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

[bartflossom]

More body panel theft fearmongering.

 

[Dorbiman]

Funny, as that seems like such a non-issue to me. Many front or rear bumpers can be removed without needing to pop the hood or trunk. Some screws and clips and boom, they're off.

Foglights on many cars are held in by two screws, directly accessible from the front.

Roof rails are mounted directly to the top of the vehicle with a few fasteners.

 

[AZFox]

More body panel theft fearmongering.

The panels will have what Slate calls a "Dual-Layer Fastening System" to prevent the kind of theft he's fearmongering about.

 

[AZFox]

Here's an interesting piece from Forbes:

Why Electric Cars May Soon Become Cheaper Than Gasoline Cars

The long-awaited moment where electric vehicles move from “nice-to-have” to “must-own” is finally arriving—powered by collapsing cost, intensifying competition and rising scale. For consumers, that means EVs may soon be cheaper to buy and operate than gasoline cars. [...] The EV surge isn’t over—it’s simply entering its affordability phase.

 

[KevinRS]

One of the main reasons Hondas and similar were such big targets was the cars were very popular, so there was a huge market for the parts. Unless Slate is REALLY popular and they expand production way past their estimates really quickly, it would take some years before there were enough on the road to become a "honda" scale problem.
Also, the panels we see exposed fasteners on, besides the light covers, have more fasteners hidden by the locked hood, doors, and tailgate.
If the parts are relatively cheap to buy new, it's even less likely to be a problem, and coming in only 1 color, cheap to buy replacement parts are more likely.

 

[Adam W]

Came across this article that has absolutely nothing to do with Slate, and was surprised to see a casual Slate mention at the end as a company that might save us from these kinds of anti-consumer moves. A sign that awareness is breaking through?

HYUNDAI PAYWALLS BRAKE PAD CHANGES
https://hackaday.com/2025/11/15/hyundai-paywalls-brake-pad-changes/

 

[KevinRS]

Came across this article that has absolutely nothing to do with Slate, and was surprised to see a casual Slate mention at the end as a company that might save us from these kinds of anti-consumer moves. A sign that awareness is breaking through?

HYUNDAI PAYWALLS BRAKE PAD CHANGES
https://hackaday.com/2025/11/15/hyundai-paywalls-brake-pad-changes/

Yeah, even with electronic parking brakes, there should be a sequency of actions to do that retracts the calipers, without any special tools and subscription. Not only paywalling it, but revoking the license because you aren't a service center is going way too far. Like class action far.

 

[AZFox]

Just a small (but interesting) blurb in this article.

2025 Los Angeles Auto Show Recap -- Automobility In Action

• Slate's small pickup is right-sized, and it reminds of the old Mitsubishis that my parents used for auto-parts deliveries in the late '80s when they ran their store. It seems like it will be a pretty cool vehicle for fleets. I give the company credit -- one of the executives, I didn't catch which one, was willing to say, in front of assembled media, that building a new is "really f---ing hard." It is, that's absolutely true. And it was nice to hear a start-up executive admit that reality instead of puffing out his chest and spewing bravado and bulls--t. The company claims that even with the challenges it faces, the truck should be on the road in a year.

 

[AZFox]

"Beautifully simple" kinda sums it up.

After years of reviewing EVs that promise the moon and cost the Earth, this is the first one that feels like it could genuinely change the world by keeping things beautifully simple. The Slate isn’t just a truck. It’s a statement – and it’s saying that the future of electric cars should be clever, personal and affordable. And I’m all in.​

I’m cancelling my Cybertruck order – I’ve been behind the wheel of the new Slate truck and fallen in love

 

[motorolas]

Got an email for a Special Q&A for Reservation Holders Only with Chris Barman.

Streaming link will be provided on Dec. 16th.

Submit questions HERE

 

[KevinRS]

"Beautifully simple" kinda sums it up.

After years of reviewing EVs that promise the moon and cost the Earth, this is the first one that feels like it could genuinely change the world by keeping things beautifully simple. The Slate isn’t just a truck. It’s a statement – and it’s saying that the future of electric cars should be clever, personal and affordable. And I’m all in.​

I’m cancelling my Cybertruck order – I’ve been behind the wheel of the new Slate truck and fallen in love

Not only is the cybertruck unlikely to get to the UK, it's probably impossible. EU and UK crash standards require rounded corners on the front, to reduce injuries and deaths when cars hit pedestrians. The Slate should be possible to import with the right paperwork and fees, but it may not be economical to do it as an individual.

 

[motorolas]

From Road & Track article
President Donald Trump Appears to Approve Kei Cars for the U.S.A.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a69623655/president-donald-trump-kei-cars-usa/

“During his Wednesday announcement regarding shifting fuel economy regulations, President Donald Trump dropped a surprise victory for car enthusiasts here in the United States. While outlining how his new plans will improve the affordability of new cars in America, Trump announced that he has tasked U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy with clearing the regulatory deck to allow small cars of the sort sold in Asia, such as Japan's kei cars, to become available in the United States.
Trump explained how he saw these small cars during his recent trip to Asia, which he described as both “cute” and “beautiful,” but was told they could not be sold in the United States due to regulations. The president's remarks suggested he thought that silly, and that these small machines could be sold at a more affordable price point than other traditional models. Trump also touted how smaller cars are more efficient thanks to their smaller engines, and specifically named brands like Honda and Toyota as potential sources for these machines.”

Now how about giving some love to a local domestic EV startup called Slate 😉. Built right here on US soil. Not sure how fast and if this'll happen, but this'll be interesting for Slate.