Is FORD Preparing to Release a SLATE Competitor?

[GaRailroader]

Look at the bright side, at least Ford didn't go the other way and decide what the market really needed was an EV Super Duty F-250/F-350.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Look at the bright side, at least Ford didn't go the other way and decide what the market really needed was an EV Super Duty F-250/F-350.

Based on my Lightning experience, jeez might as well design a more efficient cash-shredder.

 

[BobSentMe]

First off: That yellow monstrosity looks like someone slapped a 3 foot bed on the back of an escape. So worst of both the SUV and Truck Worlds.

Secondly, their manufacturing isn't great. Especially on low end vehicles. There's a recall every other week. And it's getting worse.

But finally: Is nobody going to mention Ford's real problem in selling ANY "Model T" EV, which is their dealers? If ANY of their vehicles becomes popular, dealers are going to start adding thousands to the price, just like they did for the Lightening, Mach-E, and Maverick.

Ford is stuck in legacy hell. They grew too big, and now changes like this come at a cost to them AND the consumer. And I say all of this a someone who has owned mostly fords over the years.

 

[AZFox]

Source: https://www.autoweek.com/news/a65428971/new-ford-ev-set-for-kentucky-reveal/

Here's a bullet point from an article about the skunkworks that's linked from that article:

• Ford will bolster future Model e EV business unit profits by selling more aftermarket software and services to customers.

Yikes.
Let's hope Slate Auto doesn't go anywhere near this route for bolstering profits.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Here's a bullet point from an article about the skunkworks that's linked from that article:

• Ford will bolster future Model e EV business unit profits by selling more aftermarket software and services to customers.

Yikes.
Let's hope Slate Auto doesn't go anywhere near this route for bolstering profits.

Ford's Blue Cruise is a good example of an expensive service. It's pretty slick when you are using interstate. Yes, I can use "Ford Points" for this, I'm told, but those aren't free either.

BMW was REALLY bad about this in the past (this was the number one reason I traded my 2016 X5 PHEV).

Software updates need to be OTA and free. Like iPhones.

 

[OldGoat]

How has your Ford experience been with the Mach-E, Chuck? I'm so disappointed with my local dealer's arms-length approach to my Lightning.
[/QUOTE]
Well Doc I have only had one trip back to the dealer in my 18K miles with the MME and it was ok but very little was done of course. Rotate tires, air cleaner, system scan and off I went. Yes, I've heard horror stories of some Ford dealers but there seem to be others that know their way around EV's. The MME has (fingers crossed) been a joy so far. But I want a SLATE for hauling my sports gear and landscape materials around as my van is getting long in the tooth.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

How has your Ford experience been with the Mach-E, Chuck? I'm so disappointed with my local dealer's arms-length approach to my Lightning.

Well Doc I have only had one trip back to the dealer in my 18K miles with the MME and it was ok but very little was done of course. Rotate tires, air cleaner, system scan and off I went. Yes, I've heard horror stories of some Ford dealers but there seem to be others that know their way around EV's. The MME has (fingers crossed) been a joy so far. But I want a SLATE for hauling my sports gear and landscape materials around as my van is getting long in the tooth.
[/QUOTE]
That’s an honest assessment. To my way of thinking, all electronics should be able to be handled via mobile service…but local dude was flummoxed after 60 minutes of attempting to figure out why their software update killed my frunk.

I have to do serious towing next weekend so I’ll wait to sort it afterwards.

I hope that Slate is only slightly more complicated that my Chinese knockoff snooty golf cart!