Simplicity!

[SichuanHot]

Nor sure this is right thread but,
I sincerely hope that driving down the street. 5 or 10 years from now, the casual observer can’t identify whether the Slate he sees is an original or current production, much like VW Beetle.

10 years isn't very long. The classic Beetle from the KDF wagon to the end of its production lasted for over 5 decades with many licensed manufacturing happening across the world. 10 year generation runs for cars isn't too strange. Both the NC Miata, Benz W201 had a 10 year production run. The BMW E30 had little over 10 years. The BMW E39 had a 9 year run.

For EVs I think the Tesla Model S is on the way for having the longest generational run with life cycle revisions. That thing has been made for over 20 years now.

 

[jonboy108]

10 years isn't very long. The classic Beetle from the KDF wagon to the end of its production lasted for over 5 decades with many licensed manufacturing happening across the world. 10 year generation runs for cars isn't too strange. Both the NC Miata, Benz W201 had a 10 year production run. The BMW E30 had little over 10 years. The BMW E39 had a 9 year run.

For EVs I think the Tesla Model S is on the way for having the longest generational run with life cycle revisions. That thing has been made for over 20 years now.

Sorry the Model S was first produced in 2012. That makes a 13 year production run so far...

 

[SichuanHot]

Sorry the Model S was first produced in 2012. That makes a 13 year production run so far...

Whoops you're right. I was thinking Tesla Roadster when doing the math and not the S.

 

[cadblu]

Not sure if it fits your description, but the Rivian R2 (coming next year) may be worth a look! $45k starting price, 300 mi range, built to drive off the beaten path.
But if the Slate fits the bill for $15k cheaper, obviously a great option too.

Here’s the latest on the R2:

Rivian has just announced that the first R2 validation vehicles have rolled off the production line. These Manufacturing Validation Build (MVB) units will help Rivian finalize any production line issues ahead of when they start cranking out the R2 for customers. Plus, one of these pre-production models is going on a public road trip across Route 66. Production units of the Rivian R2 are expected to arrive by this summer with a starting price around $45,000.

If Slate is following a similar milestone schedule, MVB’s should be rolling off Slate’s assembly lines this summer!

 

[AKrietzer]

Here’s the latest on the R2:

Rivian has just announced that the first R2 validation vehicles have rolled off the production line. These Manufacturing Validation Build (MVB) units will help Rivian finalize any production line issues ahead of when they start cranking out the R2 for customers. Plus, one of these pre-production models is going on a public road trip across Route 66. Production units of the Rivian R2 are expected to arrive by this summer with a starting price around $45,000.

If Slate is following a similar milestone schedule, MVB’s should be rolling off Slate’s assembly lines this summer!

I wonder how far along Slate is on their buildings as well as any of the assembly line. Haven't heard much in a while. Can they get anything made by Summer?

 

[beatle]

The factory video from Oct 1st made it look like Slate hadn't even installed anything yet. The Slate is smaller and far simpler than the R2. The Slate won't have paint which takes up about half the space and budget of a typical factory, but it's still not something that can be thrown together in 6 months. Maybe they can reach some level of production in a year, though I'm not sure how far along they were at the time of that video release. I would be super surprised if anything other than test mules were produced by the summer.

 

[cadblu]

The factory video from Oct 1st made it look like Slate hadn't even installed anything yet. The Slate is smaller and far simpler than the R2. The Slate won't have paint which takes up about half the space and budget of a typical factory, but it's still not something that can be thrown together in 6 months. Maybe they can reach some level of production in a year, though I'm not sure how far along they were at the time of that video release. I would be super surprised if anything other than test mules were produced by the summer.

I suspect the factory is further along than they led us to believe. The buildout will be done in stages, and I would think the subassembly lines should getting a lot of attention now because,
1. they are less complex
2. They need to feed the final assembly lines.

Assuming they remain on schedule, major subs like batteries, suspension, seats, etc. will be staged over the next few months as final assembly comes together. At the same time, the on-site warehouse should begin allocating stock locations and getting filled as suppliers start shipping components. Slate will setup a mainline to build their validation units. After it’s optimized hopefully a second or third line will be in place in early 2027.

 

[MIDgrid]

Back to the "Simplicity" theme - counting on it to enable Slate to avoid the annoying and often safety-related issues other much more complex EVs seem to have no matter how diligent their design and build processes are.

Case in point - the 2026 Toyota/Subaru/Lexus EV refresh included a different, longer range, main battery configuration. I can attest to two issues in the first few months of ownership.

The first issue (incorrect miles since last battery health update dashboard display) was confusing and then annoying when the dealer was able to get the problem details from Toyota: see attached notice; takes 3 to 6 months to display correctly.

The second issue is a serious safety recall: A total of 20,991 vehicles are affected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall (Campaign No. 26V393).

• The Issue: A software error in the traction battery high-voltage controller/ECU can trigger a sudden loss of drive power while driving, notably when the battery is at a low state of charge with higher CPU load. Steering and braking remain completely functional.

• The Fix: Dealerships will perform a free software update to the battery ECU.

Affected Vehicle Breakdown

• • 2026 Toyota bZ: 11,495 units
  • 2026 Subaru Solterra: 4,757 units
  • 2026 Lexus RZ: 4,739 units

 

[d.h.]

How did we get from Herreshoff to here.

 

[Moe]

How did we get from Herreshoff to here.

With a resurrected 7 month old thread.

 

[d.h.]

Go and sin no more.

 

[Ruff]

Being stated and being true are two different things.

Just for a fun exercise of estimating just the wheel bearings (4), axleshafts (2), front and rear suspensions, I already come up with 199 individual parts.

If the battery is 96 cells in series for 3 parallel banks that's 288 cells alone that the Factory is going to assemble into the HV battery, plus the battery frame, top plate, bottom plate, cooling hoses, connectors, etc. Say 300 parts total for the battery assembly to be produced in-house (let's not break the cells down into its component parts...)

So, we are at 500 parts to just get to the suspension and battery...

Late to the party, but still curious:

I just looked at the parts page for the front suspension of my 2022 Land Rover Defender.
It shows 19 parts. I suppose that "may" increase by a margin as there are left and right parts. But even doubling still puts it way below 198. What car were you referencing?

 

[KHN707]

If the battery is 96 cells in series for 3 parallel banks that's 288 cells alone that the Factory is going to assemble into the HV battery, plus the battery frame, top plate, bottom plate, cooling hoses, connectors, etc. Say 300 parts total for the battery assembly to be produced in-house (let's not break the cells down into its component parts...)

So, we are at 500 parts to just get to the suspension and battery...

I don't think so. My common understanding of "parts" are individual components that make up the Bill of Material (BoM). That is, "as purchased" or "as released" components. A ground screw that a worker picks out of a bin and installs on the chassis is one part; a battery is one part; an HVAC case is one part. While you can repair an HVAC case by purchasing a single constituent part, for example, an actuator, that actuator is not counted on the BoM.

 

[E90400K]

BM

Late to the party, but still curious:

I just looked at the parts page for the front suspension of my 2022 Land Rover Defender.
It shows 19 parts. I suppose that "may" increase by a margin as there are left and right parts. But even doubling still puts it way below 198. What car were you referencing?

A BMW E90. I owned one. Took it apart numerous times, so I am familiar with it.

 

[E90400K]

I don't think so. My common understanding of "parts" are individual components that make up the Bill of Material (BoM). That is, "as purchased" or "as released" components. A ground screw that a worker picks out of a bin and installs on the chassis is one part; a battery is one part; an HVAC case is one part. While you can repair an HVAC case by purchasing a single constituent part, for example, an actuator, that actuator is not counted on the BoM.

No car is built with just 600 parts. Whether SLATE is counting delivered subassemblies from suppliers, such as a completely built front suspension, which subframe holds all the suspension components on it and it is bolted to the chassis with four big bolts, doesn't lessen the amount of total labor required and part count (cost) to assemble the vehicle. Whether it is Slate employees or supplier employees, the parts have to be made, assembled together (as a subassembly) and installed. Sure, SLATE has done a magnificent job reducing part count by careful design, no one can reduce part count by 90% and build a similar-functioning machine. It's just not possible.

I'm simply saying the 600-part statement should be clarified.