Slate will train RepairPal shops for accessories installs, service, repairs

[Letas]

Exactly.

I fear you are going to have to temper your expectations a bit. This is a pretty common theme in the low-service D2C model, and it is designed to keep cost down. Canyon Bikes is one that comes to mind- Canyon makes great spec bikes at prices that other mfgs can't touch. But the bike comes in a cardboard box with instructions on how to assemble it. Don't want to do it yourself? You can pay someone to assemble it for you if you choose. Have repairs or upgrades? Outside of major warranty work- you're on the hook.



Obviously Slate will cover true warranty work. But frankly- I would not expect a high bar of service. Potentially having to transport the car a significant distance to have it repaired, long lead times, etc. That is the "price" you pay for a lower price. If you are curious, plenty of horror stories from Tesla and Rivian- which both have a much higher investment in post-delivery service than Slate will.

 

[Dorbiman]

I fear you are going to have to temper your expectations a bit. This is a pretty common theme in the low-service D2C model, and it is designed to keep cost down. Canyon Bikes is one that comes to mind- Canyon makes great spec bikes at prices that other mfgs can't touch. But the bike comes in a cardboard box with instructions on how to assemble it. Don't want to do it yourself? You can pay someone to assemble it for you if you choose. Have repairs or upgrades? Outside of major warranty work- you're on the hook.



Obviously Slate will cover true warranty work. But frankly- I would not expect a high bar of service. Potentially having to transport the car a significant distance to have it repaired, long lead times, etc. That is the "price" you pay for a lower price. If you are curious, plenty of horror stories from Tesla and Rivian- which both have a much higher investment in post-delivery service than Slate will.

I would wholeheartedly agree with you if this thing was actually low price. The new base Leaf may actually come in CHEAPER than the Truck. And you’d at least have somewhere to have it serviced.

All I’m saying is that I’m unwilling to give them slack when the product is still comparable in price to regular vehicles with actual warranties. I want a Truck badly. But their model needs to make sense for me to jump in.

 

[Letas]

I would wholeheartedly agree with you if this thing was actually low price. The new base Leaf may actually come in CHEAPER than the Truck. And you’d at least have somewhere to have it serviced.

All I’m saying is that I’m unwilling to give them slack when the product is still comparable in price to regular vehicles with actual warranties. I want a Truck badly. But their model needs to make sense for me to jump in.

With you 100%- still have my reservation, but frankly do not expect to purchase unless I am pleasantly surprised by the final product.

 

[cadblu]

I think it’s a safe bet we will be fairly impressed by the final product. We’ve held on this far. If Slate disappoints, they are done and they know it. But the wildcard still needing to be addressed is….. pricing.

By now, we should all have a few trucks in our Slate maker / garage. I have 6, and they are all reasonably optioned out the way I like. Some have “the works.” Slate needs to price up each variation so we can balance our wish list with what we can afford. And give early reservation holders a generous discount!

I expect to log in one day, hopefully sooner than later, to see actual pricing. That said, I think we may all need to sit down first so we don’t pass out from sticker shock.