The ONE thing that I believe could actually cause Slate to fail...

[IanNubbit]

CONTENT HUNGRY CONSUMERS

Yeah...

The Slate is built as a bare bones, american made with american parts vehicle, nothing you need, and only what legally needs to be there and a couple things to make it perfectly usable as a daily. It seems more and more people (including on this forum) are forgetting that, or outright throwing that out.
Price: People continue to say "At that price I could get a Maverick" or "For that price it better come with XYZ, not nothing". This actually genuinely aggravates me. The vehicle was built under the $7,500 tax credit making it under 20k to the consumer, to no issue of Slate's own, that credit is now gone, and as stated, they are doing everything they can to bring the price down, further due to this. At sub 20k sure this was an easier sale, but that was never what it costs, it always was going to cost mid 20s but the feds where gonna give you money. The vehicle does not cost more now, it did not become more expensive, but it seems many people are only looking at it this way. The issue with this is a common statement is "well if it cost 27k it better have XYZ now". I don't know if this is a lack of understanding or what, but that logic is so flawed. That would mean they need to add more features for free, more features that people have been asking to be removed (like me) to be removed for years. The way the Blank Slate is built is realistically the lowest cost the vehicle can possibly be while maintaining repair ability, US manufacturing, reliability (in design) and being an EV pick up.
The price comparison statement: "Mid twenties is the same price as the Maverick which has so many more standard features", mostly no, but some parts yes, also, that's a very different vehicle. Ford changed destination charges on their fleet to $1,800+ which means the mexico built maverick is $29,990. Slate is made in the US so destination charges will be lower then an imported vehicle and that is just a fact (not to mention no dealer costs). Sure it has a radio and four seats, but THAT IS NOT WHAT THE SLATE IS! When people say they want a 2 door 2 seat truck, with nothing they don't need, that doesn't mean "well it could at least have 4 doors and 10" radio becasue everything else does these days" NOOO!!! That is not what people are asking for, people aren't saying "boy I wish someone would make another vehicle that has all these things that every other vehicle has" that exists, go buy it, stop asking for a vehicle that is not that, become that, that is a PROBLEM! The more people who continue saying that will be the killer of this vehicle. People are seeing things like the Telo, optioning it up to 50k+ and saying "wow this is pretty cool and is just barely above the national average price" do people not see the issue there? Sure it's decently compact due to the lack of hood, but spending double the price of the Slate so you can have 2 more seats, a smaller cabin and bed then the Slate with no Frunk at that.

If people want a high Content vehicle, go buy them, every brand is flooded with them, stop asking the ONLY vehicle with these de-contented features to dismantle their goal

 

[ElectricShitbox]

The Slate is important to me because there are no modern passenger vehicles intended to be durable, repairable goods. The problem is worse among EVs. That design philosophy has disappeared, except for some commercial vehicles. So every time someone says "you could have X vehicle for that price", I think "will that vehicle be e-waste in 20 years, or will it still be getting used?" Because it's 2026, and we really need to stop making disposable cars.

 

[bitpop]

Watched a coworker fumble around with an app just to get his tacoma unlocked the other day.

A relied upon amenity is an opportunity for something you rely on to let you down. I see no amenities as more sophistication, not less value.

My first was a 99 ford ranger. Base everything. Plastic everything. Adjusting for inflation, it was 25k new. 19 mpg with a tailwind. For me to get a basic truck again for 25k and be able to turn sunshine that falls on my roof into miles? Pinch me.

 

[IanNubbit]

The Slate is important to me because there are no modern passenger vehicles intended to be durable, repairable goods. The problem is worse among EVs. That design philosophy has disappeared, except for some commercial vehicles. So every time someone says "you could have X vehicle for that price", I think "will that vehicle be e-waste in 20 years, or will it still be getting used?" Because it's 2026, and we really need to stop making disposable cars.

This is my biggest point. I work at a CDJR Ford joint dealer, while Stellantis is no gold star on engine, the amount of Mavericks getting engines before 50k is insane to me. Sure the vehicle is cheap, but it can’t even make it to the warranty period is over. Don’t even get started on Kia and Nissan, sure they got cheao cars, but the build quality is so low, and both brands engine are basically replace if anything is wrong. You spend $60+ on oil changes every 5-10k miles, not to include other service, then boom, no more engine for you, pay 10k+ for an engine and labor, and surprise, you just spent thousands in gas and maitnance on a engine that has now been replaced, and you maverick is only worth 15k in perfect condition.

Give me the slate all day, consumerism sucks and people are so blind to it

 

[ElectricShitbox]

When you understand the concept of Embodied Energy, you have a hard time un-seeing it. Planned obsolescence in a phone is annoying, planned obsolescence in a car should be a crime.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embodied_energy

 

[Letas]

This is my biggest point. I work at a CDJR Ford joint dealer, while Stellantis is no gold star on engine, the amount of Mavericks getting engines before 50k is insane to me. Sure the vehicle is cheap, but it can’t even make it to the warranty period is over. Don’t even get started on Kia and Nissan, sure they got cheao cars, but the build quality is so low, and both brands engine are basically replace if anything is wrong. You spend $60+ on oil changes every 5-10k miles, not to include other service, then boom, no more engine for you, pay 10k+ for an engine and labor, and surprise, you just spent thousands in gas and maitnance on a engine that has now been replaced, and you maverick is only worth 15k in perfect condition.

Give me the slate all day, consumerism sucks and people are so blind to it

This is good and dandy, but what is saying the Slate will be any more reliable? I'm sure Ford didn't say they were engineering the Maverick to blow up when they released it... as of now it is all lipservice. Slate might build an ultra-reliable runner that goes 300k miles with just tires, windshield wipers and brake changes, but it also might not.

We can talk all we want about how consumerism is bad, but this site is the exact example of consumerism. It is people spending their time talking about a company producing a product with the goal of being profitable. Slate is not an altruistic non-profit organization trying to do right by people, it is a profit seeking corporation, with millions of dollars of PE backing from other profit-seeking parties.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

This is good and dandy, but what is saying the Slate will be any more reliable? I'm sure Ford didn't say they were engineering the Maverick to blow up when they released it... as of now it is all lipservice. Slate might build an ultra-reliable runner that goes 300k miles with just tires, windshield wipers and brake changes, but it also might not.

We can talk all we want about how consumerism is bad, but this site is the exact example of consumerism. It is people spending their time talking about a company producing a product with the goal of being profitable. Slate is not an altruistic non-profit organization trying to do right by people, it is a profit seeking corporation, with millions of dollars of PE backing from other profit-seeking parties.

Right now it's 100% just optimism based on claims from Slate. They could end up pulling a Fiskar. The thing is, I see what existing automakers are putting out, and I'm not interested. I'm here because *maybe Slate will be different* . If they end up producing trash like everyone else, I'm gone.

 

[AeroWolf]

Systems with fewer parts and less complexity parts/subsystem interactions are inherently more reliable. Reliability is more than just a system that has long durability, but that it also has predictable failure profiles that provide feedback on need to repair/replace of subsystems. Less subsystems means less items to integrate both hardware and software, where more interacting parts/lines of code increase probability of defects hurting reliability.

The Slate's radical simplicity, is what gives me some hopes of its potential longevity. Most systems not strictly required for its operability as a vehicle have been stripped away (though I would have wanted to a physical key compared to a fob). All of this reduces the probability of failures in subsystems, limits the number of failure profiles, which enhances reliability.

For example The Canadian EV truck (liked F-150 lightning) reviewer on youtube recently mentioned his issues with a new EV he procured in the last few days. The complexity of the system caused several different fault profiles. It took several fixes regarding wiring, sensors, blinker light LEDs, the associated controlling modules, and 3 days worth of computer system firmware updates and complete replacements of side mirrors, tail light assemblies, wiring harnesses to fix the problems related to taillight operation.

 

[Oddballhero]

CONTENT HUNGRY CONSUMERS

Yeah...

The Slate is built as a bare bones, american made with american parts vehicle, nothing you need, and only what legally needs to be there and a couple things to make it perfectly usable as a daily. It seems more and more people (including on this forum) are forgetting that, or outright throwing that out.
Price: People continue to say "At that price I could get a Maverick" or "For that price it better come with XYZ, not nothing". This actually genuinely aggravates me. The vehicle was built under the $7,500 tax credit making it under 20k to the consumer, to no issue of Slate's own, that credit is now gone, and as stated, they are doing everything they can to bring the price down, further due to this. At sub 20k sure this was an easier sale, but that was never what it costs, it always was going to cost mid 20s but the feds where gonna give you money. The vehicle does not cost more now, it did not become more expensive, but it seems many people are only looking at it this way. The issue with this is a common statement is "well if it cost 27k it better have XYZ now". I don't know if this is a lack of understanding or what, but that logic is so flawed. That would mean they need to add more features for free, more features that people have been asking to be removed (like me) to be removed for years. The way the Blank Slate is built is realistically the lowest cost the vehicle can possibly be while maintaining repair ability, US manufacturing, reliability (in design) and being an EV pick up.
The price comparison statement: "Mid twenties is the same price as the Maverick which has so many more standard features", mostly no, but some parts yes, also, that's a very different vehicle. Ford changed destination charges on their fleet to $1,800+ which means the mexico built maverick is $29,990. Slate is made in the US so destination charges will be lower then an imported vehicle and that is just a fact (not to mention no dealer costs). Sure it has a radio and four seats, but THAT IS NOT WHAT THE SLATE IS! When people say they want a 2 door 2 seat truck, with nothing they don't need, that doesn't mean "well it could at least have 4 doors and 10" radio becasue everything else does these days" NOOO!!! That is not what people are asking for, people aren't saying "boy I wish someone would make another vehicle that has all these things that every other vehicle has" that exists, go buy it, stop asking for a vehicle that is not that, become that, that is a PROBLEM! The more people who continue saying that will be the killer of this vehicle. People are seeing things like the Telo, optioning it up to 50k+ and saying "wow this is pretty cool and is just barely above the national average price" do people not see the issue there? Sure it's decently compact due to the lack of hood, but spending double the price of the Slate so you can have 2 more seats, a smaller cabin and bed then the Slate with no Frunk at that.

If people want a high Content vehicle, go buy them, every brand is flooded with them, stop asking the ONLY vehicle with these de-contented features to dismantle their goal

Preach, brother!

 

[IanNubbit]

This is good and dandy, but what is saying the Slate will be any more reliable? I'm sure Ford didn't say they were engineering the Maverick to blow up when they released it... as of now it is all lipservice. Slate might build an ultra-reliable runner that goes 300k miles with just tires, windshield wipers and brake changes, but it also might not.

We can talk all we want about how consumerism is bad, but this site is the exact example of consumerism. It is people spending their time talking about a company producing a product with the goal of being profitable. Slate is not an altruistic non-profit organization trying to do right by people, it is a profit seeking corporation, with millions of dollars of PE backing from other profit-seeking parties.

Right now it's 100% just optimism based on claims from Slate. They could end up pulling a Fiskar. The thing is, I see what existing automakers are putting out, and I'm not interested. I'm here because *maybe Slate will be different* . If they end up producing trash like everyone else, I'm gone.

Systems with fewer parts and less complexity parts/subsystem interactions are inherently more reliable. Reliability is more than just a system that has long durability, but that it also has predictable failure profiles that provide feedback on need to repair/replace of subsystems. Less subsystems means less items to integrate both hardware and software, where more interacting parts/lines of code increase probability of defects hurting reliability.

The Slate's radical simplicity, is what gives me some hopes of its potential longevity. Most systems not strictly required for its operability as a vehicle have been stripped away (though I would have wanted to a physical key compared to a fob). All of this reduces the probability of failures in subsystems, limits the number of failure profiles, which enhances reliability.

For example The Canadian EV truck (liked F-150 lightning) reviewer on youtube recently mentioned his issues with a new EV he procured in the last few days. The complexity of the system caused several different fault profiles. It took several fixes regarding wiring, sensors, blinker light LEDs, the associated controlling modules, and 3 days worth of computer system firmware updates and complete replacements of side mirrors, tail light assemblies, wiring harnesses to fix the problems related to taillight operation.

I’ll start the bottom here, simplicity is a HUGE factor into reliability and longevity, but not thr sole reason. On simplicity, the short statment is “less parts less problems” which is just true, the exception would be the parts they use are completely horrendous and they have the worst software in the industry (honestly I feel like you would have to effort to do that, mainline manufacturers are TERRIBLE right now, not to mention small companies like Lucid)

So we the simplicity part which is great, let’s talk about those fee parts they did use. L

As for powertrain, every part is an off the shelf, plug and play component, from a large supplier used by the biggest OEMs in the world (the motor is from JJE whi supplies Stellantis, the largest manufacture in the world. The battery is from SK-on, who supplies batteries for Ford. Both mind you are assembled in Michigan). Then you have the electronics, while the don’t specifically say this, they are using off the shelf parts here as well (only confurmed customer electronic I have seen is the HVAC controls, probably because no one makes one, and 3 potentiometers and 3 buttons is hard to mess up lol). The EVCU (PCM) is a bosh unit, the ABS module and pump are the same used across the industry, you can only assume but it is pretty safe to, the ORC, BPCM, and other needed modules are going to be units that have been developed and proven by the best in business, just plug in place and flash your firmware. Then we have the suspension components, I even asked because they looks so familiar, every suspension component is from a supplier using already readily available components with a small tweak in measurment or angle to fit the chassis. Basically the suspension is identical to 1,000s of vehicles on the road (mostly 90s-late 2020s) and is cheap realiable and proven. So your ball joints, shocks, springs, bushings, cv joints etc are nothing new, nothing redesigned, just take a proven component, and plug in place.

these things add up, while sure not a definitive (still have to reliably bolt those parts in on the assembly line, and properly route and wire harnesses), they show that instead of spending resources only ground up parts costing more time, money, and issues, they chose to give the consumers parts that are easy to source, work on, and keep on the road. Not 1,000s of proprietary parts impossible to find and assembled with only the assembly line in mind

These choices do alot for cost of ownership. Easy to replace body panels mean extremely low cost to insure. Off the shelf parts means ease of availability and option (and mods for that case, realistically, you could buy coil-overs day one on these once someone realizes what other model they shared from). Limited parts, located in easy to access locations means lower labor times, in turn lower cost to repair items if and when they do eventually have an issue. And finally, open source files open repairability, no need for a dealer, pick the favorite or cheapest shop in your area to get your service done, if there is a weak point found in thr vehicle, the market can correct this thanks to open-source cad files.

I understand why everyone says it’s just words or hypotheticals as far as repairability and reliability but it really isn’t. Essentialy Slate would have to have the worst software, and poor assembly with underspecd components, just to end up woth a vehicle that is on par with the industry average… This thing is different, I know people who don’t know repair/vehicles might not see it, but those who do see how beautiful this can be. Its everything they love about a 90s ranger, with modern parts, a warranty, and lower cost of ownership

 

[ElectricShitbox]

1: preach
2: oh hey, a new video talking about the exact thing I was saying

 

[IanNubbit]

1: preach
2: oh hey, a new video talking about the exact thing I was saying

This is why right to repair is exploding. I an currently a dealer tech yes, but Im almost done with school and moving into IT. When that happens, im gonna go from being able to fix my truck, to only being able to do the mechanical work on my truck, immediately, just because of software (and a thing called the security gateway module). Yes I couod throw money at someone to do a job I know how to do, or I could throe money at Stellantis or a third party for them to pay stellantis to get into the electronics, but why do I need to do that? Meanwhile, my extended warranty basically becomes useless unless I trust people to do jobs I know how to do (which these days it’s near impossible to find reliable and knowledgeable repair centers) and throw them money I dont want to spend just for Mopar to accept thr repair.
Slate? Nope, just go ahead and do it, heres the instructions, yup that was covered under warranty, do it in your garage, we encourage it

 

[phidauex]

From my experience designing stationary storage enclosures (big enclosures holding 4-8 MWhs of batteries), the biggest reliability issues tend to be from the small gaps between the off the shelf parts - the integration challenges.

A good example is an issue I'm dealing with right now on a fault in a fire suppression system - the components are all proven, off the shelf stuff, and the issue isn't with the expensive solenoids, or the very expensive battery modules themselves, but in this case, a tiny brass fitting in between, where the sealant is failing for some unknown reason.

I fully expect Slate to have issues like that, and it requires nuance to understand the impact to reliability. A cracked plastic coupler on the coolant system will ground your vehicle as surely as a failed engine, so your impact to that day is the same. But the fitting is $3 and the engine is $5k, so the impact to the company for having to support the warranty repair is far different.

My guess is that the main problems Slate will have will be annoying little integration gonks like that - coolant couplers, wiring harness that rubs in a weird spot, etc., minor QC problems, door bolt that wiggles loose because it wasn't getting enough loctite, or software integration issues between the modules.

The bad news is that early adopters will have to deal with that. The good news is that I don't expect any of them to be truly major. The battery itself is probably the biggest black box here, and they are at least building on a lot of experience at SK.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

...
the amount of Mavericks getting engines before 50k is insane to me
...

That's a pretty big statement about Maverick engines blowing up before 50K in large numbers. Got any numerical (or even anecdotal) evidence behind that? We'd all love to hear the details over on the Maverick forum. I've been a Maverick forum member (and owner) for 3+ years now and I've seen nothing reported like that. And believe you me, Maverick owners raise a stink to the high heavens if their truck so much as hiccups. Major tirades.

A very, very few owners have reported transmission replacements way down the road. In the early years there were plenty of issues with hybrids. But seriously, if you have evidence of large scale Maverick engine replacements before 50K, come on over and share it with us.

There are more than a half million Mavericks on the road now, so I'd expect some percentage to have problems XYZ. Just like I expect the Slate to have some proportion of problems. As a rule, Maverick forum members absolutely love their highly reliable rides.

 

[Letas]

I’ll start the bottom here, simplicity is a HUGE factor into reliability and longevity, but not thr sole reason. On simplicity, the short statment is “less parts less problems” which is just true, the exception would be the parts they use are completely horrendous and they have the worst software in the industry (honestly I feel like you would have to effort to do that, mainline manufacturers are TERRIBLE right now, not to mention small companies like Lucid)

So we the simplicity part which is great, let’s talk about those fee parts they did use. L

As for powertrain, every part is an off the shelf, plug and play component, from a large supplier used by the biggest OEMs in the world (the motor is from JJE whi supplies Stellantis, the largest manufacture in the world. The battery is from SK-on, who supplies batteries for Ford. Both mind you are assembled in Michigan). Then you have the electronics, while the don’t specifically say this, they are using off the shelf parts here as well (only confurmed customer electronic I have seen is the HVAC controls, probably because no one makes one, and 3 potentiometers and 3 buttons is hard to mess up lol). The EVCU (PCM) is a bosh unit, the ABS module and pump are the same used across the industry, you can only assume but it is pretty safe to, the ORC, BPCM, and other needed modules are going to be units that have been developed and proven by the best in business, just plug in place and flash your firmware. Then we have the suspension components, I even asked because they looks so familiar, every suspension component is from a supplier using already readily available components with a small tweak in measurment or angle to fit the chassis. Basically the suspension is identical to 1,000s of vehicles on the road (mostly 90s-late 2020s) and is cheap realiable and proven. So your ball joints, shocks, springs, bushings, cv joints etc are nothing new, nothing redesigned, just take a proven component, and plug in place.

these things add up, while sure not a definitive (still have to reliably bolt those parts in on the assembly line, and properly route and wire harnesses), they show that instead of spending resources only ground up parts costing more time, money, and issues, they chose to give the consumers parts that are easy to source, work on, and keep on the road. Not 1,000s of proprietary parts impossible to find and assembled with only the assembly line in mind

These choices do alot for cost of ownership. Easy to replace body panels mean extremely low cost to insure. Off the shelf parts means ease of availability and option (and mods for that case, realistically, you could buy coil-overs day one on these once someone realizes what other model they shared from). Limited parts, located in easy to access locations means lower labor times, in turn lower cost to repair items if and when they do eventually have an issue. And finally, open source files open repairability, no need for a dealer, pick the favorite or cheapest shop in your area to get your service done, if there is a weak point found in thr vehicle, the market can correct this thanks to open-source cad files.

I understand why everyone says it’s just words or hypotheticals as far as repairability and reliability but it really isn’t. Essentialy Slate would have to have the worst software, and poor assembly with underspecd components, just to end up woth a vehicle that is on par with the industry average… This thing is different, I know people who don’t know repair/vehicles might not see it, but those who do see how beautiful this can be. Its everything they love about a 90s ranger, with modern parts, a warranty, and lower cost of ownership

In summary- Slate is going to use industry standard parts but somehow produce a vehicle above industry standard? And they will make a software better than every OEM, because every other OEM, big or small, just.... forgot? To make a good one?

@phidauex summed it up best. This is entirely blind speculation right now. And anyone who thinks a brand new vehicle from a brand new manufacture will have less issues than an established OEM has more optimism than me. Building cars is hard. Slate won't just be better because this forum thinks it will be.