CNBC Video: Can Bezos-Backed Slate Build An Affordable EV Truck In The U.S.?

ScooterAsheville

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Was watching this as you posted. What caught my attention was that Slate has secured more funding than I thought, $700 million so far. They'll need more, a lot more, but that's a pretty solid start.

I liked that the video asked some hard questions that other journalists have avoided. Even on this forum, it gets a little fanboy sometimes. Like even asking an obvious question will get you labeled a troll or hater. The video, using a phrase from my youth, "keeps it real".
 

E90400K

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Was watching this as you posted. What caught my attention was that Slate has secured more funding than I thought, $700 million so far. They'll need more, a lot more, but that's a pretty solid start.

I liked that the video asked some hard questions that other journalists have avoided. Even on this forum, it gets a little fanboy sometimes. Like even asking an obvious question will get you labeled a troll or hater. The video, using a phrase from my youth, "keeps it real".
Wait, that happens here? ;)
 

motorolas

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Reading the comments on the YouTube clip and I’m sadly not surprised folks seem to want to pay more for vehicles.
If we keep on buying things we don’t need and are sold on things by keeping up with the Jones’s and what media is selling us, the $50k average new vehicle price will just continue to go up.
The Slate works for me personally and seems like there are enough people interested.
The challenges mentioned in the video are my concerns. Will there be enough buyers.
At 11:35, the mention of it being kitted out reaching the high $30s got my attention.
 

E90400K

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Reading the comments on the YouTube clip and I’m sadly not surprised folks seem to want to pay more for vehicles.
If we keep on buying things we don’t need and are sold on things by keeping up with the Jones’s and what media is selling us, the $50k average new vehicle price will just continue to go up.
The Slate works for me personally and seems like there are enough people interested.
The challenges mentioned in the video are my concerns. Will there be enough buyers.
At 11:35, the mention of it being kitted out reaching the high $30s got my attention.
Yes, that high $30's comment really caught my intention. It sounds like that is Slate's real business plan; to sell the gray canvas and let the owner paint it (pun intended) with profit-priced modifications.

Interesting to see how the low tech content will really sell. As a Boomer I'm for low/no tech, but EV demand it if you are to charge on an extended road trip. I think Tesla showed that early adopters liked the high-tech/spartan interior content meme. Does that carryover sans tech content with Slate?

The big screen map concept never made sense to me. Most driving is local and really doesn't require a constant map presence.

I thought the CNBC piece was well presented.
 
 
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