Sandy Munro's first reactions to Slate truck

[<3 Crank Windows]

Sounds like there's in-depth (hopefully hands-on) videos coming from Sandy Munro, but here's his first reactions, which sound very positive.

Interesting tidbit - he says Slate's head of engineering Eric Keipper implemented many of Munro's company's suggestions, so we know that Slate Auto consulted Munro & Associates for at least some of the truck's engineering.

 

[Liontracks]

Looking forward to the new in-depth video!

 

[Cody]

He sounds real excited by it. So the engineering behind the Slate EV Truck is likely well sorted. I hope he gives his thoughts on cost of parts and manufacturing and if he thinks it'll hit the price target.

 

[bitkahuna]

Interesting tidbit - he says Slate's head of engineering Eric Keipper implemented many of Munro's company's suggestions, so we know that Slate Auto consulted Munro & Associates for at least some of the truck's engineering.

of course he praises himself...

 

[grumpyunk]

Sany is proud of his work. He also has given up on ICE vehicles totally. It took a lot of pulling to get him to look at the Maverick when it first was introduced.

He believes 100% in BEVs. I disagree, and disagreed two-three years ago when they were first touted at the future of personal vehicles. I still think they have a niche, but likely will not replace ICE vehicles totally.

The Slate fits a small city-bound or suburb-bound niche for small service industries. It is prices based on a Federal subsidy that may go away. That likely will affect how well it is received. The lead designers/bean counters are betting the farm that the base model with no add-ons will only sell to 1% or so of their sales. Just like FoMoCo thought the XLT would be the big seller in the Maverick lineup. They also thought the hybrid would have a lower take rate than the ecoboost.

If they can get it down the assembly line, and not ooch the price up as Ford did with Maverick, they may have a good seller.

tom

 

[E90400K]

Sany is proud of his work. He also has given up on ICE vehicles totally. It took a lot of pulling to get him to look at the Maverick when it first was introduced.

He believes 100% in BEVs. I disagree, and disagreed two-three years ago when they were first touted at the future of personal vehicles. I still think they have a niche, but likely will not replace ICE vehicles totally.

The Slate fits a small city-bound or suburb-bound niche for small service industries. It is prices based on a Federal subsidy that may go away. That likely will affect how well it is received. The lead designers/bean counters are betting the farm that the base model with no add-ons will only sell to 1% or so of their sales. Just like FoMoCo thought the XLT would be the big seller in the Maverick lineup. They also thought the hybrid would have a lower take rate than the ecoboost.

If they can get it down the assembly line, and not ooch the price up as Ford did with Maverick, they may have a good seller.

tom

The problem SLATE has is economy of scale. International manufacturers such as Ford have huge economy of scale. The Maverick is a derivation of the internationally built C2 Escape platform, Ford builds 10 models off the C2 platform and uses the various versions of the drivetrain all over the world. It sells millions of C2 platform cars a year in global markets.

SLATE says it will build annually up to 140,000 units. That's probably a month or less of C2 platform cars Ford builds globally. If SLATE starts eating into Maverick sales, Ford just lowers the price via incentives at the dealership level. Ford easily has enough room in the profit to drop the price $3K to $5K in a moment's notice.

It will be interesting to see this play out.

 

[Anthropod]

Sany is proud of his work. He also has given up on ICE vehicles totally. It took a lot of pulling to get him to look at the Maverick when it first was introduced.

He believes 100% in BEVs. I disagree, and disagreed two-three years ago when they were first touted at the future of personal vehicles. I still think they have a niche, but likely will not replace ICE vehicles totally.

The Slate fits a small city-bound or suburb-bound niche for small service industries. It is prices based on a Federal subsidy that may go away. That likely will affect how well it is received. The lead designers/bean counters are betting the farm that the base model with no add-ons will only sell to 1% or so of their sales. Just like FoMoCo thought the XLT would be the big seller in the Maverick lineup. They also thought the hybrid would have a lower take rate than the ecoboost.

If they can get it down the assembly line, and not ooch the price up as Ford did with Maverick, they may have a good seller.

tom

Kinda off topic, but not. My mom has a 2005 Ford Focus station wagon she bought new. It's seen some things. Still doing great, but I know she will need a new vehicle soon. The Mavrick has been the vehicle we have talked about the most. The Slate may fit her needs better. She no longer takes long road trips by herself. She loves gardening, and she loves simplicity. She borrowed my 2018 F150 once, and the tech made her nervous. I think you are right about not "ooch the price up." If the Slate can come in at $25K (Before any gov incentives, if they still exist), it might be the one for her.