Question about future models / variants

[1yeliab_sufur1]

Anyone think they will make a car since it was originally called the re:car under the re:build manufacturing would be neet to see them pay homage to that

 

[E90400K]

The pickup has the broader market appeal. Sedans and coupes are DOA in the US market.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

True but they still sell

 

[panjak]

I would rather bet on a van. Reasonable priced small van may be a fleet king

 

[cvollers]

The pickup has the broader market appeal. Sedans and coupes are DOA in the US market.

And yet the Accord, Camry, Sonata, and Civic sell pretty well…mostly in hybrid form. VW still sells the Jetta and GLI. Ford gave up on cars, but only because other auto makers were kicking their ass in that segment.

 

[E90400K]

And yet the Accord, Camry, Sonata, and Civic sell pretty well…mostly in hybrid form. VW still sells the Jetta and GLI. Ford gave up on cars, but only because other auto makers were kicking their ass in that segment.

All established nameplates with base models under $30K that recharge in 5 minutes with 400+ miles of range.

No one is going to buy a plastic, unpainted, bare bones EV sedan with 400V architecture with 150 miles of range that charges to just 80% in 30 minutes (minimum) at $28K.

 

[cvollers]

All established nameplates with base models under $30K that recharge in 5 minutes with 400+ miles of range.

No one is going to buy a plastic, unpainted, bare bones EV sedan with 400V architecture with 150 miles of range that charges to just 80% in 30 minutes (minimum) at $28K.

None of the models mentioned are EVs or plug-in hybrids.

 

[dalebeaman]

How about a sporty 2 passenger convertible. Or retro body panels to look like some older pickups.

 

[E90400K]

None of the models mentioned are EVs or plug-in hybrids.

True, and not to revisit the Maverick comparo topic, but my point is, for nearly the same price an ICE Camry or Accord, or Civic, offers a much better user experience for a vast part of the Market. Especially for individuals who do not have access to private charging. Owning an ICEV is easy. EV are more difficult IF the use case falls outside of charge-at-home-while-sleeping. For the same price, people will choose ease of use.

 

[cvollers]

True, and not to revisit the Maverick comparo topic, but my point is, for nearly the same price an ICE Camry or Accord, or Civic, offers a much better user experience for a vast part of the Market. Especially for individuals who do not have access to private charging. Owning an ICEV is easy. EV are more difficult IF the use case falls outside of charge-at-home-while-sleeping. For the same price, people will choose ease of use.

Possibly. An ICEV is also a much larger PITA to maintain than an EV. And gas is always more expensive than charging. I’m not saying Slate should build an EV sedan as their next model. In fact, I don’t think they should be thinking about ANY next model at this point in time. If model A can do 95% of what a realistic model B might do, why bother?

 

[E90400K]

Possibly. An ICEV is also a much larger PITA to maintain than an EV. And gas is always more expensive than charging. I’m not saying Slate should build an EV sedan as their next model. In fact, I don’t think they should be thinking about ANY next model at this point in time. If model A can do 95% of what a realistic model B might do, why bother?

Agree. Stick with just A for now. A EV sedan is a decade or even 15 years down the pipeline.

 

[Sparkie]

I would rather bet on a van. Reasonable priced small van may be a fleet king

Add the SUV config option without the seats, then wrap the windows. Voila! You've got your van. Rinse and repeat a few more times, then your company's got a fleet.

 

[cvollers]

Add the SUV config option without the seats, then wrap the windows. Voila! You've got your van. Rinse and repeat a few more times, then your company's got a fleet.

What he said. Even Slate has referred to the Cargo as a van. The only thing comparable for the money is a used Transit Connect and that’s a gasser…and a Ford. Of course with the TC you get two additional sliding doors and a bit more interior volume, but no way is it as cool or as cheap to run.

 

[panjak]

Add the SUV config option without the seats, then wrap the windows. Voila! You've got your van

It's just like any wagon with rear seats removed. No. There is a reason why Transit Connect looks The way it look. The van has to has sliding side door for easy curb unload, and as low bed as possible because lifting is difficult. Also needs as much capacity as possible, thats why cab forward design is a king in vans. Slate, while being a nice truck, has a lot of space just lost at the front of the cabin, with useless (for commercial operations) frunk. Looking nice is not necessarily most important for fleet customers, if that comes with the cost of lost capacity and convenience, because carrying less stuff and longer unloading just costs money. But you know what fleet customers doesn't want to pay for? All those bells and whistles that now come as standard.