Open Air Mode Slate Pickup w/ Blue Wrap (from Rhode Island event showing)

[motorolas]

I'd appreciate if someone can find where she said $25K because I've only seen "mid twenty thousands" and the $27,499 figure that are supposed to be the same thing as one another.

I’d watched and read a few videos and interviews. Even the one with Sherwood.news reporter asking about the $25k price, but CEO Chris never confirmed or denied the $25k and just reiterated that cars are too expensive.
https://sherwood.news/tech/slate-au...lls-us-how-exactly-its-making-a-usd25-000-ev/

Even this recent video the interviewees ask about the $25k price. And she talks about “only the essentials” and reducing cost.


Just waiting for CEO Chris Barman to state $23k and $27k for the base and extended battery. lol. I can wish.

 

[danielt1263]

True, but also they’ve also said “under $20k *with tax incentives…” it was plastered on their website and just about every video and article that was published about the product.

Sure... A vehicle in the "mid-20s" will be "under $20k" with the $7,500 tax incentive.

And for @AZFox, they have never been any more concrete than "mid-20s" as far as I know. And yea, that could mean anywhere from $22,500 to $27,499. The optimists are saying $25k and the pessimists are saying $27,499. (Nobody seems to be saying $22,500.) The only other thing said about the price, AFAIK, is that they will make a profit on every vehicle sold, i.e., they do not plan on a loss leader sales tactic. However, they didn't say how much of a profit. So maybe they sell initially at a 5% profit? Who knows.

I mean literally, they probably don't know exactly yet.

 

[AZFox]

And for @AZFox, they have never been any more concrete than "mid-20s" as far as I know. And yea, that could mean anywhere from $22,500 to $27,499. The optimists are saying $25k and the pessimists are saying $27,499. (Nobody seems to be saying $22,500.)

It's not pessimism, it's observance with some real-world experience mixed in.

've negotiated prices more that most people have because I bought and sold literally millions of dollars worth of goods as a Sole Proprietor of a business for over a decade. Spending Your Own Money (not OPM) tends to sharpen the mind where negotiated pricing is concerned.

We've seen Slate Auto say "just under $20K after the $7.5K incentive". We all agree on that, right?

Based on my experience that translates to $27,499 or thereabouts. If the price were less, they would have said "just under $19K" or something like that.

They simultaneously said the price is "in the mid-twenties", which they're still saying now.

In the video with the guys with a Pink Logo and a Love Seat Plush Toy, Chris Barman politely listened to his question and then deftly avoided talking numbers. Instead she explained how they're keeping costs down so they can offer a low price and still be profitable.

Which brings me to another observation...

 

[AZFox]

The only other thing said about the price, AFAIK, is that they will make a profit on every vehicle sold, i.e., they do not plan on a loss leader sales tactic. However, they didn't say _how much of a profit_. So maybe they sell initially at a 5% profit? Who knows.

This is a good observation, and I agree.

I just want to point out something in case it's non-obvious. This is according to Natural Law:

Market pricing is ultimately is determined by "what the market will bear", not cost of goods sold.​

Put another way,
If Slate's costs go up or down it may affect what price they're willing to offer but it won't change what price buyers are willing to pay for a Truck.

I'm just mentioning this because it's easy to fall into a trap of thinking market price is somehow determined by cost, when it isn't. Cost only determines how low a price can be and still be profitable.

We recently saw an excellent example of this in action.

In a recent article we saw this:

Ford reported an $800 million impact from the Trump administration’s tariffs in the second quarter, per its earnings deck released on Wednesday.​

The so-called Corporate Oligarchs -- particularly the ones who've sold out domestic workers in favor of Cheap Foreign Labor -- will be paying the lion's share of the tariffs.

Ford can't just jack up prices ("pass tariffs along to the consumer") and still sell their electronic devices with wheels vehicles.

The reason is because market pricing ultimately is determined by "what the market will bear", not cost.

See also: "Penetration Pricing"

I've suggested that Slate should use penetration pricing (start by selling at a low price that gets lots of trucks on the road, revenues flowing, and production up, then gradually raise prices when the ongoing market value can be sussed out). Amazon used penetration pricing and it seems to have worked pretty well for Amazon.

 

[Neil Nelson]

The Slate's initial price has been $27,500 for at least the last three months. There was some talk of $25,000 before that but that price did not hold up if it was real, given that there were few days in which people could order if it was $25,000. Slate could increase their price given Trump's tariffs such as for steel but let's see what happens.

 

[motorolas]

The Slate's initial price has been $27,500 for at least the last three months. There was some talk of $25,000 before that but that price did not hold up if it was real, given that there were few days in which people could order if it was $25,000. Slate could increase their price given Trump's tariffs such as for steel but let's see what happens.

From what I’ve watched and read, there hasn’t been a price announced outside of the initial “Under $20ks” before the announcement of OBBB, and after the bill, the CEO mentioning “Mid-$20ks”.

Even with the interviews who mention $25k, the CEO doesn’t directly answer.

Even the one with Sherwood.news reporter asking about the $25k price, but CEO Chris never confirmed or denied the $25k and just reiterated that cars are too expensive.
https://sherwood.news/tech/slate-au...lls-us-how-exactly-its-making-a-usd25-000-ev/

Even this recent video the interviewees ask about the $25k price. And she talks about “only the essentials” and reducing cost.

 

[Neil Nelson]

I have seen a number of outlets giving a price of $27,500, $27,000 or close to $27,500. Where do they get that price? Slate may not be confirming that price or confirming how many Slates are ordered but I am giving $27,500 as the current price. You are saying it is not clear what the price is but that seems a bit vague. It seems an excessive reliance on vagueness.

 

[motorolas]

I have seen a number of outlets giving a price of $27,500, $27,000 or close to $27,500. Where do they get that price? Slate may not be confirming that price or confirming how many Slates are ordered but I am giving $27,500 as the current price. You are saying it is not clear what the price is but that seems a bit vague. It seems an excessive reliance on vagueness.

At least from Slate, it is sadly from them being vague on price.

From reporters and journalists, they’ve been relying on the “It’s in the low $20k after incentive” from April; so folks go off that and now that the EV Tax credit is gone, the math is $20k + $7,500 = $27,500.

Until the price is announced, it’s going to continue to be confusion.

 

[Neil Nelson]

From reporters and journalists, they’ve been relying on the “It’s in the low $20k after incentive” from April; so folks go off that and now that the EV Tax credit is gone, the math is $20k + $7,500 = $27,500.

Actually, that looks very good.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Actually, that looks very good.

I'm in for base of $27.5K. Add my larger battery, 2" lift, needless AT tires, spare AT wheel/tire on the back, SUV kit with rear seat (convertible to open air), and some reasonable goodies on the inside --- $36K? At $40K, this is a hella expensive golf cart replacement, and hard to justify to my domestic CEO. (I'd like to keep my privileges of sleeping with the boss.)

 

[motorolas]

I'm in for base of $27.5K. Add my larger battery, 2" lift, needless AT tires, spare AT wheel/tire on the back, SUV kit with rear seat (convertible to open air), and some reasonable goodies on the inside --- $36K? At $40K, this is a hella expensive golf cart replacement, and hard to justify to my domestic CEO. (I'd like to keep my privileges of sleeping with the boss.)

That’s my concern as well for the accessories. Even though Slate doesn’t have “Trims” aside from the Base and Extended battery, the accessories if they are on the high end will be a detractor for purchase.
I’m considering extended battery, SUV + seats out the door. And center console and Bluetooth controls later down the line. But if costs creep up too close to vehicles with overlapping features and price, it gets dicey. If folks just want the barebones nothing and can keep around ~$30k, then it’ll probably be okay.

 

[danielt1263]

We've seen Slate Auto say "just under $20K after the $7.5K incentive". We all agree on that, right?

Strictly speaking... No, we can't all agree on that. They never said just under $20k.

The exact quote is, "A Slate costs in the mid20s brand new... One sec Chris, actually under 20 after current incentives."

If they had said, "just under $20k" and never said "mid-20s" I think I would be fully onboard with your take on the situation. They didn't say that. I also think it's important to note that in the ad they said current incentives. It was already pretty clear to most insiders that the incentive was going to get reduced or eliminated.

I agree with you that what the market will bear will make or break the company, but we don't know what the market will bear until after they've offered up their vehicle at a price the company can sustain. If it turns out the market will bear that price, then they succeed, otherwise they fail. And my guess is, they don't even know what that sustainable price is yet, so I seriously doubt any outsiders do.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Strictly speaking... No, we can't all agree on that. They never said just under $20k.

The exact quote is, "A Slate costs in the mid20s brand new... One sec Chris, actually under 20 after current incentives."

If they had said, "just under $20k" and never said "mid-20s" I think I would be fully onboard with your take on the situation. They didn't say that. I also think it's important to note that in the ad they said current incentives. It was already pretty clear to most insiders that the incentive was going to get reduced or eliminated.

I agree with you that what the market will bear will make or break the company, but we don't know what the market will bear until after they've offered up their vehicle at a price the company can sustain. If it turns out the market will bear that price, then they succeed, otherwise they fail. And my guess is, they don't even know what that sustainable price is yet, so I seriously doubt any outsiders do.

I wonder if the fleet sales will help soften the blow? An AWD Slate would make a heck of a lot more sense for USPS carriers than most newer options!

 

[danielt1263]

That said, for those who want to load up with an SUV kit, lifts, spare tire, larger battery, etc... Without a specific need for these things, they would likely be better off with a Kona EV. It may be a few thousand more, but those back seat doors are a hell of a draw for an SUV.

I have looked at my needs, and the base Slate fills them, and is the least expensive vehicle to do so. Sure for a bit more, I can have features I don't want to pay for... I have no incentive to do that.

IE, I think Slate will fail as an SUV.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

That said, for those who want to load up with an SUV kit, lifts, spare tire, larger battery, etc... Without a specific need for these things, they would likely be better off with a Kona EV. It may be a few thousand more, but those back seat doors are a hell of a draw for an SUV.

I have looked at my needs, and the base Slate fills them, and is the least expensive vehicle to do so. Sure for a bit more, I can have features I don't want to pay for... I have no incentive to do that.

IE, I think Slate will fail as an SUV.

Can’t easily remove Kona doors and go “air” mode though…so, I’m still in for the mod-mobile!