how many 2 door pickups of any kind are sold each year?

[Dorbiman]

The goalposts move continuously....

it's almost like it's a multifaceted and complex issue with no single root cause

 

[AZFox]

it's almost like it's a multifaceted and complex issue with no single root cause

...or perhaps a single root cause (the Purpose Of a System Is What It Does) with multiple facets and, as @Letas points out, a convenient CAFE scapegoat.

 

[Dorbiman]

Totally. CAFE gets pointed at because it’s easy to see as “the problem,” but it’s really just one piece of a bigger puzzle. Automakers are balancing safety rules, global regulations, production costs, and consumer demand. The fines look small per car, but scale quickly, and long term R&D and efficiency investments usually make more sense than just paying penalties.

 

[skidoofast]

It is an interesting paradigm. When I try to work it out in my head, I always land on the idea that "if there was a big enough market for it, someone would be selling them!".

It's not like its a new thing- manual cars, or 2 door pickups. They've existed for decades, but are going away. Surely if the market was as big as the internet claims, one company would capture it. They want to make money, right?

I think we agree that the 2 door pickup is a smaller market, I also believe it is held down because of cost vs return

different stamps for the steel, different jigs for the frame, different interior panels, another set of program for every process, possibly another line which means more factory space, and a ton of other logistical needs

and another line to take up production and resources from other vehicles

also there is the factor that if they did produce a smaller 2 door vehicle would that pull sales from another vehicle in your lineup that is already being produced and cost the consumer more money and making you more profit? why chop off your own arm?

that's where Slate could have an advantage they are not currently producing anything so they would pull sales from other manufacturers, they wont be pulling their own resources from something else to make this work, their numbers produced per year will be larger than the Maverick (119,000 per year) but their modularity basically makes it multiple models so the segment for 1 vehicle is much larger

time will tell, I also believe that Slate will need to expand its lineup fairly early on which opens up all the above problems to them as well

 

[Richard Killian]

I couldnt find any hard data, but AI seems to think 2 doors are around 2% of total pickup sales. That would be about 58 thousand (2.9 million pickups sold each year)

Now there is an SUV form factor, but then the pricing is starting to overlap with existing EVs like the chevy equinox which you can get for under 30 now with all incentives.

Im now skeptical that the 2 door pickup market is big enough alone and that they will rely on the SUV kit. However I think the pricing on it is going to have to be close to the pickup pricing to be enough under existing EV suvs.

Now it may be that dealers only carry 4 doors so that could be an issue.

I’ve owned a 2 door regular cab truck and a 2 door Tahoe.i overdid both and never missed the extra doors. Could sleep in the back,of bo

I couldnt find any hard data, but AI seems to think 2 doors are around 2% of total pickup sales. That would be about 58 thousand (2.9 million pickups sold each year)

Now there is an SUV form factor, but then the pricing is starting to overlap with existing EVs like the chevy equinox which you can get for under 30 now with all incentives.

Im now skeptical that the 2 door pickup market is big enough alone and that they will rely on the SUV kit. However I think the pricing on it is going to have to be close to the pickup pricing to be enough under existing EV suvs.

Now it may be that dealers only carry 4 doors so that could be an issue.

I couldnt find any hard data, but AI seems to think 2 doors are around 2% of total pickup sales. That would be about 58 thousand (2.9 million pickups sold each year)

Now there is an SUV form factor, but then the pricing is starting to overlap with existing EVs like the chevy equinox which you can get for under 30 now with all incentives.

Im now skeptical that the 2 door pickup market is big enough alone and that they will rely on the SUV kit. However I think the pricing on it is going to have to be close to the pickup pricing to be enough under existing EV suvs.

Now it may be that dealers only carry 4 doors so that could be an issue.

i’ve owned a 2 door regular cab pickup and a2 door Tahoe. Could sleep in the back of both. loved both vehicles and really loved the short length. Parking spots opened up!., plenty of room for all my stuff….

 

[AZFox]

A lot of people, including myself, don't need or want more than two seats and two doors in their economical pickup truck.

I'd rather have the truck be small and have a bed with more utility.

I have another vehicle with more seats and doors that I can use when more seats and doors are necessary.

 

[sodamo]

I think we agree that the 2 door pickup is a smaller market, I also believe it is held down because of cost vs return

different stamps for the steel, different jigs for the frame, different interior panels, another set of program for every process, possibly another line which means more factory space, and a ton of other logistical needs

and another line to take up production and resources from other vehicles

also there is the factor that if they did produce a smaller 2 door vehicle would that pull sales from another vehicle in your lineup that is already being produced and cost the consumer more money and making you more profit? why chop off your own arm?

that's where Slate could have an advantage they are not currently producing anything so they would pull sales from other manufacturers, they wont be pulling their own resources from something else to make this work, their numbers produced per year will be larger than the Maverick (119,000 per year) but their modularity basically makes it multiple models so the segment for 1 vehicle is much larger

time will tell, I also believe that Slate will need to expand its lineup fairly early on which opens up all the above problems to them as well

Good analysis and for those very reasons I doubt and hope Slate actively resists making those type of changes for a number of years, if ever. Focus on making the best blank Slate. While disappointment to some, I believe any changes made should be in the realm of universal changes that apply across the line rather than the type that involve the challenges you cited. What might those be? Ability to add 2nd motor for AWD, battery choice, heightened bed cover, new and improved accessories. If lengthening the bed, make it the new standard, not an option.

Slate should endeavor to be known as the premier 2 door pickup, cater to that market segment, let the 4 door types exercise their other options. Do not lose sight of current philosophy and chase becoming one of them. Keep Slate Slate.

 

[KevinRS]

I imagine that beyond awd as an add on, and that only if it can be added without being a range issue, The Slate truck will be the only product for at least the first couple of years. They will probably have enough orders to have a waitlist that long just with the truck. Depending on the level of success, where they go from there will vary. If it's really successful they may expand into other lines by expanding into new facilities, while keeping the first and maybe more plants focused on trucks. Maybe a year after launch they announce the next vehicles, I'm sure they have some non-public concepts even if just drawings floating around to develop after launch.

Who knows what will happen, not to get political, but the current administration seems to be swinging so anti-electric that they are effectively cancelling near complete power plants that regions are depending on, the next thing may be a new federal EV tax that is high enough to really cool the market off.

 

[AZFox]

Who knows what will happen, not to get political, but the current administration seems to be swinging so anti-electric that they are effectively cancelling near complete power plants that regions are depending on

Not to get political, but that's bass-ackwards.

The current administration's focus is on removing emissions standards that may have led to the shutdown of some facilities, aiming to boost energy production and reduce costs.

The current administration is also fast-tracking zero-emissions nuclear energy for the same reasons.

 

[AZFox]

I imagine that beyond awd as an add on, and that only if it can be added without being a range issue

Something else to consider is that the front suspension of the OG Truck is light-duty and not designed to hold up the weight of a front motor and drivetrain.

 

[Dorbiman]

Something else to consider is that the front suspension of the OG Truck is light-duty and not designed to hold up the weight of a front motor and drivetrain.

Where do you get this from?

 

[KevinRS]

Not to get political, but that's bass-ackwards.

The current administration's focus is on removing emissions standards that may have led to the shutdown of some facilities, aiming to boost energy production and reduce costs.

The current administration is also fast-tracking zero-emissions nuclear energy for the same reasons.

And the 80% complete offshore wind farm that has been stopped for "national security"?

 

[ScooterAsheville]

Guys, friendly advice. Having been on this site's sister site, the Maverick Truck Club, for multiple years, I can vouch that the site operator will issue warnings about politics. Then issue bans. Of increasing length. This usually happens when another offended member clicks the "report" button.

I've learned the hard way that skirting politics by a very wide margin is the best policy. It's easy to get triggered. But we don't own this site, and the owner's policy on politics is clear.

In my posts, if I even come within 50 miles of anything political, like the impact of tariffs, I make sure to scrub it super neutral and add an advisory that it wasn't intended as political rhetoric. And then I usually delete without posting anyway. Because it's usually not worth a ban.

 

[E90400K]

Something else to consider is that the front suspension of the OG Truck is light-duty and not designed to hold up the weight of a front motor and drivetrain.

Agree, not about the weight capacity entirely, but...

I've scanned as many pics of the frontend section of the chassis and I see no pre-existing mounting points for a front traction motor, but I do see a frame member being in the way of an axle shaft reaching the front wheel hub. If an AWD Slate Truck is in the model mix, I do not see it with the current chassis architecture.