TFL Truck Video: EV Trucks Are DEAD. (& Their Take on Slate)

[AZFox]

That's where you're wrong, kiddos.

Regarding the Slate Truck (starts at 17:05):

This is the truck that everybody says they want. Barebones, basic rollup windows, no options, no screens. Almost almost no screens. But this is another case where if people wanted small single cab trucks and the data showed people were buying those, the big three and Nissan and Toyota would be building these.​

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[KevinRS]

Dealer and manufacturer profit drivers have been trucks and SUVs for years, 25 years ago when I bought my first car I found out the "employee price" on a sedan was no better than what they were already offering, but the employee price on a truck or SUV would be thousands off.

So they have pushed the size and price of those vehicles up, and kept the alternatives hard to get, and pointed out "for x more you can get the (more profitable) with more features and better financing" and literally drove sedans and small trucks off the market.

With a 25% "chicken tax" Nissan or Toyota would have to eat to be competitive on price to compete with US made trucks, a small truck couldn't be imported in a way that worked, and they went with the trend.

When I looked up what the nearby ford dealer had in single cabs out of curiosity, they had 3: 2 obvious fleet builds, bare bones no add on white trucks for 35k each, and a black one with some features for 10k more. They all have poor mileage for commuting, so making a truck your driver and paying 50% more on fuel doesn't math out well.

A cheap EV truck can make more since, especially if you've already got solar with a surplus.

 

[bartflossom]

I'm so tired of everyone thinking that having 2 doors will kill sales. I've never been more confident that Slates will sell like cups of water in hell. Hoping for an ipo so I can buy in.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

If Slate fails miserably, and I hope they don't, everyone will again jump on the bandwagon that nobody wants two door trucks. The truth is that Slate is a rteally poor test case. Build a shorter, two door Maverick. That is solid test case. Or Toyota, or GM. A well-contented vehicle available as ICE and hybrid (maybe even BEV). At a fair price, meaning base price "mid twenties"

I'm not hung up on it being a truck either. I just think there is a huge market for a "two door utility runabout".

 

[E90400K]

If Slate fails miserably, and I hope they don't, everyone will again jump on the bandwagon that nobody wants two door trucks. The truth is that Slate is a rteally poor test case. Build a shorter, two door Maverick. That is solid test case. Or Toyota, or GM. A well-contented vehicle available as ICE and hybrid (maybe even BEV). At a fair price, meaning base price "mid twenties"

I'm not hung up on it being a truck either. I just think there is a huge market for a "two door utility runabout".

Toyota and Nissan do sell 2-door trucks. Yeah, they are extended cabs with small coach doors and rear jump seats, but essentially a 2-door cab with a sizeable 6-foot bed.

We'll have to see how well a small cab with a 5-foot bed sells. If I ran Slate, I'd make the bed 6-feet. The Maverick gives up bed length for the rear seats, Slate has no such limitation.

 

[Letas]

If Slate fails miserably, and I hope they don't, everyone will again jump on the bandwagon that nobody wants two door trucks. The truth is that Slate is a rteally poor test case. Build a shorter, two door Maverick. That is solid test case. Or Toyota, or GM. A well-contented vehicle available as ICE and hybrid (maybe even BEV). At a fair price, meaning base price "mid twenties"

I'm not hung up on it being a truck either. I just think there is a huge market for a "two door utility runabout".

Oh wait… they already build those (and they don’t sell)

 

[Sandman614]

Am I the only one that really doesn't care if Slate sells 100 or 100,000,000 vehicles? I just want one, that's all I care about.
As far as longevity of the company goes it's so simple and modular that the venn diagram between people buying a Slate and the diehard maker/tinker community is probably close to a circle. Which will keep it alive and well even if the company goes under.

 

[Letas]

Am I the only one that really doesn't care if Slate sells 100 or 100,000,000 vehicles? I just want one, that's all I care about.
As far as longevity of the company goes it's so simple and modular that the venn diagram between people buying a Slate and the diehard maker/tinker community is probably close to a circle. Which will keep it alive and well even if the company goes under.

Only concern would be warranty and ongoing support from OEM.

And, if they only sell 100, you won't be getting one

 

[sodamo]

Parked in Safeway yesterday and next to me, a 2 door Silverado with dealer plates. ICE version.

 

[Dorbiman]

Toyota and Nissan do sell 2-door trucks. Yeah, they are extended cabs with small coach doors and rear jump seats, but essentially a 2-door cab with a sizeable 6-foot bed.

We'll have to see how well a small cab with a 5-foot bed sells. If I ran Slate, I'd make the bed 6-feet. The Maverick gives up bed length for the rear seats, Slate has no such limitation.

2 full doors + 2 coach doors =/= 2 door