How much does Slate need to sell to be considered "successful"?

[Letas]

I think Slate is successful if they are still selling vehicles in X years. My gut tells me X is 5 years, but I think the answer is closer to 10.

I do not like Hyundai products, and would not buy one as a first choice, or second, or third, but they are still a successful company.

 

[bloo]

They just need over 40K annual sales to be the best selling BEV Pickup Truck in the country.

They just need one sale to be the best-selling compact pickup truck in the country

 

[NMNeil]

I think Slate is successful if they are still selling vehicles in X years. My gut tells me X is 5 years, but I think the answer is closer to 10.

But by then the competition will have overtaken them before they deliver their first truck.

 

[KevinRS]

But by then the competition will have overtaken them before they deliver their first truck.

I think you misinterpreted it. "Still selling" not "started selling"
And what competition in "Compact trucks"?
Telo seems to have no plans to scale up, and Maverick isn't that compact, and doesn't plug in. The teased future Ford EV truck will likely be larger than the Maverick.

 

[NMNeil]

I think you misinterpreted it. "Still selling" not "started selling"
And what competition in "Compact trucks"?
Telo seems to have no plans to scale up, and Maverick isn't that compact, and doesn't plug in. The teased future Ford EV truck will likely be larger than the Maverick.

Lots of "Might be made"
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/advice/electric-pickup-trucks
But that's just the ones we are 'allowed' to buy here in the US
https://fleetevolution.com/radar-rd6/

 

[KevinRS]

Lots of "Might be made"
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/advice/electric-pickup-trucks
But that's just the ones we are 'allowed' to buy here in the US
https://fleetevolution.com/radar-rd6/

That article is out of date, with trucks that were expected mid 2025, and never arrived, and no mention that the lightning not only isn't being expanded, but cancelled. No new trucks seem to be planned to be released before late 2027, and most of what the article mentions don't even have dates, some haven't been mentioned by the manufacturers in a year or more.

 

[NMNeil]

That article is out of date, with trucks that were expected mid 2025, and never arrived, and no mention that the lightning not only isn't being expanded, but cancelled. No new trucks seem to be planned to be released before late 2027, and most of what the article mentions don't even have dates, some haven't been mentioned by the manufacturers in a year or more.

True, lots of might happen stories, but Ford intends to release that Maverick EV in late 2027 with a price tag of about $30,000.
It may happen, it may not, but if it does then Slate will have a major competitor considering the Slate is absolute bare bones, no dealer network and an unproven product.
You can often only sell on 2 things; price or quality.
Ford is no longer a quality brand, but we don't know anything about the Slate build quality, and the price for both is much the same, and Ford will have the advantage of being able to undercut the Slate price to begin with as a loss leader.
I wish Slate all the best but they really need to get those trucks into the hands of buyers before they lose any advantage.

 

[IanNubbit]

True, lots of might happen stories, but Ford intends to release that Maverick EV in late 2027 with a price tag of about $30,000.
It may happen, it may not, but if it does then Slate will have a major competitor considering the Slate is absolute bare bones, no dealer network and an unproven product.
You can often only sell on 2 things; price or quality.
Ford is no longer a quality brand, but we don't know anything about the Slate build quality, and the price for both is much the same, and Ford will have the advantage of being able to undercut the Slate price to begin with as a loss leader.
I wish Slate all the best but they really need to get those trucks into the hands of buyers before they lose any advantage.

I get SOME people are absolutely cross shopping those two vehicles, but I really feel like alot aren't. I feel there is a large chunk of people who are Slate or no new vehicle purchase. It's so different than anything else. I also fully believe that if you are cross shopping the Slate with other vehicles, 90% of the time, you are going to be happier with the other vehicle.

People who just want a 2 door compact truck, there is 0 competition, Slate is the single only option in the USA. People who want the ability to go from truck to SUV and back, Slate is the only option. People who want open source parts, readily available mounting locations, built to be repaired, and the benefit of DIY warranty repairs, there is nothing to compare, Slate is the only option. Want a true highway legal vehicle with no infotainment stealing your attention that has 4 wheel and protects you from the elements, Slate is the only option. Want an EV with a truck bed that's not over 7k lbs, Slate is it. Want a 2 door EV pickup, Slate. Want a 2 door EV SUV, only a Slate. Want roll-up windows, now Slate is the only option. Want a vehicle without connected service and a telematics box, only Slate. Want an EV for less than 29k before incentives/sales, Only Slate.

There is a long list for "Only with Slate", I feel like they ONLY need to market to them, not try and win over cross shop buyers, because I feel that will just leave them with customers they never wanted to target and those customer will find things to complain about, that are highlights for their true target market.

 

[KevinRS]

True, lots of might happen stories, but Ford intends to release that Maverick EV in late 2027 with a price tag of about $30,000.
It may happen, it may not, but if it does then Slate will have a major competitor considering the Slate is absolute bare bones, no dealer network and an unproven product.
You can often only sell on 2 things; price or quality.
Ford is no longer a quality brand, but we don't know anything about the Slate build quality, and the price for both is much the same, and Ford will have the advantage of being able to undercut the Slate price to begin with as a loss leader.
I wish Slate all the best but they really need to get those trucks into the hands of buyers before they lose any advantage.

There is a year long advantage Slate will have though, assuming Ford gets to full scale production right away, on the single data point schedule they have mentioned. If Slate meets their own schedule, and delivers a quality product, Ford will be playing catch-up. I don't really think Ford has much room to sell at a loss to try to beat Slate, part of the reason all the established automakers have been pulling back on EVs is that they haven't figured out how to profit on them.
Ford sold more Mavericks last year than Slate's full scale planned output. Ford only sold ~27k Lightnings last year, they peaked at 33.5k in 2024. Meanwhile they sold over 800k high margin F-150s last year.
I don't think Slate is a real threat to Ford, if anything their unnamed EV truck will be going up against the Maverick. Slate has a whole different target market, as a smaller truck, with 2 doors, and minimal towing.

I still think it's funny that Toyota has commercials for their bZ specifically calling out that they aren't starting with a Blank Slate