen the truck said that there is space for front motors already on the prototype. But I think they want to focus on a RWD truck first plus there will be negatives with an AWD Slate like extra cost, shorter range, and likely less frunk space. So I don’t blame them for focusing on the most affordable single motor truck for the launch base Blank Slate.

Tesla Model 3 started the same with the LR RWD and a space for the front motor.