Jeff Bezos's $25,000 EV Truck Has One Fatal Flaw • Jeff Jablansky | MotoMan Podcast 006

[JoeBlow-Kokomo]

The beetle was rear wheel drive with the engine mounted directly over the rear wheels. Sound familiar? It drove through snow better than you would expect for a car that size. And if you had a problem, it was light enough that you could just get a couple of your buddies to help push it out.

This is just another pundit saying that the Slate should be made more expensive with 4 doors, AWD, bigger battery, etc. Slate is aiming at the low-cost market segment that the beetle once occupied.

In those days there were very few 4wd vehicles and next to no fwd. Beetles were the BEST snow machines on the road most of the time. We went bowling one time and came out hours later to blizzard conditions and deep snow. Nobody could get out of there. Except us in our Beetle. putt putt
They were real cars.

 

[JoeBlow-Kokomo]

The Slate Truck is going to be a 4-wheeled washing machine. For everyone (who wants one...).

Might want to read a bit maybe. 50/50 weight distribution means fun, sporty handling. Light weight (small batteries) makes it even more so. it's going to be a FUN driver.

 

[Letas]

The lack of understanding about awd is annoying. These trucks WILL have batteru weight over the drive wheels. THAT is all that is needed.

For the 358th time- flatlanders don't seem to realize that there are states where not having AWD is a downright detriment. If you drive over Donner Pass with any regularity- stopping and throwing chains on to get through the checkpoint is an extra ~15 minutes in wet, cold, subpar conditions. Once a year, not the end of the world, but some people live where there is snow and mountains.

 

[null98115]

Long ago (1984) I had a Mazda B2200 Diesel, small truck, 2 door, 2WD, long bed.

My first new vehicle as a 1986 bare-bones Mazda B2000. RWD, two door, no radio, no bedliner, etc.. Drove it for 17 years and 173,000 miles, sometimes going 7000 miles between oil changes (not a brag - I was young and poor). Marvelous vehicle. When it finally kicked the bucket, I replaced it with a 2004 Ranger. Also two door, also RWD also bare bones.

I'm convinced there's a huge audience for this pickup.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

https://www.carscoops.com/2026/04/slate-ev-truck-update/

FWIW. I suspect this article is an AI creation (don't know that).

Personally, I don't claim to know why Slate has been so quiet. It's all narrative. We could claim they've been quiet because they're failing and desperate and hiding something. We could also claim they've been quiet because they've got their noses to the grindstone getting a brilliant truck ready for market.

We just won't know which is true until they talk to us.

 

[Driven5]

The 'silence is deafening' because there hasn't been a 'meaningful update' in a week and a half? Pure clickbait nonsense.

Rivian R2 is supposed to be available in 'Spring 2026', which we're now in, and they didn't even release most of the major details until a mere 1-week before the first day of Spring 2026 began. BFD.

The reality probably lies somewhere in the middle. Yes they're probably ramping up an internal push and/or working things that aren't really publicly sharable, but also yes they're probably at least a little behind schedule... Which should surprise exactly no one.

Much the same - Yes a well balanced RWD is more than capable enough for most people's rather limited snow/ice driving needs, but also yes AWD is a significant benefit for those who regularly need to drive when and where snow/ice is combined with substantial hills and/or mountains.

 

[KevinRS]

If you NEED AWD/4WD then the Slate just is not for you at this time. Just like the many other vehicles on the market without it.
Slate stated that they would have updates for us in June. It's highly unlikely that we would hear anything of significance between them stating that, and the June announcements.

 

[Letas]

The 'silence is deafening' because there hasn't been a 'meaningful update' in a week and a half? Pure clickbait nonsense.

Rivian R2 is supposed to be available in 'Spring 2026', which we're now in, and they didn't even release most of the major details until a mere 1-week before the first day of Spring 2026 began. BFD.

The reality probably lies somewhere in the middle. Yes they're probably ramping up an internal push and/or working things that aren't really publicly sharable, but also yes they're probably at least a little behind schedule... Which should surprise exactly no one.

Much the same - Yes a well balanced RWD is more than capable enough for most people's rather limited snow/ice driving needs, but also yes AWD is a significant benefit for those who regularly need to drive when and where snow/ice is combined with substantial hills and/or mountains.

A far too reasonable take- I don't like it!

 

[Ironman]

The reason they are still running around is people want them, and they are no longer made. Same with the Dakota. People keep them alive.
I don't want no infotainment console
Don't want no phone and gps in the dash.
I can crank the windows down like my Dakota.
I want knobs, not touchscreens

 

[slate808]

And Toyotas
judging from stuff in the bed and racks, most of these are some sort of work truck, but also a fair number that have been fixed up, repainted, and look really nice.

I currently own a two door regular cab Tacoma and I lost count long ago how many times I have been asked if I want to sell. I signed up for a Blank Slate on day one. I plan to keep the Tacoma and add the Slate.

 

[KevinRS]

I currently own a two door regular cab Tacoma and I lost count long ago how many times I have been asked if I want to sell. I signed up for a Blank Slate on day one. I plan to keep the Tacoma and add the Slate.

I think there is a good possibility that when Slates start hitting the road, people are going to be asking what it is and where we got them. Slate should probably deliver each truck with a stack of cards with the website and a picture.

 

[sodamo]

I think there is a good possibility that when Slates start hitting the road, people are going to be asking what it is and where we got them. Slate should probably deliver each truck with a stack of cards with the website and a picture.

Agreed, i’m willing to have some sort of signage, even drive to a show and tell around the island a few times As I fully expect to have one of the first, if not the first on our island.

 

[Susan]

I think there is a good possibility that when Slates start hitting the road, people are going to be asking what it is and where we got them. Slate should probably deliver each truck with a stack of cards with the website and a picture.

That's a great idea! You should suggest it to the Slate team. I'd absolutely hand out those cards to people who were interested.

 

[cadblu]

That's a great idea! You should suggest it to the Slate team. I'd absolutely hand out those cards to people who were interested.

How about this idea!
Each card should have a QR code (sample)

that displays your unique build code 🙂

 

[sodamo]

How about this idea!
Each card should have a QR code (sample)

that displays your unique build code 🙂

And the QR code of your build on the door pillar, always available to share