AWD! Please!

[beatle]

If Slate plans to survive, it's not about what people need. It's about what people want. And here are the facts about what people want (and are buying). For low rate initial production, sure, sell two wheel drive. But if you want to stay in business with a stripper vehicle that already lacks mass appeal, you don't do it by cutting yourself out of half the addressable market.

https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicle...arly-60-light-duty-vehicles-produced-2022-had

PS: Senior bonus discounts to those of you who, like me, were driving before the left side of that chart.

I agree with this. Only about 1/4 of the trucks sold are RWD. I think Slate should offer dual motors to those that want them, but again, that's not what started this thread. Tesla still sells a lot of RWD EVs. Hopefully the promise of AWD doesn't cause the Osborne effect to cut Slate's runway velocity too much. +1 senior point for that one.

I do wonder just how efficient you can make an assembly line when you're only making one vehicle configuration without even paint. I guess at least one person at Slate has said "pretty darn efficient." A second motor can noticeably increase the number of parts and complexity, unless all Slates become dual motor.

 

[Johnologue]

It's a big chunk of copper and high voltage wires and all that adds no real capability (the vehicle can accelerate in all but the most absurd conditions).

I think current market data and polling isn't an accurate gauge of organic consumer demand, and I don't think consumer demand is static. AWD is usually the only option other than FWD, and I think FWD is the biggest problem that makes people feel like they need AWD.

And I think with consumers, companies should make some effort to understand and promote what is technically "best".
Otherwise, you get this completely circular marketing where they spend all the time and money telling people what they should want, then asking them what they want and feeding themselves their own output...

If all the ads on TV are talking about how important and great AWD is, consumers will be influenced toward believing that. Marketers create these narratives and act like they're fundamental laws of nature.

 

[KevinRS]

The thing is, even though over half of vehicles sold are now apparently AWD, Slate doesn't have to and isn't so far going for selling half of all vehicles. At planned full production they will be making around 2-3% of the vehicles sold in the US.
If things go well, sure they may add a AWD version, but that's going to mean both a higher price and a range hit, unless they use a bigger battery which would mean more cost and less payload.

 

[Luxrage]

I agree with this. Only about 1/4 of the trucks sold are RWD.

I'd be curious what the FWD Maverick and Santa Cruz(?) sales numbers show for FWD vs AWD purchases as well. I think in both of those cases, though, the dealers just aren't ordering base models like they used to so average joe walk-in is gonna pick up the cheapest on the lot, AWD or not.

 

[sodamo]

Guess I won’t be driving my Slate up the mountain.

A true 4WD (Four-Wheel Drive) with low-range capability is mandatory for driving past the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station (VIS) to the summit, as AWD (All-Wheel Drive) vehicles lack the necessary low-range gearing for safe descent, and 2WD vehicles are strictly prohibited due to the steep, unpaved, and rough summit road.

 

[beatle]

I'd be curious what the FWD Maverick and Santa Cruz(?) sales numbers show for FWD vs AWD purchases as well. I think in both of those cases, though, the dealers just aren't ordering base models like they used to so average joe walk-in is gonna pick up the cheapest on the lot, AWD or not.

Over half of all Mavericks sold are FWD. It was even more biased to FWD before 2025 when they started offering an AWD hybrid Maverick. The hybrid is the most popular powertrain. Like you alluded, the dealers aren't buying many of the base model because the margins are lower. The demand for the stripper Maverick is actually pretty high, I'm sure driven largely by price. I think someone at Slate knows this as well and is hoping the Slate is able to tap a lot of that demand.

 

[Paul]

I think it has to be mandatory to have an option for a four-wheel-drive all-wheel-drive for a truck. I think I would be on the fence and would mostly like bail on my reservation without all-wheel-drive and I think there are many others that feel the same.

Again you have to go back to making the least expensive truck. You can keep adding things and then it's a $40,000 truck. And it's a really good idea not to do that right from the start and get the other stuff right.

 

[null98115]

I think it has to be mandatory to have an option for a four-wheel-drive all-wheel-drive for a truck.

You're completely missing the build objective of this truck: a radically simple, low-cost electric truck that minimizes features and parts to keep the base price affordable, while offering modularity and user customization.

 

[metroshot]

You're completely missing the build objective of this truck: a radically simple, low-cost electric truck that minimizes features and parts to keep the base price affordable, while offering modularity and user customization.

agree!

If I had to have AWD/4WD EV truck, I'd look at the Chevy or Ford trucks.

I had a 2022 Ford Lightning EV and the AWD feature was nice for quick acceleration with tires chirping but totally not needed in Southern California.

Now I have a 2023 Ford Mach E RWD and love the sporty feel of a RWD - drives perfect in a heavy urban setting where we don't have winter weather - even today it's 80 degrees out.

I can see if you live in a rural area or ice/snow climate then AWD is necessary, but at extra cost.

 

[null98115]

I do wonder just how efficient you can make an assembly line when you're only making one vehicle configuration without even paint.

This statement confuses me. Why wouldn't this assembly line be way more efficient than a typical one?

 

[LoneWolfo6]

Great discussions, if four wheel drive is needed in the discussed area it’s probably very cold and Slate batteries 🪫 probably not the best choice.

Get a AWD Subaru. LOL.

The COLD is an electron destroyer!

If you have to use chains it’s probably a one way trip or charge at your destination before returning home.

 

[Kopsis]

I think it has to be mandatory to have an option for a four-wheel-drive all-wheel-drive for a truck.

Maybe mandatory for you, not mandatory for Slate. They have 150k reservations and most of those are from people who were fully aware that the initial offering is RWD only.

 

[beatle]

This statement confuses me. Why wouldn't this assembly line be way more efficient than a typical one?

I'm sure pretty efficient. I mentioned this mostly as a way to say that an assembly line with one motor configuration would be more efficient than one that is split or forked to support a config with two options.

 

[Letas]

You're completely missing the build objective of this truck: a radically simple, low-cost electric truck that minimizes features and parts to keep the base price affordable, while offering modularity and user customization.

"while offering modularity and user customization."

Agree! We want modularity and user customization! Something more than cosmetic!

So far the only customization offer optioned that isnt cosmetic is the SUV/fastback kits. Which is cool, don't get me wrong.

But I can go on any manufactures website and customize my car a whole heck of a lot more than I can customize a Slate. We keep beating this horse but they are missing the mark hugely.

 

[Kopsis]

But I can go on any manufactures website and customize my car a whole heck of a lot more than I can customize a Slate. We keep beating this horse but they are missing the mark hugely.

Those other manufacturers have been around for 50+ years and have a diverse product portfolio, a mature supply chain, brand recognition, actual revenue, etc.

No one has said that Slate won't eventually offer all kinds of drivetrain options. Slate themselves has clearly said they plan to offer more configurations in the future. But waiting for all that to be available before they ship the first truck would be financial suicide.