This guy GETS IT! "Did the Ford Fathom Just Kill the Slate Truck? Not So Fast!"

[bartflossom]

 

[bartflossom]

Thank you moderator for moving to correct subforum. Guys, if you like this guy remember, LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE...

 

[misnomer]

Why do we keep pretending the market only has space for one cheap EV? Or one cheap EV pickup truck? Or one pickup truck?

Anytime somebody is inventing this "it's the end" or "it's not the end" or... any of these clickbait headlines it's a clear indicator that either they do not understand how markets work or they are simply seeking headlines. Either way.... Uninteresting.

If the world only had room for one, we'd only have F150s and no Silverados. We'd only have Rav4s and no CRVs. We'd only have Altimas and no Camry's.

Now, will Slate sell enough to hit their break even point? Yeah, that's an interesting question that we'll learn about over the next three years. But trying to dumb it down to "the Fathom or the Maverik or the Bolt or the ... ?" No one thing will make or break it for Slate, and the folks over there know that way better than we do.

 

[EV Trek]

Choices! The American Way!
Not everyone wants the same things, these two will appeal to different types of buyers. And that is good to have choices.

 

[E90400K]

I still think it is an important question regarding the viability of Slate Auto. That's why it matters.

 

[Slatester89]

I still think it is an important question regarding the viability of Slate Auto. That's why it matters.

If I'm worrying, I'd worry about the viability of the Fathom too. Ford's history with electric trucks is not good: most notably, delivering what was promised. And when you add in slime-ball dealership adjusted market pricing, well...they can take their Fathom and shove it.

The Maverick plus hybrid Maverick scratches a lot of itchs...it's on track for a million in fact. My grandson has a Maverick. It's a great small-mid truck. I would buy one of those before the Fathom if I were buying Ford.

Just my old man shaking fist at clouds rant,

b.

 

[Trace26]

Why do we keep pretending the market only has space for one cheap EV? Or one cheap EV pickup truck? Or one pickup truck?

Anytime somebody is inventing this "it's the end" or "it's not the end" or... any of these clickbait headlines it's a clear indicator that either they do not understand how markets work or they are simply seeking headlines. Either way.... Uninteresting.

If the world only had room for one, we'd only have F150s and no Silverados. We'd only have Rav4s and no CRVs. We'd only have Altimas and no Camry's.

Now, will Slate sell enough to hit their break even point? Yeah, that's an interesting question that we'll learn about over the next three years. But trying to dumb it down to "the Fathom or the Maverik or the Bolt or the ... ?" No one thing will make or break it for Slate, and the folks over there know that way better than we do.

That's an interesting point, in reality, it might actually help Slate if it helps people realize a small EV truck is a practical thing.

 

[E90400K]

If I'm worrying, I'd worry about the viability of the Fathom too. Ford's history with electric trucks is not good: most notably, delivering what was promised. And when you add in slime-ball dealership adjusted market pricing, well...they can take their Fathom and shove it.

The Maverick plus hybrid Maverick scratches a lot of itchs...it's on track for a million in fact. My grandson has a Maverick. It's a great small-mid truck. I would buy one of those before the Fathom if I were buying Ford.

Just my old man shaking fist at clouds rant,

b.

So, you are ranting over something that has not yet happened. You have no idea how good or bad the Fathom is or may be. You have no idea how Ford will manage its franchise dealerships regarding the sale of the Fathom. All any of us know is the Fathom is it is based on Ford's new universal EV architecture. Ford needed to implement the UEV to make any of its future EV profitable because all EV batteries are still too expensive to manufacture, so the production cost has to come from somewhere.

Slate is just as much as an unknown as Ford's new UEV architecture. One thing is sure though; Ford is going the sell the UEV all over the world and will amortize its development costs over an incredibly vast worldwide unit volume than Slate ever will. If Slate could have afforded the Cap EX for a Gigcasting machine, it would have used one (and the chassis design) vs. welding up steel stampings.

 

[Bayfire2441]

If I'm worrying, I'd worry about the viability of the Fathom too. Ford's history with electric trucks is not good: most notably, delivering what was promised. And when you add in slime-ball dealership adjusted market pricing, well...they can take their Fathom and shove it.

The Maverick plus hybrid Maverick scratches a lot of itchs...it's on track for a million in fact. My grandson has a Maverick. It's a great small-mid truck. I would buy one of those before the Fathom if I were buying Ford.

Just my old man shaking fist at clouds rant,

b.

Also of note with the Fathom, Ford is trying a lot of new things with this truck that they haven't done before. It'll be interesting to see how well both of these vehicles hold up after launch.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

I'm with Nathan. While many people might cross shop Slate, Fathom, Telo, Maverick, and even other vehicles, the actual buyers of each will likely be very different personality types. And it's all good. Plenty of room for everyone in the automotive universe.

https://tflcar.com/2026/08/ask-nathan-small-pickups-bmw-spiderman/

 

[labatertot]

Choice is always good. I chose slate because of its uniqueness.

 

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

So, you are ranting over something that has not yet happened. You have no idea how good or bad the Fathom is or may be. You have no idea how Ford will manage its franchise dealerships regarding the sale of the Fathom. All any of us know is the Fathom is it is based on Ford's new universal EV architecture. Ford needed to implement the UEV to make any of its future EV profitable because all EV batteries are still too expensive to manufacture, so the production cost has to come from somewhere.

Slate is just as much as an unknown as Ford's new UEV architecture. One thing is sure though; Ford is going the sell the UEV all over the world and will amortize its development costs over an incredibly vast worldwide unit volume than Slate ever will. If Slate could have afforded the Cap EX for a Gigcasting machine, it would have used one (and the chassis design) vs. welding up steel stampings.

We don’t know much about the Fathom, while we know more about the Slate, as vehicles. What we know about the Fathom is Ford’s bureaucracy. We also have a decent idea about Slate’s bureaucracy. To that end, I don’t think gigity casting fits Slate’s MO. It doesn’t make sense for the cost-conscious consumer.

 

[Slatester89]

So, you are ranting over something that has not yet happened. You have no idea how good or bad the Fathom is or may be. You have no idea how Ford will manage its franchise dealerships regarding the sale of the Fathom. All any of us know is the Fathom is it is based on Ford's new universal EV architecture. Ford needed to implement the UEV to make any of its future EV profitable because all EV batteries are still too expensive to manufacture, so the production cost has to come from somewhere.

Slate is just as much as an unknown as Ford's new UEV architecture. One thing is sure though; Ford is going the sell the UEV all over the world and will amortize its development costs over an incredibly vast worldwide unit volume than Slate ever will. If Slate could have afforded the Cap EX for a Gigcasting machine, it would have used one (and the chassis design) vs. welding up steel stampings.

Correct. I have no idea. That's why I wrote "...based upon Ford's history with electric trucks...", with respect to " worry". The Ford Lightning did not survive.

My point was, and this is MHO, there is an equal or perhaps bigger reason to worry about the Fathom's survival, than Slate's survival, based upon Ford's EV truck history. I don't believe the Lightning failed because of quality. I think it failed because of management decisions.

I hope they will both survive, especially Slate since I'm buying one. They are truly different "trucks". Some folks will cross shop them out of curiosity. Some will only look at one or the other. I think it is kind of like roughing it: some love to go camping at the National Parks/campgrounds, some would never "camp"...they'd stay at the Holiday Inn and drive to the "Park".

There's a place for both.

b.

 

[AZFox]

Some folks will cross shop them out of curiosity.

Not for long.

If one of them appeals to you the other one won't.

 

[19SL80s]

Why do we keep pretending the market only has space for one cheap EV? Or one cheap EV pickup truck? Or one pickup truck?

Anytime somebody is inventing this "it's the end" or "it's not the end" or... any of these clickbait headlines it's a clear indicator that either they do not understand how markets work or they are simply seeking headlines. Either way.... Uninteresting.

If the world only had room for one, we'd only have F150s and no Silverados. We'd only have Rav4s and no CRVs. We'd only have Altimas and no Camry's.

Now, will Slate sell enough to hit their break even point? Yeah, that's an interesting question that we'll learn about over the next three years. But trying to dumb it down to "the Fathom or the Maverik or the Bolt or the ... ?" No one thing will make or break it for Slate, and the folks over there know that way better than we do.

I completely agree. The automotive industry is not a zero sum game, just like you pointed out.

Phrases like game-changer, take the world by storm, this destroyed that, the rise and fall, the end of this, the death of that, or any other extremely positive, negative, or powerful titles, thumbnails, etc. are absolutely just clickbait. It’s a way for websites and YouTube channels to get views in order to expose people to advertising in hopes of making money. I mean, someone has to pay the bills. That doesn’t mean it isn’t annoying though.

I think I read that Slate will be profitable from the beginning IF they sell 80,000 vehicles a year. That’s a pretty tall order, even for a legacy automaker that can ramp production faster than any startup. I want to see the Slate succeed though, because it’s such a cool concept.

I’ve put my money where my mouth is (ew, that’s a disgusting idiom) and we’ll see what happens later this year into next. My delivery window isn’t until next Summer and I’ve got a lease until December 2027.