Slate's Entire Marketing Campaign is Completely Wrong

[RetiredOnPaper]

I had similar thoughts about the marketing being a bit off. The vendors at Farmer Markets should probably be the target. Guys, like me who have a cabin in the woods or a hobby farm and miss ther Ford Ranger or Chevy S-10. My first thought seeing the Slate was where can I plug in my compressor and chop saw? I still have a set of ramps for loading a small riding mower and my locking tool box. Still have my AM push button radio, that works. (Yes, AM will work in an EV, the older ones have great noise filters.) I will probably go with a bigger battery, and thus will not need sand bags in the winter.

 

[atreis]

I had similar thoughts about the marketing being a bit off. The vendors at Farmer Markets should probably be the target. Guys, like me who have a cabin in the woods or a hobby farm and miss ther Ford Ranger or Chevy S-10. My first thought seeing the Slate was where can I plug in my compressor and chop saw? I still have a set of ramps for loading a small riding mower and my locking tool box. Still have my AM push button radio, that works. (Yes, AM will work in an EV, the older ones have great noise filters.) I will probably go with a bigger battery, and thus will not need sand bags in the winter.

The "no AM radio in EVs" thing is mainly a Tesla and Rivian thing. My Nissan Ariya has an AM radio and it works fine.

 

[AZFox]

I think they are right on the money. It’s easy to be a naysayer.

No it isn't.

Hey you're right! That was easy!

 

[sodamo]

Really don’t know what to say about their marketing. Got my new Tundra in Nov24, wife got Ascent 12/24, so not looking. But I’m a day 2 reservation! Somehow they got to me, but don’t remember how, but super excited and waiting impatiently.

 

[AZFox]

Really don’t know what to say about their marketing. Got my new Tundra in Nov24, wife got Ascent 12/24, so not looking. But I’m a day 2 reservation! Somehow they got to me, but don’t remember how, but super excited and waiting impatiently.

Same here. No marketing campaign required!

✅ Small truck
✅ Electric
✅ Just the basics

I'm in.

Anecdote:
When the Slate's introduction was in the news a podcaster I listen to said when he saw it he immediately thought to himself (paraphrased) "I want one of those and I'm not even sure why".

 

[Luxrage]

Slate should have Tim Allen drive a BinFord 2000 Slate pickup in his new "More power" sitcom.

Richard Karn's not doing anything these days, I heard three pocket hose 360 ads from him on the radio today alone!

I want an EV pickup, should I spend updwards of $60K on a Scout?

 

[Daemoch]

What's the first thing I've done in most of my favorite cars? Pull the AC and junk the stereo. Why?

Because AC is one more thing to break and I like the hot. A lot of those vehicles were big nasty V8s and I liked the windows down. AC is traditionally a power/mileage loss, too. I lived in SoCal and road tripped on stripped down motorcycles in the southwest for over a decade. I have some idea what 'hot' is, yes. Not everyone is the same, I get that; try and remember that yourself, too, though.

I built competition sound systems for cars at one point. There isnt a stock system out there I want to keep. Save me the time (and initial cost of something I dont want) of removing it all and just sell me a blank canvas.

One of the big draws of a Slate to me is that there's no built in audio stuff to remove. Does anyone realize how integrated all that audio stuff is in vehicles these days?? Just changing out a stereo in a modern car can mess up your entire vehicle. It's terrible! So keep it away, please Slate!

A nice thing to have though would be a pair of empty cable runs down the vehicle though....one for signal, one for power. Think like 1" conduit the length of the vehicle with some access points along the run. Use them as you like.

 

[AZFox]

A nice thing to have though would be a pair of empty cable runs down the vehicle though....one for signal, one for power. Think like 1" conduit the length of the vehicle with some access points along the run. Use them as you like.

I'd say there's hope for something like that because they expect people to install Exterior Lights that can be controlled by Auxiliary Buttons.

 

[Trace26]

What's the first thing I've done in most of my favorite cars? Pull the AC and junk the stereo. Why?
Because AC is one more thing to break and I like the hot.

Just make sure not to pull the AC on the Slate the battery uses the same system for cooling 😅

 

[Trace26]

I'd say there's hope for something like that because they expect people to install Exterior Lights that can be controlled by Auxiliary Buttons.

The fact they say "program" has me worried these will be more digital control. I'm just hoping it controls a central relay box. But it might just control prewired add-ons. We shall see.

 

[Daemoch]

The fact they say "program" has me worried these will be more digital control. I'm just hoping it controls a central relay box. But it might just control prewired add-ons. We shall see.

Good point on the language. But I wouldn't worry. Just the fact they have allowances for a button is enough to make me confident that there will be easily swapped-in 3rd party buttons. It's not like repurposing a port or cutout has ever been much of a challenge for the aftermarket. Heck, its how car stereos evolved.