California: SB168 passed for $3500 instant POS rebate! $21,450 for a base Slate ? Anyone know if Slate will participate ?

[metroshot]

Slate Truck meets the strict pricing requirements for California's new $3,500 instant EV rebate program, but its final qualification depends on a corporate decision by Slate Auto.

Here is how the Slate Truck stacks up against the new SB 168 rebate rules:

1. The Price Easily Qualifies
The new program requires eligible new EVs to have an MSRP under $50,000. Starting at an ultra-affordable $24,950, the Slate Truck is well below the state's cap. Even if you choose the convertible SUV kit ($29,950) or heavily customize it with accessories, it will easily remain under the limit. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

2. The Direct-to-Consumer Hurdle
The new rebate is applied instantly at the point of sale. However, Slate Auto utilizes a direct-to-consumer sales model with no traditional independent dealership franchise network. CARB is still adapting the system to seamlessly accommodate direct-sales automakers for this specific program. [1, 2]

3. The Automaker Matching "Catch"
The biggest factor is that the state's $1,750 contribution must be matched dollar-for-dollar by the manufacturer to total $3,500. Since Slate is a startup selling a low-margin vehicle, it is currently unconfirmed whether Slate Auto will officially sign on to participate and absorb that $1,750 matching cost per vehicle. [1, 2]


Summary of What You Pay if Approved
If Slate Auto formally joins the program, first-time EV buyers in California could stack the discount to get a historic deal: [1, 2]

• Slate Truck Base Price: $24,950
• New CA Instant Rebate: -$3,500
• Your Effective Price: $21,450 (plus destination charges) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

 

[dmon4u]

PA also has a Rebate. Of course I do not qualifiy because of income and most do not ! Last I looked it was for those under 150% of the Federal Poverty level !

 

[Frozen North]

Slate Truck meets the strict pricing requirements for California's new $3,500 instant EV rebate program, but its final qualification depends on a corporate decision by Slate Auto.

Here is how the Slate Truck stacks up against the new SB 168 rebate rules:

1. The Price Easily Qualifies
The new program requires eligible new EVs to have an MSRP under $50,000. Starting at an ultra-affordable $24,950, the Slate Truck is well below the state's cap. Even if you choose the convertible SUV kit ($29,950) or heavily customize it with accessories, it will easily remain under the limit. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

2. The Direct-to-Consumer Hurdle
The new rebate is applied instantly at the point of sale. However, Slate Auto utilizes a direct-to-consumer sales model with no traditional independent dealership franchise network. CARB is still adapting the system to seamlessly accommodate direct-sales automakers for this specific program. [1, 2]

3. The Automaker Matching "Catch"
The biggest factor is that the state's $1,750 contribution must be matched dollar-for-dollar by the manufacturer to total $3,500. Since Slate is a startup selling a low-margin vehicle, it is currently unconfirmed whether Slate Auto will officially sign on to participate and absorb that $1,750 matching cost per vehicle. [1, 2]


Summary of What You Pay if Approved
If Slate Auto formally joins the program, first-time EV buyers in California could stack the discount to get a historic deal: [1, 2]

• Slate Truck Base Price: $24,950
• New CA Instant Rebate: -$3,500
• Your Effective Price: $21,450 (plus destination charges) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

You lucky bastards, the far north is deep red. I will have to pay extra tax up here. Like many states the registration taxes on EVs increase here to offset the gas tax losses.

 

[Orley]

If Slate agrees to the contribution in CA, I'd the $1750 discount as well even if I don't live in CA.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

If Slate agrees to the contribution in CA, I'd the $1750 discount as well even if I don't live in CA.

That would be logical. I suspect Slate would not opt to participate is a $1750 discount unless fleet order?

Off topic: I’ve been driving around SoCal this week on vacation and have been amazed at the LACK of EV’s. In my mind, I thought it would be 25%+. There are more Teslas per capita back home where I live in GA! If all new vehicles in CA must be EV in 4 years, there would need to be a dramatic upgrade of electric grid. But it would take an additional 15 years for all the used ICEV to work themselves out? Today’s gas price in San Diego is about $5.67.

 

[Mr. X]

That would be logical. I suspect Slate would not opt to participate is a $1750 discount unless fleet order?

Off topic: I’ve been driving around SoCal this week on vacation and have been amazed at the LACK of EV’s. In my mind, I thought it would be 25%+. There are more Teslas per capita back home where I live in GA! If all new vehicles in CA must be EV in 4 years, there would need to be a dramatic upgrade of electric grid. But it would take an additional 15 years for all the used ICEV to work themselves out? Today’s gas price in San Diego is about $5.67.

Electricity in Georgia is WAY cheaper. Also if you are a tourist doing tourist things then you are probably surrounded by other tourists who primarily rent gas cars.

 

[AZFox]

That would be logical. I suspect Slate would not opt to participate is a $1750 discount unless fleet order?

I wonder if a dealer could just add $1,750+ of Polyrazmitazz Paint Protection and Tire Nitrogen or whatever to get around the requirement.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Electricity in Georgia is WAY cheaper. Also if you are a tourist doing tourist things then you are probably surrounded by other tourists who primarily rent gas cars.

I have been in Anaheim and now in SD - Airbnb’s. I take note of what’s on I5 with CA plates, for example.

 

[Frozen North]

I have been in Anaheim and now in SD - Airbnb’s. I take note of what’s on I5 with CA plates, for example.

SD is my old stomping grounds. I watched the Star Wars re-release and Episode 1 when they were release in Horton Plaza there. Blazing around Coronado Is. And checking out Blacks beach as a wide eyed kid. Fun times.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

SD is my old stomping grounds. I watched the Star Wars re-release and Episode 1 when they were release in Horton Plaza there. Blazing around Coronado Is. And checking out Blacks beach as a wide eyed kid. Fun times.

We are doing some typical things (zoo, La Jolla, etc), but may also do some whale watching, etc. I’m all Disney’ed out. Too much smiling?

 

[kvermeer]

If Slate agrees to the contribution in CA, I'd the $1750 discount as well even if I don't live in CA.

This is exactly the problem.

Manufacturers now know that CA has a rebate, so they can "comply" by simply increasing the price of all their vehicles by $1750 everywhere, and then "discount" in California. CA's population is about 12% of the whole US, but they were, at one point, buying approximately half of all new BEVs in the country. As recently as 2024 their cumulative market share was 39%, which is crazy:

https://cleantechnica.com/2024/11/2...million-electric-car-sales-26-4-market-share/

That meant it wasn't entirely infeasible to be less competitive with offerings like a $27,400 Blank Slate (still "mid 20s" 😭) in all 49 other states if your $22,500 Blank Slate sold better than a hypothetical $24,950 competitor in the critical, highly competitive California market.

I think they've fought tooth and nail to get the price down to $24,950. There can't be $1750 more left in the budget, they'd have to adjust the price upwards to be able to "give" that much back.

Will Ford's "$30k" BEV (LOL) suddenly become $31,750? I think it was going to cost more than that already, but this is a huge reason for them to adjust upwards.

 

[Frozen North]

We are doing some typical things (zoo, La Jolla, etc), but may also do some whale watching, etc. I’m all Disney’ed out. Too much smiling?

Yeah, Disney was a one and done for me. I wanted the kiddos to have the experience, but my lord the cost. I think by the time I paid for the airb&b flights, toys, park passes, harry potter gear at Universal, rental car, food for 8, etc.... it was like 14k. Family plus grandparents and 2 kid friends for 12 days.
Do Florida though. Kennedy Space center, 5 parks, working fast pass system, and Universal not to far away make it a MUCH better trip.
Still gonna put you in the poorhouse though.

 

[Frozen North]

We are doing some typical things (zoo, La Jolla, etc), but may also do some whale watching, etc. I’m all Disney’ed out. Too much smiling?

I rented a dual master bedroom apt with a parking garage in LaJolla in the very late 90s. Even then it was almost $2500 a month. I can't imagine living there now. I wanted to buy in Chula Vista but homes were 500k plus even back then.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

Ok you are going to enlighten me in what pos stands filor in this context because im thinking piece of shit rebate XD i know that's not what it is so please tell me

 

[GaRailroader]

Ok you are going to enlighten me in what pos stands filor in this context because im thinking piece of shit rebate XD i know that's not what it is so please tell me

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