Jeff Bezos and Slate

[Saint Alban]

I often hear/read comments about Slate and Jeff Bezos.

“Jeff Bezos is an investor in Slate Auto, an American electric vehicle startup founded in 2022 and based in Troy, Michigan. His involvement is primarily financial—Bezos participated in the company’s $111 million Series A funding round through his family office, though the exact size of his investment has not been disclosed. He is not involved in the company’s day-to-day operations or management; his role is that of a notable backer rather than an executive or founder.”

Given that, what are everyone’s conspiracy theories about this? Because I know some people think he’s running the show, going to integrate Slate with Amazon, sell parts, etc. I’m not saying I believe any of it, just curious.

 

[Adam W]

I'm continually confused why the headlines, including that new Top Gear video, continue to be "Jeff Bezos' pickup." I don't get it, are people more inclined to pay attention with the Bezos name attached? His involvement is certainly not a plus in my book.

I have a pretty low opinion of Bezos. Amazon is hugely exploitative, and their services are built on a long history of personal privacy intrusions, data collection, and the grossest kind of surveillance ad-tech tracking. I won't let an Alexa, FireTV, or Ring Doorbell anywhere near my house. Amazon is my last choice for purchases, but they've got such a stranglehold on everything that it's hard to avoid in some instances. I always seriously consider going without if they're the only place I can get something I'm shopping for.

From what we've been told, he put some money in the pot but otherwise has nothing to do with any of it. If I were to find out he has a substantial role at Slate, I would probably be out as a customer.

 

[Swinefuzz]

I'm continually confused why the headlines, including that new Top Gear video, continue to be "Jeff Bezos' pickup." I don't get it, are people more inclined to pay attention with the Bezos name attached? His involvement is certainly not a plus in my book.

I have a pretty low opinion of Bezos. Amazon is hugely exploitative, and their services are built on a long history of personal privacy intrusions, data collection, and the grossest kind of surveillance ad-tech tracking. I won't let an Alexa, FireTV, or Ring Doorbell anywhere near my house. Amazon is my last choice for purchases, but they've got such a stranglehold on everything that it's hard to avoid in some instances. I always seriously consider going without if they're the only place I can get something I'm shopping for.

From what we've been told, he put some money in the pot but otherwise has nothing to do with any of it. If I were to find out he has a substantial role at Slate, I would probably be out as a customer.

I share the concerns. I want an affordable, efficient, clean truck devoid of excess features I'll never use. I'm obsessed with the Slate because it is the opposite of modern cars and Big Auto in general. but if it turns out that Slate would be tracking and extorting me via subscription fees to use the product, then it proves that Slate ISN'T the opposite of all the things about the modern auto industry I despise. The truck's bare-bones aspects and plain appearance would only be the innocent exterior while what lies beneath is sinister and expoloitative.

It's going to be interesting to watch and see as the Slate story develops in the months ahead. If Slate Auto turns out to be the automobile version of a cheap desktop inkjet printer that requires expensive cartridges that fail long before you've used them up and shut down other features like scanning just because you haven't purchased and plugged in a new cartridge, well, then that's too bad for me. I've been burned too many times by inkjet printers and I don't buy them anymore. I won't be purchasing a truck that's the equivelant of an inkjet printer.

 

[E90400K]

Two great posts. Bezos' connection to Slate is not a positive attraction for me. I could go all BDS about it, but I'm an adult.

 

[lgerger]

I often hear/read comments about Slate and Jeff Bezos.

“Jeff Bezos is an investor in Slate Auto, an American electric vehicle startup founded in 2022 and based in Troy, Michigan. His involvement is primarily financial—Bezos participated in the company’s $111 million Series A funding round through his family office, though the exact size of his investment has not been disclosed. He is not involved in the company’s day-to-day operations or management; his role is that of a notable backer rather than an executive or founder.”

Given that, what are everyone’s conspiracy theories about this? Because I know some people think he’s running the show, going to integrate Slate with Amazon, sell parts, etc. I’m not saying I believe any of it, just curious.

I predict utilization of Amazon’s vast logistics empire for delivery or pick up of vehicles at fulfillment centers.

 

[Letas]

I think the only reason it makes headlines is due to the market saturation of EV startups.

“EV Startup promises sub $20k Truck” doesn’t get the same clicks as it does when you put Jeff’s name in there.

First hand, I’ve worked for Amazon as well as a “bezos backed startup”. His impact at Amazon was 100% felt daily. At the startup? His impact was financial. Wouldn’t even know he backed the company if I wasn’t told.
I’m not personally worried about his impact on Slate.

 

[Saint Alban]

I'm continually confused why the headlines, including that new Top Gear video, continue to be "Jeff Bezos' pickup."

That bothered me as well. The media is giving him ownership of the company.

 

[sodamo]

I predict utilization of Amazon’s vast logistics empire for delivery or pick up of vehicles at fulfillment centers.

Really hope you are right.

 

[Sparkie]

I don't think Jeff Bezos cares about Blank Slate as an automobile. Not at all.

Bezos probably has no opinion about 4 doors or 2 doors, nor does he care about battery capacity, crank windows, stereo, AWD, nor any other feature. I expect him to ignore internet "influencers" with all their garbage** comparisons between a Blank Slate vs CyberTruck, Rivian, Maverick, Santa Cruz, or the failed EV companies (like Canoo, Fisker, Coda)...

Bezos INVESTED in Slate Auto because he saw a unique business plan -- one that he thinks will yield a worthy return. That's all.

Slate Auto did not seek me as an investor, LOL. I love Slate's unique business plan. So, I placed my reservation. It will probably be very late 2027 (or 2028) before I receive mine. That's okay. At the right time, they'll launch their IPO and I will invest.

** garbage:
The comparisons are flawed. Those companies aimed to match the existing market of expensively (overly) equipped cars. That market is saturated with tons of cars (EV and ICE) still sitting on dealership lots facing ever shrinking margins. Think about. Why would Slate Auto even want to "break into" that market? Thankfully, they don't. Why would Bezos want to invest in yet-another-EV-automaker?