Speculation: who should buy Slate Inc?

[GaRailroader]

I think that may have been the intended joke after someone else in the thread said something along the lines of "anyone but Nissan"

I could also be overly generous.

I think Datsun was a name Nissan made up to market their vehicles in US by as it sounded more American. They slowly transitioned to Nissan. In around ‘84 and ‘85 they were badged Datsun by Nissan.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

The idea that a major OEM will spend billions just to "buy and kill"strains credibility. First they don't have those billions. Second, it would cost far less to just build something in house. Third, right now the jury is out on whether or not Slate is on track to kill itself - no external intervention needed.

A good example is Ford. Ford could put a two-door tophat truck on their new BEV platform in a heartbeat. They're already planning a whole range of tophats on that platform. In one plant. On one line. With the advantages of scale and a superior vehicle architecture and capability compared to Slate. If Ford wanted to bury Slate (I don't think they do), they could swat it in an eyeblink - no acquisition required.

Now the Chinese buying Slate as a cover for getting into the USA? Now that's interesting. Our Glorious Leader has already said he's open to the Chinese having plants in the USA. And Slate dosn't have any tech to begin with, so as the many "tinfoil hat" threads on this site have pointed out, no security risks there.

Hmm, "Slate: The American truck from American parts, built in America by Americans. A subsidiary of BYD". Nice tagline. Hey, the Chinese hold a trillion plus in American debt. Gotta invest it someplace.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

Another scenario is that somebody swoops in post-bankruptcy and buys everything for pennies on the dollar. The great thing about being a post-banruptcy vampire is that bankruptcy court typically wipes out debt. So a few tens or hundreds of millions, and you have a running car company with a niche product.

Not saying that will happen. But pointing out that bankruptcy might not mean the end of Slate truck. It just might mean a new beginning. The strenth of capitalism in the USA is our bankruptcy system. It aids creative destruction, and we all win in the end (well, maybe not if you held an ownership position).

 

[2thlesswithta2s]

I think Datsun was a name Nissan made up to market their vehicles in US by as it sounded more American. They slowly transitioned to Nissan. In around ‘84 and ‘85 they were badged Datsun by Nissan.

Nissan started the Datsun brand in the 1930's, but didn't start selling them in the US until 1958. After discontinuing the brand in the US in the 1980's, they continued to market as Datsun in other parts of the world until 2022.

 

[sodamo]

Another scenario is that somebody swoops in post-bankruptcy and buys everything for pennies on the dollar. The great thing about being a post-banruptcy vampire is that bankruptcy court typically wipes out debt. So a few tens or hundreds of millions, and you have a running car company with a niche product.

Not saying that will happen. But pointing out that bankruptcy might not mean the end of Slate truck. It just might mean a new beginning. The strenth of capitalism in the USA is our bankruptcy system. It aids creative destruction, and we all win in the end (well, maybe not if you held an ownership position).

My viewpoint: maybe, maybe not
2019 I was in need to replace my end of life lead acid batteries for my off grid solar system. Researched, researched, researched, until deciding with the help of a reputable installer on a newer technology, but one a couple iterations of product and a favored child at the presidential level. Also more favored than the Lithium variant. Only a $36k investment which while high, I still felt good knowing this was long term, likely even longer than my previous 10 year experience, or thinking long term $300/month. Not to within 2 months the company filed bankruptcy. Evidently bought out but to my knowledge their has never been a been fit to owners. then, within two years the product starts failing, and no recourse. Installer does offer to sell and install previous product they discouraged, but not even at an acceptable discount To match another installer.
So yes, a bankruptcy could offer a line line, but easier to just walk away from those pesky warranties.
BTW, the replacements have been flawless for 6 years.

 

[NMNeil]

Slate would go out of business rapidly if Chinese EV's were allowed into the US.
https://fleetevolution.com/radar-rd6/

 

[ZuliMuli]

I'm more comfortable with sticking with the S&P500, sure I could have made more with pure Google or Nvidia stocks but the S&P is all but guaranteed to be the most reliable. And I kinda trust them more now that they told Elon to kick rocks and that they won't put space X on till it meets their requirements.

 

[sodamo]

Slate would go out of business rapidly if Chinese EV's were allowed into the US.
https://fleetevolution.com/radar-rd6/

Not to seem unpatriotic because really I am, but in a way I’d prefer Chinese buyer like BYD instead of any of Big Three.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

Fisker

 

[sodamo]

Fisker

Seriously? ☹☹☹☹

 

[ElectricShitbox]

Seriously? ☹☹☹☹

Third time is the charm, lol

 

[tubes]

I think that may have been the intended joke after someone else in the thread said something along the lines of "anyone but Nissan"

I could also be overly generous.

I think I said "Nissan, no god no" or something. Just based on their latest madness with CVTs.

I took the Datsun line as a sly joke on my Nissan comment.

I've lived long enough to remember the early 80s advertising campaign "The Name is Nissan." Also, as a kid, someone on our block parked at 240Z. We always called it the 24 OZ because we didn't know any better and knew of the Wizard of Oz.

 

[E90400K]

I say Slate will stay independent.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I say Slate will stay independent.

Live Free Or Die

 

[smack daddy]

Before answering"who", we'd need to answer "what" and "why".

So what does Slate have that would be of value to an existing OEM (the "why")?

• Intellectual property? Zero. Zip. Nothing. Slate is highly conventional. They have invented nothing. Not bolt-on plastic body panels. Not the concept of selling a stripper. These failed ideas date back to the last century.
• Desirable manufacturing sites? Zero. Zip. Nothing. A single converted printing plant without a large press and without a paint shop. Zero appeal to any OEM.
• Amazing supplier relationships? Zero. Zip. Nothing.
• High margins? Zero. Zip. Nothing. Slate is a bottom-feeding, entry-level stripper. These are always low margin.
• A genius low-cost production plan? Nope. That's a BS Slate narrative. Several OEMs, especially the Japanese, already have lines that build with minimal options to improve quality metrics. The actual trend in the industry in 2026 is highly flexible lines that can build multiple models in real time. And the genius, low cost production plant? That would be the new Ford plant. Or the Kia "Meta" plant. Not Slate.
• A narrative? Yea, actually. Slate has a cool narrative (affordable, American cars, built in America, for Americans). It maybe actually have traction and generate sales. TBD, but definitely in the realm of the possible.
• A new customer set? Yea, actually. Slate's whole mantra is serving a market whitespace the OEMs have ignored. OTOH, automakers hate "not invented here". Any major OEM could easily offer a low cost small truck or other entry vehicles by 2029. Odds are, most OEMs have read the economic tea leaves and already have lower cost programs in progress now.
• The workforce? Nope. Soon as Slate is purchased by a major OEM the unions will target the Slate plant and vastly increase labor costs.

Now to the who?

• An OEM with several billion to spend that wants to buy a low margin stripper to add to their lineup. This is a tough one, (1) as the OEMs are swimming in BEV losses right now to the tune of tens of billions each. Hundreds of billions if you add them all up. And (2) as it's a poor return on precious and hard-to-obtain capital to buy a low margin business when you can invest in higher margin products.
• An OEM that doesn't mind the hassle of integrating a completely different company culture into theirs. Mergers are famously prone to failure in the auto industry. Ask Stellantis how that is going.
• OTOH, I find the narrative that Amazon or some other fleet entity might adsorb Slate intriguing. Except that these large firms aren't in the auto industry. They generally lease or outsource fleets.

So Slate being purchased in 2029? Could happen. Aliens could land on the White House lawn next week too.

Slate doing an IPO? IF Slate is a hit. IF Slate makes money. IF Slate has a narrative that appeals to the public markets - yea, an IPO could happen. An IPO is usually the standard step by which the venture capitalists get the profits they want. They don't want a low profit auto company. They want the large payday that comes from a bunch of retail fools (that's us) overpaying in an IPO frenzy.

PS: It's time to drive a nail into this delusional fantasy that BEV incentives are going to return. That ship has sailed. It ain't coming back to harbor. Ever.

Or it will be purchased by one of the big 3 just to do away with the competition and force people back to expensive vehicles which is the most likely scenario. Saturn made really good vehicles to go against the Japanese once that market was done the Saturn went away. They bought Pontiac same car as the Chevrolet but a little cheaper gone away. Notice a pattern?