Is FORD Preparing to Release a SLATE Competitor?

[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!

 

[Roy]

So does anybody wonder where that reported 800 million bucks came from?

 

[Doctors Do Little]

So does anybody wonder where that reported 800 million bucks came from?

Jeff and friends….

 

[AZFox]

Jeff and friends….

Put another way, a combination of high-profile individual investors, venture capital firms, and investment vehicles tied to prominent business figures, including Jeff Bezos.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Put another way, a combination of high-profile individual investors, venture capital firms, and investment vehicles tied to prominent business figures, including Jeff Bezos.

Si! El Jeffe y Los Amigos.

 

[EverythingSlate]

Yes- and what if I told you I have the inside scoop?

 

[EverythingSlate]

It would be funny if it's just an electric Maverick. Lol

🤐

 

[AL-Derby]

What I see is a “want-a-be“ pickup like the Hyundai. It would be okay for groceries or a run to the feed store. Definitely not hauling furniture home.

 

[Roy]

Actually I was referring to the reported 800 million in profit the Ford CO. Reported in the annual report to share holders. reported as a direct result of the new tariffs.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

You have that backwards. It was a reported $800M loss.

That's the only thing that would make sense. Tariffs increasing the price of parts/cars that are made outside of US...

 

[AZFox]

Actually I was referring to the reported 800 million in profit the Ford CO. Reported in the annual report to share holders. reported as a direct result of the new tariffs.

I don't know what "800 million in profit the Ford CO" means.

I think what you're calling an annual report was Ford’s Q2 2025 earnings call with investors.

According to Ford’s Q2 2025 earnings call with investors, the company posted a record revenue of $50.2 billion with a net loss of $36 million, of which $800 million came from adverse net tariff-related impacts. Aside from that, the rest of Ford’s Q2 loss mostly stemmed from other “special items,” which the automaker stated were “a field service action and expenses related to a previously announced cancellation of an electric vehicle program.”​

source

 

[AZFox]

You have that backwards. It was a reported $800M loss.

They reported a net loss of $36 million, of which $800 million came from "adverse net tariff-related impacts"

👆 The corporate version of "the dog ate my homework".