One thing I think might hold Slate truck back.

[sodamo]

I think Slate fits many, very diverse demographics which cumulatively could be sizeable. Slate will be our 3rd vehicle, not because I need it, but because it really interests me and well, I can. Logically, I should sell my Tundra, and maybe I will, but not there yet.

 

[E90400K]

201 HP and 195 TQ may not be enough.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I think Slate fits many, very diverse demographics which cumulatively could be sizeable. Slate will be our 3rd vehicle, not because I need it, but because it really interests me and well, I can. Logically, I should sell my Tundra, and maybe I will, but not there yet.

Slate not gonna tow your toys (tractors, side by side, etc) to be repaired, Boss....and I know you've got toys around your farm! I bet you keep the Tundra until you lose some toys. You're a smart guy though, and will have planned that out in the interval 18 months.

 

[SlatePossible2028]

I think ive mentioned this before but I dont think anyone is buying a slate for real truck work. Fleet work, around town work yes. Autozone delivery truck type stuff. But no one is going to buy this thing and then try to haul bricks with it everyday. Ive said here before that id be keeping my F150 for proper truck work, the slate would be a commuter.

Based on both this forum and Slate's marketing it seems like the Slate is aiming more for the Hyundai Santa Cruz market, the "i need to toss my mountain bike in this back of this on the way to the organic market" type customers

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I think ive mentioned this before but I dont think anyone is buying a slate for real truck work. Fleet work, around town work yes. Autozone delivery truck type stuff. But no one is going to buy this thing and then try to haul bricks with it everyday. Ive said here before that id be keeping my F150 for proper truck work, the slate would be a commuter.

Based on both this forum and Slate's marketing it seems like the Slate is aiming more for the Hyundai Santa Cruz market, the "i need to toss my mountain bike in this back of this on the way to the organic market" type customers

You have a 1966 Ranchero!? Ford just trade-marked Rachero again for an upcoming vehicle (probably mid-size truck EV). That's cool.

 

[sodamo]

Slate not gonna tow your toys (tractors, side by side, etc) to be repaired, Boss....and I know you've got toys around your farm! I bet you keep the Tundra until you lose some toys. You're a smart guy though, and will have planned that out in the interval 18 months.

LOL ya got me. I did get my tractor stuck a few times and my Ridgeline couldn’t unstick. A major reason I did get the Tundra and it worked. tractor has not been stuck ever since.
probably should put this in the competing against Slate thread, but about 98% certain this will be showing up shortly

 

[Doctors Do Little]

LOL ya got me. I did get my tractor stuck a few times and my Ridgeline couldn’t unstick. A major reason I did get the Tundra and it worked. tractor has not been stuck ever since.
probably should put this in the competing against Slate thread, but about 98% certain this will be showing up shortly

Don't let my soft hands fool you. I grew up on a farm.

 

[AZFox]

uhaul rents pickup trucks for $20, plus .60 to .99 per mile

Plus fuel.

The rate is 89¢/mi where I am.

For a road trip (over 90 miles, presumably) that could add up.

The last time I need to haul things a long distance I swapped cars with a friend who has an F-150 for a few days. I returned his truck full of fuel and gave him something for his trouble. Might have cost me 50¢/mile or thereabouts.

Back to the point: If the Slate Truck's road-trip compatibility is a limitation for you, renting is easy and affordable.

In the grand scheme of things, when you consider overall cost-of-ownership (low maintenance, fuel savings, etc.), you can come out money ahead by occasionally renting.

 

[AZFox]

201 HP and 195 TQ may not be enough.

Not enough for what, specifically?

 

[atx_ev]

I think Slate fits many, very diverse demographics which cumulatively could be sizeable. Slate will be our 3rd vehicle, not because I need it, but because it really interests me and well, I can. Logically, I should sell my Tundra, and maybe I will, but not there yet.

I have a tundra too and the slate would be our third. I would like to replace the tundra with a road trip vehicle like a sprinter van or even a minivan

 

[hbuck]

For me the slate truck does not fit a do-it-all category. It may be great for some things but it's mostly a secondary vehicle for me. I think that today most people are lucky to afford one vehicle they need it to be able to go in the snow, and or on long road trips even if they don't do either all that often. I could go on about what it is good at like commuting 1-5 people a moderate distance or hauling some material for projects. I think that the vehicles that sell well are better at more things.

Until gas vehicles are completely gone, we will have one electric (Slate), and one gas vehicle.

 

[bartflossom]

80's mini-truck demographics were semi-retired and retired people over 60 needing a knockabout for getting crap from Home Depot, people who needed a cheap second car, and youngsters just starting out and wanting a NEW cheap car. And also people into the whole custom mini-truck scene. I believe these will be the demographics for the Slate, with the addition of people who have always wanted an EV. I am demographic numbers one and five.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I have a tundra too and the slate would be our third. I would like to replace the tundra with a road trip vehicle like a sprinter van or even a minivan

I'm with you. Unfortunately, my road trip Sprinter/Benz van aspirations seem to be $160K...that's a lot of money to have a porta-potty for the females in my life. So, we stop, a lot (like a LOT a lot).

 

[Driven5]

The biggest thing holding Slate back will be many people overstating their needs and value of their wants to themselves. Before kids, and in northern Wisconsin, my primary car for a few years was a Miata. 100% would recommend, and 100% would do again.

Even as a primary car, let alone a secondary one, the first Slate still doesn't need to be all things to all people. Rather, it only needs to be enough things to enough people.

Range is overrated. For most people, 2-3 hours from home without taking a break is enough in a primary car. For everybody else, more options are coming.

AWD is overrated. For most people, good tires and good weight distribution are enough in a primary car. For everybody else, more options are coming.

4 doors is overrated. For most people without rear facing kids, 2 doors is enough in a primary car. For most of everybody else with rear facing kdis, more options are coming.

Hell, 4 seats is overrated. For most people without kids at home, 2 seats is enough in a primary car. For most of everybody else with kids at home, Slate already has more options... Just don't act surprised when expanding capabilities adds cost.

Ironically, pickup beds are overrated too. For most people, delivery (especially 'free') and the rare occasion $20 pickup rental is enough for anything as a primary car. As underserved markets go though, the one that can most easily be stretched into an AWD 4-door (longer floor equal...) larger battery, CUV is probably the best bet from a business stand point. Personally, I'd have been even more excited if Slate looked like the Nissan IDx concept, but it's probably not the smart choice...

 

[Dorbiman]

Very well said @Driven5. If Slate was making a barebones car like that, I'd be just as excited. The utility of the Slate Truck is awesome, but I also already have a truck, so it's more of a bonus than a necessity for me.

That IDx looks like something from 2025, not 2013! I hadn't seen that concept before. Super cool.