Is FORD Preparing to Release a SLATE Competitor?

[The Weatherman]

Looks like Ford may be preparing to announce its next generation EV and it may actually be affordable.

Aug 11th is planned press day.

https://insideevs.com/news/767532/ford-ev-reveal-model-t-moment-august-11/

 

[bartflossom]

i'm interested. I thought Ford had given up. We'll see on the 11th I guess. I hope it looks less like an Escape than the fan renders. In any case, I'll buy a slate. Done with stealerships.

 

[GaRailroader]

The ‘Model T Moment’ seems to be a direct response to Slate coming on the scene. I realize Ford built the Model T but the only mention of Model T in last decade is Slate comparisons to Model T and VW Beetle. I hope one of the variants is a compact pick-up. I don’t think Ford making a Nissan Leaf/Chevy Bolt competitor is going to move the needle.

 

[BahamaTodd]

The ‘Model T Moment’ seems to be a direct response to Slate coming on the scene. I realize Ford built the Model T but the only mention of Model T in last decade is Slate comparisons to Model T and VW Beetle. I hope one of the variants is a compact pick-up. I don’t think Ford making a Nissan Leaf/Chevy Bolt competitor is going to move the needle.

Ford started working on this new EV platform back in 2022, and a sub $25k pickup is one of the rumored vehicles.

Ford's 'Skunkworks' EV Project Includes $25,000 Truck, Compact SUV

 

[Dorbiman]

I'm so jaded by the legacy automakers. It would have to be an exceptional small pickup for me to consider it over the Slate at this point

 

[Trace26]

It's feeling like a real Apple iPhone moment.
If you haven't seen the Blackberry movie, I recommend you do.

 

[Trace26]

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

 

[E90400K]

The ‘Model T Moment’ seems to be a direct response to Slate coming on the scene. I realize Ford built the Model T but the only mention of Model T in last decade is Slate comparisons to Model T and VW Beetle. I hope one of the variants is a compact pick-up. I don’t think Ford making a Nissan Leaf/Chevy Bolt competitor is going to move the needle.

This is why I question the Slate's viability. The GM Bolt models were sold at $28K before the $7,500 tax credit (so under $20K) and sales were not great until right at the end of their production run. And most were bought by Uber drivers. GM didn't find them profitable.

While Slate thinks the answer is an inexpensive EV. History indicates that is really not the case.

 

[BahamaTodd]

This is why I question the Slate's viability. The GM Bolt models were sold at $28K before the $7,500 tax credit (so under $20K) and sales were not great until right at the end of their production run. And most were bought by Uber drivers. GM didn't find them profitable.

While Slate thinks the answer is an inexpensive EV. History indicates that is really not the case.

Batteries were also 2-3 times more expensive over most of the production run of the Bolt.

Cost is not going to be an advantage for Slate. For what it is, its actually expensive. I also don't expect the best driving experience when it comes to NVH. Slate will need to work hard on selling the customization and durability benefits.

 

[Driven5]

A direct (more than Maverick) competitor from Ford could certainly be bad news for Slate, attracting (too?) many potential customers.

What makes Slate compelling (to me) though, is not just that it's a small electric truck. Rather the entire premise is actually a 'novel' (for today) concept, with passion and personality, that happens to be a small electric truck.

I suppose Ford could just carbon-copy Slate, with retro-cool (Bronco Sport based) styling, 'fun' handling RWD potential, and rabid simplification with DIY and mod friendliness. But if it's just a conventionally modern (overly complicated, amorphous styled, soulless, and disposable) appliance that happens to be a small electric truck, merely competing on traditional measures of 'more' (range, tech, etc) for the price, I have zero interest.

Sometimes 'better' isn't.

Disclaimer: I am probably a poor choice of market to target.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

One thing's for sure. Everyone at Slate will be watching the Ford presentation on 11 August.

 

[AZFox]

It's only a matter of time before the Anvil Of Obviousness bonks an existing manufacturer on the head and they produce another Small EV Pickup that skirts around the CAFE standards.

 

[cadblu]

The new EV model for Ford will be architectured around cheaper and lower density LFP batteries. The good news is that battery production at Ford won't start until next year, meaning that Slate will still maintain a strategic advantage if deliveries can start late 2026 as promised.

I think it would be a brilliant move on Slate's part to make some kind of breakthrough announcement, like announcing the national service partnership, or coming out with firm pricing on models and accessories, to take away the spotlight from Ford.

Hope someone at Slate is listening...

 

[cadblu]

On the other hand, if this rendering is accurate to any extent, I think it beats the Slate in the "looks" department.

 

[AZFox]

On the other hand, if this rendering is accurate to any extent, I think it beats the Slate in the "looks" department.

That looks like it has some El Camino in its DNA.