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

[AZFox]

Despite the disclaimer, the author used AI slop to write this.

AI seems to be doing a lot of ghost writing these days.
🤖👻📰

Journalism is sloppy in general.

This Forbes article about Dashboard Entertainment Streaming says "You can pay to add a universal phone mount and USB power instead of a built-in stereo."

 

[cadblu]

Despite the disclaimer, the author used AI slop to write this.

Disclaimer: Authored by Scotty Reiss. This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.

Beam me up Scotty. I guess humans also make mistakes… 🧐

 

[bartflossom]

Despite the disclaimer, the author used AI slop to write this.

Yeah, as I look back now, there's too many awkward grammar errors and missing spaces, and other oddness.

 

[KevinRS]

I would put the errors to just sloppy human writing, and the fact that real editors fact checking and fixing grammar seems to be a thing of the past. 4 passenger = 4 door?
Professional journalists who went to college and got a degree for it have been replaced by bloggers.

 

[AZFox]

A few-minute segment about the Truck.

 

[KevinRS]

That video does have quotes of production of customer sellable in fourth quarter of 2026, and full volume of 150k/year by the end of 27. More solid numbers on that than I have seen elsewhere.

 

[E90400K]

Nice writeup from yahoo. Just noticed they say the suv upgrade gives you 4 doors. 🤦‍♂️

https://autos.yahoo.com/ev-and-future-tech/articles/another-reason-why-slate-auto-110000606.html

“Will the average consumer be able to self-install [accessories], or will they need to use an installer?” “It depends; I think everybody can do a Slatelett [pickup truck] but there are some things that a professional may be needed; consult Slate University in the future."

So, Yahoo thinks a "Slatelett" is the pickup version of the Slate vehicle? Dumbasses.

Lol.

 

[AZFox]

Slate is mentioned in the first paragraph. 👍

USA Today: 13 new cars creating major hype for 2026 and 2027

Slate’s plan to tackle vehicle affordability by making common features do-it-yourself add-ons ― Want rear seats? Bolt ‘em in yourself ― raises questions, but the startup gained credibility when news got out that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was an early investor.​

​

Slate hopes to begin sales of its two-door compact electric pickup in late 2026. The vehicle's model year has not been announced. Prices are expected to start below $30,000.​

 

[AZFox]

Recurrent posted a short video featuring the "Cool Story" Cargo Kit mockup truck.

 

[AZFox]

Slate is the first vehicle they discuss in this InsideEVs podcast episode about the EVs they're most excited for in 2026.

They personally like it, but don't know whether it will be successful.

 

[KevinRS]

That seems to be a theme, people like it, but don't know if it will be successful, because they think others may not like it.
But if enough people are liking it, that "like it" crowd gets big enough that the don't like it people don't matter. It doesn't need to even make a dent in F150 sales to be successful. Just selling the numbers they plan to produce and making a profit doing it is success.

 

[AZFox]

That seems to be a theme, people like it, but don't know if it will be successful, because they think others may not like it.
But if enough people are liking it, that "like it" crowd gets big enough that the don't like it people don't matter. It doesn't need to even make a dent in F150 sales to be successful. Just selling the numbers they plan to produce and making a profit doing it is success.

Slate's outside-the-box nature makes it unpredictable for the automotive press.

 

[AZFox]

GM will record $7.1 billion in special charges for Q4 2025. This follows a similar write-down of $1.6 billion in Q3.

Ouch!

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/08/gm-q4-charges-ev-china.html

The legacy automakers should have developed small affordable EVs instead of electrified expensive models that were designed to appeal to buyers with $7,500 or more in tax liability.

Their excuse is "market conditions", but IMHO the real reason is because they chose to offer the wrong types of vehicles.

 

[KevinRS]

GM will record $7.1 billion in special charges for Q4 2025. This follows a similar write-down of $1.6 billion in Q3.

Ouch!

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/08/gm-q4-charges-ev-china.html

The legacy automakers should have developed small affordable EVs instead of electrified expensive models that were designed to appeal to buyers with $7,500 or more in tax liability.

Their excuse is "market conditions", but IMHO the real reason is because they chose to offer the wrong types of vehicles.

Well, at least part of it is the market, tariffs and other conditions are driving prices up and people are reluctant to buy any new vehicles, so much that the used market approaches the price of new.

 

[AZFox]

Well, at least part of it is the market, tariffs and other conditions are driving prices up and people are reluctant to buy any new vehicles, so much that the used market approaches the price of new.

Prices are determined by consumer demand, not costs. Therein lies the rub.

The decision to create expensive EVs rather than affordable ones was a costly mistake.

The folks at Re:Build recognized this, and acted upon it.