How Long Till Delivery

[E90400K]

What manufacturer does Ford buy the ICE drivetrains from then? and are they identical to drivetrains from Chevy or someone else?
The Slate drivetrain is a relatively small unit, that is already being used in other vehicles, that's just going to lift into place and bolt in, and have wiring and coolant hoses connected. There is no intake, exhaust, high temp cooling, transmission fluid, etc.

The OEMs have dedicated engine and transmission assembly plants (if they use their own transmission) that are separate facilities from vehicle assembly plants. Engines and transmissions are subassemblies shipped to the vehicle assembly plant most commonly in a JIT fashion just like any other major automotive drivetrain subassembly.

For example, my Ford Bronco has a 2.3L EcoBoost engine built by Ford in its Cleveland Engine plant. The manual transmission is a Getrag unit built in Nanchang, China. Both subassemblies are shipped to Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant (MAP) in Wayne, Michigan for final assembly. The 2.3L EcoBoost engine is used throughout Ford's global model lineup in both longitudinal (rear wheel drive) and transverse drivetrain (front wheel drive) configurations.

That process is not different than Slate receiving its motor/transaxle subassembly from its Jing-Jin Electric (Chinese) supplier located in Michigan. The subassembly is manufactured in Michigan and shipped to Indiana for final assembly (i.e. bolted into) in the Slate De Dion rear axle/subframe (then lifted into place and bolted into the Slateboard chassis) at Slate's Warsaw facility. EVs have complex battery cooling systems and use motor/final-drive lubricants and coolants, which require coolant lines and heat exchangers that are installed and filled with coolant/lubricants.

 

[tgpii]

No engine, no transmission, no exhaust system, bare bones interior, few fit and finish issues, very few electrical gizmos, no paint, no trim, etc.
Seems they could crank ‘em out pretty fast once they get the hang of it.

No radio, no backseat, no gps, no power seats . . .

 

[E90400K]

No rear windshield wiper.

 

[Granite]

No

I don't think Slate is making any of those but rather buying them in from outside companies.

I view this thing as a somewhat complex golf cart. Now that may be an over simplification, but making it simple and inexpensive is the key to it being a success. The more options, mods, and luxury amenities it gets, the more complicated and expensive. If it costs as much as other small trucks as well as 1 or 2 year-old used models, the purpose of the slate is going to be compromised.
This is a vehicle for kids to drive to school, for short trips around town, for trips to Home Depot, maybe even as an Amazon delivery vehicle. Trying to make it anything else is going to defeat its purpose.

 

[Granite]

No


I view this thing as a somewhat complex golf cart. Now that may be an over simplification, but making it simple and inexpensive is the key to it being a success. The more options, mods, and luxury amenities it gets, the more complicated and expensive. If it costs as much as other small trucks as well as 1 or 2 year-old used models, the purpose of the slate is going to be compromised.
This is a vehicle for kids to drive to school, for short trips around town, for trips to Home Depot, maybe even as an Amazon delivery vehicle. Trying to make it anything else is going to defeat its purpose.

New auto makers in this country have a terrible record of being successful. Competing with established car companies in the long haul has been almost impossible.

 

[E90400K]

New auto makers in this country have a terrible record of being successful. Competing with established car companies in the long haul has been almost impossible.

Tesla did it, but it had a whole lotta help from the Feds.

 

[KevinRS]

The way Slate may succeed is by slipping in in a niche that the established automakers have abandoned. Many have abandoned having even a token entry level low cost vehicle.

 

[NMNeil]

Exactly, just like the legacy OEMs do.

Which are not, "Made in the USA" but "Assembled in the USA from foreign sourced parts"
I hope I'm wrong and Slate can use the "Made in the USA" logo.

 

[danielt1263]

This is a vehicle for kids to drive to school, for short trips around town, for trips to Home Depot, maybe even as an Amazon delivery vehicle. Trying to make it anything else is going to defeat its purpose.

And don't forget organizations. LA County has a mandate to transition to zero-emission vehicles by 2045. They need EV trucks and as of now, there isn't much for them to choose from. I expect they will purchase literally thousands of Slates within the first couple of years of the company's existence.

I'm sure many other counties throughout the country will run the numbers and realize that the Slate truck would work wonders for their bottom line, both in initial cost to purchase, and ongoing cost of ownership.

 

[KevinRS]

And don't forget organizations. LA County has a mandate to transition to zero-emission vehicles by 2045. They need EV trucks and as of now, there isn't much for them to choose from. I expect they will purchase literally thousands of Slates within the first couple of years of the company's existence.

I'm sure many other counties throughout the country will run the numbers and realize that the Slate truck would work wonders for their bottom line, both in initial cost to purchase, and ongoing cost of ownership.

LA county specifically might be one that, while they might find some places for Slate trucks, is big enough that a lot of their truck roles NEED more range, because their round trip in a day can be too long. Extended battery might work, but they still might want more reserve.
Most cities would have no problem with 120 mile range though.