This is the small truck Tesla should have produced...

[ucfknights123]

Just like in 2019 after Tesla lost the credit, the Model 3 magically dropped in price about $5k. And the Chevy Bolt dropped $5k in 2020 for the same reason. But all the people who support these atrocious tax rebates tell me they’re necessary to support the EV market. No, it’s just another money grab brought to you by lobbyists.

It certainly helps incentivize companies to make these models, higher revenue up front. As to whether they're really needed to help them make profit, well it's capitalism baby. How much is Lucid paying per car they make, $300k?

 

[cvollers]

Personally I thought the target demographic was people or families as a secondary car. Could buy a $10k golf cart, could buy a $20k mini-truck.

I also suspect the price will magically come down if and when the tax credit goes away. Costing in the low $20k’s is the main reason it works.

I agree with this assessment. Just because it is cheap doesn’t mean the Slate is targeted at low income people.

 

[YDR37]

At a $27K price point, the 4-door Maverick hybrid XL is a far better choice.

But will a 4-door Maverick hybrid XL still be available at a $27K price point in late 2026, when Slate deliveries are scheduled to start?

According to Ford, a 2025 4-door Maverick hybrid XL currently starts at $28,145 MSRP, plus $1,695 destination charge and $695 acquisition fee. So the floor price for a new Maverick rolling off the assembly line today (assuming MSRP, no dealer markups/discounts, and zero options) is $30,535. And nobody should be surprised if inflation drives that number even higher by late 2026.

it's true that the Maverick historically had lower MSRPs, and there are still unsold Mavericks on dealer lots that reflect the old pricing. But they aren't going to remain unsold until late 2026 -- they will be replaced by newer Mavericks with Ford's new, higher pricing.

 

[sodamo]

I agree with this assessment. Just because it is cheap doesn’t mean the Slate is targeted at low income people.

I’m thinking most of the initial buyers will NOT be the low income crowd. That crowd may very well dominate the used market.

 

[Karl Childers]

But will a 4-door Maverick hybrid XL still be available at a $27K price point in late 2026, when Slate deliveries are scheduled to start?

According to Ford, a 2025 4-door Maverick hybrid XL currently starts at $28,145 MSRP, plus $1,695 destination charge and $695 acquisition fee. So the floor price for a new Maverick rolling off the assembly line today (assuming MSRP, no dealer markups/discounts, and zero options) is $30,535. And nobody should be surprised if inflation drives that number even higher by late 2026.

it's true that the Maverick historically had lower MSRPs, and there are still unsold Mavericks on dealer lots that reflect the old pricing. But they aren't going to remain unsold until late 2026 -- they will be replaced by newer Mavericks with Ford's new, higher pricing.

I am disappointed of the price gouging seen on the Maverick. I was lucky, I factory ordered a XLT with lux package when the model came out. It took 17 months to get and got bumped to a 2023 model (a blessing due to all the recalls). We were $28k out the door. It has been great for us but in no way would i pay over $30k for it. I think the price increase opens up competition from other manufacturers. I'm looking forward to seeing a Slate in the flesh.

 

[Slashsnake]

Personally I thought the target demographic was people or families as a secondary car. Could buy a $10k golf cart, could buy a $20k mini-truck.

I also suspect the price will magically come down if and when the tax credit goes away. Costing in the low $20k’s is the main reason it works.

I kind of. Was looking at it like that too but I think it really struggles there.

Like for us, we bought the cheapest pickup you can buy in the cheapest trim (Maverick XL) as our 2nd vehicle.

But we can still take it places in winter. I can still pick up my little kid after school (wife drops him off in her car on the way in) and not worry about putting him in the front seat. It's got enough features to look like a luxury vehicle by comparison. I can drive with my wife, my dog and my kid if I want.

When you go low cost and thus low profit, you need more sales to make up for the upfront costs. And this one seems to be going away from the things that sell. 150 mile range EVs in the US are the ones not moving off lots. The top four pickup models all have two-door trims. And for all of them they sell the 4 door with shorter beds about ten times as much.

And the price point isn't great there. It's good. Almost as low as you can get a Maverick today for, but its a big step down in practicality and convenience.

I just struggle to see anything two seat make a lot of sales in the US.

 

[Slashsnake]

I am disappointed of the price gouging seen on the Maverick. I was lucky, I factory ordered a XLT with lux package when the model came out. It took 17 months to get and got bumped to a 2023 model (a blessing due to all the recalls). We were $28k out the door. It has been great for us but in no way would i pay over $30k for it. I think the price increase opens up competition from other manufacturers. I'm looking forward to seeing a Slate in the flesh.

That's kind of the problem. Today right now you can get a Maverick XL with the all-wheel drive at a tick under $25k.

And that has things like a radio. Four doors. Good seats in the back. Paint. Better payload. A lot better towing. Even that trim is practically luxury by comparison. And it's completely usable. Right now I'm looking at mine and it's got a crapload of stuff in the bed and I'm going to fit my wife, kid and dog in the back and head home. In a few weeks I'll be taking it on a 150+ mile trip to Duluth for an airshow.

I don't think it'll sell well, just being the only EV pickup at a low price point. It needs to compete with the gas guzzlers. And if it can't in practicality or convenience or tech or performance it better in price. And I don't think it is at that price point, much less whatever it slides to by 2027.

 

[sodamo]

I could be wrong of course, but seems to me that many here extolling the perceived negatives the Slate vs something like a Maverick aren’t really in the market for a truck, most anything with room behind the rear seat would suffice If completely honest. OK, maybe a few whose trash cans wouldn’t fit.
I’m reminded of my Dad. He brought his 1st truck in 1956. Chevy Cameo. Pretty sure hauling us kids weren’t part of the thought process. I’m the oldest of 8. But over the years that truck did a lot of truck stuff, even towing the boat up to the lake, once. Hauled lumber, barrels of cement, gravel, even chicken shit. Yup even us kids did ride in the back from time to time, different days I know. Weren’t many pick ups in the neighborhood those days. Point is, I think he knew what he was getting. I got to drive it some as a senior in HS. my first accident, rearended a teacher in front of the school during a snowstorm. Over the years it rusted out in the yard. His last truck was a Chevy S-10 which I bought after his passing, shipped it here to Hawaii and was my primary mover building our house. Oh, and parents had a 56 Chevy 9 passenger station wagon for hauling us kids.

 

[YDR37]

That's kind of the problem. Today right now you can get a Maverick XL with the all-wheel drive at a tick under $25k.

And that has things like a radio. Four doors. Good seats in the back. Paint. Better payload. A lot better towing.

The pricing "today right now" doesn't matter. What matters is the price in late 2026, when the Slate is scheduled to appear. And the prices for Mavericks have been rising fast.

Ford's current pricing for a Maverick with AWD and "a lot better towing" is not "under $25k", or even close to that level. According to Ford's Maverick build site, a base 2025 XL Maverick with AWD, the 4K tow package, no other options, plus all fees costs: $34,385 MSRP.

There are less expensive configurations that would be more comparable to the Slate. A base 2025 XL Maverick with FWD, the 2K hitch, no other options, plus all fees costs: $30,685 MSRP.

I don't doubt that cheaper Mavericks, reflecting Ford's old pricing, are still available on dealer lots if you buy "today right now". But they won't still be there in late 2026, when the Slate is scheduled to appear. Ford's new pricing will take effect long before then.

 

[Slashsnake]

The pricing "today right now" doesn't matter. What matters is the price in late 2026, when the Slate is scheduled to appear. And the prices for Mavericks have been rising fast.

Ford's current pricing for a Maverick with AWD and "a lot better towing" is not "under $25k", or even close to that level. According to Ford's Maverick build site, a base 2025 XL Maverick with AWD, the 4K tow package, no other options, plus all fees costs: $34,385 MSRP.

There are less expensive configurations that would be more comparable to the Slate. A base 2025 XL Maverick with FWD, the 2K hitch, no other options, plus all fees costs: $30,685 MSRP.

I don't doubt that cheaper Mavericks, reflecting Ford's old pricing, are still available on dealer lots if you buy "today right now". But they won't still be there in late 2026, when the Slate is scheduled to appear. Ford's new pricing will take effect long before then.

What I meant by the current price is the listed price at dealerships in the United States selling them today. Not the online pricing but actual prices they are listing for at dealerships today.

That is true... The price estimate for the slate is not real and we won't know until 2026/2027 when it goes on sale, and as we've seen with every single new EV, they have that lovely price point in their PR events years ahead, but by the time the vehicle goes on sale...

Yes, the MSRP is higher and Ford is doing Ford pricing and you can buy for much less. With the Slate, it looks like it will be pure MSRP only there. Trucks always have deals running on them. EV direct sale cars sell for their list (or 10-20% higher than their PR event initial price by the time they sell)....

That's where I struggle to see it. I see a Santa Cruz at $24,300. A single Cab Silverado at $27,500. A Maverick hybrid at $24,000. A Frontier King Cab at $28,500. A Ram Quadcab Tradesman at $29k. I like EV's... I like cheap pickups. But I can't make that price point make sense to go with something as bare bones and non-practical as the slate outside of niche situations.

 

[YDR37]

The price estimate for the slate is not real and we won't know until 2026/2027 when it goes on sale, and as we've seen with every single new EV, they have that lovely price point in their PR events years ahead, but by the time the vehicle goes on sale...

Nobody knows what the final pricing of the Slate is actually going to look like in 2026/2027. Maybe they will meet their ambitious goal of "mid-20s", or maybe not.

But it's equally true that no one knows what the pricing of the Maverick, or other currently inexpensive vehicles, will look like in 2026/2027 either. It wasn't that long ago (2022, in fact) that the MSRP for a basic Maverick was under $20,000. Prices have been going up, and they may continue to do so.

What I meant by the current price is the listed price at dealerships in the United States selling them today. Not the online pricing but actual prices they are listing for at dealerships today.

Dealers can discount below MSRP. However, they can also mark up above MSRP -- as many Maverick owners can attest.

 

[Slashsnake]

Nobody knows what the final pricing of the Slate is actually going to look like in 2026/2027. Maybe they will meet their ambitious goal of "mid-20s", or maybe not.

But it's equally true that no one knows what the pricing of the Maverick, or other currently inexpensive vehicles, will look like in 2026/2027 either. It wasn't that long ago (2022, in fact) that the MSRP for a basic Maverick was under $20,000. Prices have been going up, and they may continue to do so.

Dealers can discount below MSRP. However, they can also mark up above MSRP -- as many Maverick owners can attest.

Well I'd say 27-28K is more high 20's than mid (I'll leave that level of wordplay to the PR team to convince us that is in the "middle" of the 20's), but sure, I'm just being pragmatic that hoping for that number to not change from a release event to drum up interest has not worked out well historically.


And yes, the Maverick was selling when supply constrained for a lot more when people or dealers got them. And for a lot of them on resale or with dealer markups they were a bad deal and you could get a better pickup for less. I'm just saying I don't see the Slate's price point as being very competitive for what is offered there compared to what else is out there at or below that point.

I do agree, the best we can do is view what the Slate PR team thinks it will cost today, vs. what you can buy instead today. And there is where I struggle to see the Slate's price point without the EV tax credit keeping it in business.

 

[cvollers]

Well I'd say 27-28K is more high 20's than mid (I'll leave that level of wordplay to the PR team to convince us that is in the "middle" of the 20's), but sure, I'm just being pragmatic that hoping for that number to not change from a release event to drum up interest has not worked out well historically.


And yes, the Maverick was selling when supply constrained for a lot more when people or dealers got them. And for a lot of them on resale or with dealer markups they were a bad deal and you could get a better pickup for less. I'm just saying I don't see the Slate's price point as being very competitive for what is offered there compared to what else is out there at or below that point.

I do agree, the best we can do is view what the Slate PR team thinks it will cost today, vs. what you can buy instead today. And there is where I struggle to see the Slate's price point without the EV tax credit keeping it in business.

Once again we have a potential customer who wants an electric Maverick not built by Ford.

 

[Slashsnake]

Once again we have a potential customer who wants an electric Maverick not built by Ford.

Not sure what you are stating there. But no.

I'm not sure I would want an EV pickup really. Maybe if it was a bit more practical than the slate, but not at that price. I think I'd be looking at a chevy silverado EV WT there for the step up in cost coming with so much more.

Just looking at the numbers and struggling to see how that price point competes.

 

[YDR37]

Well I'd say 27-28K is more high 20's than mid (I'll leave that level of wordplay to the PR team to convince us that is in the "middle" of the 20's)

Slate hasn't said anything about "27-28K". They have only said:

The expected price of the blank Slate is under $20,000 after federal incentives are applied.

There has been a general rush to the conclusion that this must mean "$19,995 after the $7,500 tax credit", which implies a retail price of $27,495. Maybe that assumption is correct, or maybe not. But it's only an assumption.

What's not an assumption: the CEO of Slate is on record (at 0:20 here) as stating that "a Slate costs in the mid-20s" before current incentives. Maybe Slate will meet that target, or maybe not. But "mid-20s" is the stated target at this time.