The Slate needs a lower price. I know they are not pickups, (most are crossovers/SUVs), but with rebates, % and other deals I can get several other E

[ScooterAsheville]

The Slate CEO specifically said one of the missions of the Slate was to give used car buyers a new choice. She was very clear about that. Price for the Slate is everything. Not in the first months - rabid fanboys will probably buy up early (very limited) production and it will look like a hit. It's the second year that will tell the tale. Not 2027, but 2028. And Slate has to sell at scale to attract investment, because investors want to see proof.

Automakers don't exist to make cars for you. They exist to make money for investors. You are a means to an end.

But the OP's point is valid. You can get a very high quality used BEV right now for the mid-twenties, and those are feature-loaded vehicles with 7 year batter warranties. Since none of us can read the minds of millions of car buyers, we're just gonna have to wait (until 2028) and see how it goes. The volume of used BEVs is about to explode, as millions of leased BEVs appear on the used market.

Slate's special sauce is not that it is a BEV. It's that it is a cheap, 174" long, two-door pickup truck. That's the only thing that differenteates Slate from other market offerings, expecially if we look forward in time. Fanboys always try to compare today's competition with tomorrow's Slate. We need to be intellectually honest and compare tomorrow's Slate with tomorrow's competition.

 

[KJRaven]

I was looking at USED Hyundai Konas and Kia Niros on evercars.com. Several are in the lower 20s. (If priced at mid to higher 20s then there's less attraction.) The company reminds me of the "Shift" business model that worked for a few years. I have not come across any new EVs in the lower 20s. It is quite bold to ask Slate to lower their price! I rarely get what I want even when I ask nicely. 😅

I don't think it's fair to criticize Slate for the price of a new truck when comparing it to used cars/SUVs. While it's okay to consider your budget, they are fundamentally different types of vehicles.

Just because someone wouldn't choose to spend their money on it doesn't mean it's overpriced.

Compared to the market, Slate is likely to be very price-competitive, and they can only achieve that by offering fewer "extras."

 

[ScooterAsheville]

How many American auto buyers have a great hunger for a decontented, minimally capable BEV small truck at the price that Slate sets? That's the penultimate Slate question. It's the only question that matters for their survival.

 

[SparkYellow]

I don't think it's fair to criticize Slate for the price of a new truck when comparing it to used cars/SUVs. While it's okay to consider your budget, they are fundamentally different types of vehicles.

Just because someone wouldn't choose to spend their money on it doesn't mean it's overpriced.

Compared to the market, Slate is likely to be very price-competitive, and they can only achieve that by offering fewer "extras."

I agree. I don't think we can get Slate any less than what had been suggested. Looking at the used EV/suv around $20K, I am firm on burning gas while waiting. Not sure where OP found the great EV deals?

 

[Kopsis]

I know they are not pickups, (most are crossovers/SUVs), but with rebates, % and other deals I can get several other EVs for the same price as the Slate.

Though final pricing hasn't been announced, Slate has made it clear that they want to compete on value, not just price. Things Slate has that add value compared to other BEVs:

• Compact pickup truck form factor. There are currently no compact pickups (even ICE) available new in the US today.
• Built in USA with an emphasis on US-sourced components. Keep in mind the Chevy Bolt, though assembled in Kansas, has only 17% US-sourced parts. Over 50% of it is sourced from China. I'm personally ok with paying a premium for products that support more US workers.
• No forced option packages or "trim levels". You don't have to pay for stuff you don't want in order to get stuff you do.
• Can add any option except extended range battery any time after delivery.
• Designed for modification/customization.
• Right to repair. Slate has even said that they will (to some extent) let owners perform covered warranty repairs themselves.
• No Automobile-as-a-Service business model. Features aren't built into the vehicle and then locked behind a subscription pay-wall.
• No telemetry data collection for sale to third parties (at least not yet).

How much each prospective buyer will value these things depends on the buyer. And by "value" I mean how much more you're willing to pay to have it. If you'd give up all of these to beat the cost of the current cheapest BEV, then Slate is not for you (go buy the cheap EV). Some of us think that all of those value-adds make Slate a bargain at the anticipated price.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

We need a countdown clock on this site. I'd label it "Slate Judgement Day", and it would count down to the date on which Slate will announce actual pricing. Let's call it 15 June. It should be the first thing you see when you hit this site.

The subtext should read "Everything posted between now and then is invented fanboy/skeptic narrative, especially if it was posted by ScooterAsheville".

 

[ScooterAsheville]

Though final pricing hasn't been announced, Slate has made it clear that they want to compete on value, not just price. Things Slate has that add value compared to other BEVs:

• Compact pickup truck form factor. There are currently no compact pickups (even ICE) available new in the US today.
• Built in USA with an emphasis on US-sourced components. Keep in mind the Chevy Bolt, though assembled in Kansas, has only 17% US-sourced parts. Over 50% of it is sourced from China. I'm personally ok with paying a premium for products that support more US workers.
• No forced option packages or "trim levels". You don't have to pay for stuff you don't want in order to get stuff you do.
• Can add any option except extended range battery any time after delivery.
• Designed for modification/customization.
• Right to repair. Slate has even said that they will (to some extent) let owners perform covered warranty repairs themselves.
• No Automobile-as-a-Service business model. Features aren't built into the vehicle and then locked behind a subscription pay-wall.
• No telemetry data collection for sale to third parties (at least not yet).

How much each prospective buyer will value these things depends on the buyer. And by "value" I mean how much more you're willing to pay to have it. If you'd give up all of these to beat the cost of the current cheapest BEV, then Slate is not for you (go buy the cheap EV). Some of us think that all of those value-adds make Slate a bargain at the anticipated price.

Well put. I personally thing the #1 differentiator for the Slate is that it's 174" long. Glad to see you listed that first.

That said, over on the Telo site, they are probably saying that the Telo is the only compact truck in the USA, at 152" long.

And over on the Maverick site, I can guarantee that they will lynch you if you don't call the Maverick a compact truck (I should know, after I made the mistake of calling my Maverick a bloated fat whale).

 

[bartflossom]

With the current oil situation in the middle east, I'm thinking used EV's have probably started creeping up in price. I heard in Australia where most of their oil comes through the strait, Evs have started seeing a boom this month. Same in S.E. Asia.

 

[AZFox]

How many American auto buyers have a great hunger for a decontented, minimally capable BEV small truck at the price that Slate sets? That's the penultimate Slate question. It's the only question that matters for their survival.

It's impossible for a penultimate question to be the only question.

Your answer is that somewhere near 150,000 American auto buyers per year when they reach full production.

The reason is because way fewer than 1% of vehicles sold need to be be Blank Slates for the company to sell every Blank Slate they can produce and be successful.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

Actually, I should have added another clause to my penultimate question: "at a price where Slate makes net margin". Because Slate can easily sell 150,000 trucks a year and still go out of business very quickly.

 

[AZFox]

I can get several other EVs for the same price as the Slate.

What are the several other 2027 EVs can you get for the same price as the Slate and what are their prices?

 

[ScooterAsheville]

There are now a half million plus Mavericks on the road. In a few years, that will be a million. Did Maverick eat the "smaller truck" market before Slate gets to it? I dunno. You dunno. Slate dunno. We're all going to find out.

 

[clofan]

I would hope that the mid-20s figure includes enough margin to be profitable on the Blank Slate. If they are banking on accessory sales to float the company, well, I just don't think that's going to happen. Too many 3d printers and third party accessory sellers to expect a lot of first party accessory sales.

 

[AZFox]

The ideal price will be whatever price sells all of the Blank Slates they can produce at full production capacity. This price has a name: it's the market-clearing price.

If they price it lower there will be a shortage, meaning some forgone profits. On the Bright Side the Blank Slate would have a reputation as a bargain-priced vehicle and there would be a waiting list of willing buyers. Units would sell immediately when produced.

If they price it higher there would be a surplus and they'll need to deal with unsold inventory. That would cost them money for storage and create a logistics hassle. It would also hurt the company's reputation because the Blank Slate would appear to be unpopular.

IMHO they're better off erring on the low side rather than the high side.

 

[AZFox]

Personally I want a Small Pickup, not an econobox Transportation Appliance from a dealership, so for me the prices of the Leaf and Bolt are irrelevant.

The 2-door compact pickup form factor is my predominant reason, but there are lots of other reasons. @Kopsis listed a few. Here are a few more:

• Direct-to-Consumer model (no stealership)
• Emphasis on safety
• Two seats (for some a bug, for others a feature)
• Ability to convert to SUV
• Ability to be wrapped and re-wrapped
• Highly customizable in general
• The Fun Factor!

The "missing features" are a feature because you can add the features you want via accessories, and you don't need to do everything right away.

So comparing the Slate to commodity vehicles, even used ones, is kinda missing the point. It's a unique offering and that uniqueness has value.