Key Reasons: How Slate Can Build an EV Truck That Only Costs $27,000

[Cody]

https://www.motortrend.com/features/how-is-the-slate-electric-pickup-truck-so-cheap

Key Factors Contributing to the Slate Truck's Affordability:

• Single Configuration Production: Slate Auto simplifies manufacturing by offering only one version of the truck—a gray, two-door pickup with a standard feature set. The only choice available to buyers is between two battery options: a 52.7 kWh pack offering approximately 150 miles of range, and an 84.3 kWh pack extending the range to about 240 miles.
• Elimination of Paint Shop: The truck's body panels are made from glass-filled polypropylene composite, which are cost-effective to produce and eliminate the need for an expensive paint shop. This not only reduces production costs but also simplifies the manufacturing process.
• Minimalist Features: To keep costs down, the Slate Truck omits many common features found in modern vehicles. It lacks power windows, infotainment systems, sunroofs, and keyless entry. However, it includes essential features like heating, air conditioning, and power locks with a remote key fob for safety.
• Parts Commonality: The design emphasizes the use of interchangeable parts, such as identical taillamps and door handles for both sides of the vehicle. This approach reduces the variety of parts needed, leading to economies of scale and further cost savings.
• Simplified Assembly: The Slate Truck is designed with approximately 500 subassemblies, significantly fewer than the thousands typically found in standard pickups. For example, the instrument panel structure has been reduced from 27 parts to seven, and each door's components have been consolidated from 15 parts to ten.
• Utilization of Existing Facilities: Production will take place in a repurposed facility in Warsaw, Indiana, previously used for phone book publishing. This "brownfield" site offers existing infrastructure and access to a skilled workforce, reducing the capital investment required for a new manufacturing plant.
• Direct-to-Consumer Sales Model: By selling directly to consumers and partnering with organizations for delivery, service, and warranty work, Slate Auto avoids the costs associated with traditional dealership networks.

 

[E90400K]

All good, but the dashboard LOOKS like it's made from 7 parts... 🤣🤣🤣

 

[Letas]

"Strip away everything and sell it back at a profit"

 

[MavStangVa]

Glass filled ppe. DO NOT SAND ON THIS. Glass filled PPE will eat your skin up just like fiberglass.

 

[MavStangVa]

All good, but the dashboard LOOKS like it's made from 7 parts... 🤣🤣🤣

They can't sell direct to consumer in all states. Tesla learned that. This is a gimmick vehicle that won't last 5 years in production before the price jumps to 40k.

 

[E90400K]

They can't sell direct to consumer in all states. Tesla learned that. This is a gimmick vehicle that won't last 5 years in production before the price jumps to 40k.

At the low production volume and no platform to amortize the costs over, I somewhat agree.

And what is Slate truck 2.0?

 

[JeffVA]

Nothing. You nailed it. Produce only the basic truck like your doing and sell all the upgrades on Amazon.
Establish a survice and support network by partnering with an established service center like Pep Boys or the like to provide the service people expect. Nothing like buying a truck and having no place to service it. That's a must have

 

[MavStangVa]

Nothing. You nailed it. Produce only the basic truck like your doing and sell all the upgrades on Amazon.
Establish a survice and support network by partnering with an established service center like Pep Boys or the like to provide the service people expect. Nothing like buying a truck and having no place to service it. That's a must have

Yeah because when I think of quality service I think of the few Pep Boy's still around.

 

[JeffVA]

Yeah because when I think of quality service I think of the few Pep Boy's still around.

Yeah, their probably in the wind by now. That's what Elio Motors did years ago, partnered with Pep Boys for all their service and support. Too bad they didn't make a single vehicle that sold

 

[MavStangVa]

Yeah, their probably in the wind by now. That's what Elio Motors did years ago, partnered with Pep Boys for all their service and support. Too bad they didn't make a single vehicle that sold

Out of curiosity I googled pep boys and it says there are 3 in central Virginia but I know 1 it shows is not open any longer.

 

[JustWideman]

Realistically, incentives are going away and are tax-based anyway. Most people will be paying 30+ with tax, etc

Maverick was under 30k for a basic one, but being built in Mexico might increase it a bit.

Will this be another "40k Cybertruck" hype that ended up being 120k when built?

I am half expecting to get a letter before 2027 that says, "Due to situations out of our control...we need you to pay X "

I think they were going in another way before the last 6 months and said, oh sh!t, we need to say made in USA. If Dems/past trade agreements were still in place, this would have been made in Mexico and would have been a 15-20k truck with Korean batteries (like many Ford Hybrid products). I'm all for getting an old Indiana plant fired up again, but no auto startup team would have wanted that on their dream punch list for a budget car/truck.

They are keeping their target price point and an imaginary incentive that will be long gone, while adding the sales pitch "made in USA with USA supply chain parts". Not even the big companies can do that, or car prices would rise too dramatically. Their 2 and 3-tier parts are imports and will be terrified to death, but the "finished goods" will be made here to avoid more fees.

Tesla did the Fremont, CA plant because they were doing expensive cars first, and were planning a factory in Mexico for cheaper cars before manufacturing and politics got complicated. Fisker was contract-manufacturing their Ocean SUV. Lucid is made in Arizona, but only does expensive $100k cars and SUVs. Canoo and Nikola never got very far in production ramping before going tits up. Lordstown Motors had an Ohio factory and VP hypeman, but never really got a finished product to market before closing down.

This should almost be a kit car to buy on Amazon and get the high-voltage skateboard shipped to my door, and then build my own on the driveway with a few cold ones. I'd do that for $10-15k.

 

[JeffVA]

Realistically, incentives are going away and are tax-based anyway. Most people will be paying 30+ with tax, etc

Maverick was under 30k for a basic one, but being built in Mexico might increase it a bit.

Will this be another "40k Cybertruck" hype that ended up being 120k when built?

I am half expecting to get a letter before 2027 that says, "Due to situations out of our control...we need you to pay X "

I think they were going in another way before the last 6 months and said, oh sh!t, we need to say made in USA. If Dems/past trade agreements were still in place, this would have been made in Mexico and would have been a 15-20k truck with Korean batteries (like many Ford Hybrid products). I'm all for getting an old Indiana plant fired up again, but no auto startup team would have wanted that on their dream punch list for a budget car/truck.

They are keeping their target price point and an imaginary incentive that will be long gone, while adding the sales pitch "made in USA with USA supply chain parts". Not even the big companies can do that, or car prices would rise too dramatically. Their 2 and 3-tier parts are imports and will be terrified to death, but the "finished goods" will be made here to avoid more fees.

Tesla did the Fremont, CA plant because they were doing expensive cars first, and were planning a factory in Mexico for cheaper cars before manufacturing and politics got complicated. Fisker was contract-manufacturing their Ocean SUV. Lucid is made in Arizona, but only does expensive $100k cars and SUVs. Canoo and Nikola never got very far in production ramping before going tits up. Lordstown Motors had an Ohio factory and VP hypeman, but never really got a finished product to market before closing down.

This should almost be a kit car to buy on Amazon and get the high-voltage skateboard shipped to my door, and then build my own on the driveway with a few cold ones. I'd do that for $10-15k.

You may be right in which case this plastic truck will never make it to market. Another Slate killer will be if Ford ever gets off it arse and produce a regular cab Maverick with a 6' bed like it should have to begin with. To this day I haven't seen anyone in the back seat of a Maverick when I pass one. Why does every truck need to be a crew cab today?

If Ford produces a regular cab Maverick then that's what I'm getting

 

[TRP]

You may be right in which case this plastic truck will never make it to market. Another Slate killer will be if Ford ever gets off it arse and produce a regular cab Maverick with a 6' bed like it should have to begin with. To this day I haven't seen anyone in the back seat of a Maverick when I pass one. Why does every truck need to be a crew cab today?

If Ford produces a regular cab Maverick then that's what I'm getting

Somewhere along the way folks decided that a truck was also their family car and needed that back seat. Used to be a truck was a work vehicle and could be had for cheap. Not any more........