This is why I’m buying a slate truck

[1yeliab_sufur1]

Im a very simple man

 

[ScooterAsheville]

I always qualify that statement. For me it's "This is why I'll buy a Slate truck - unless something more desirable comes out by 2027". Important to leave some wiggle room.

BTW, on yesterday's Autoline sponsor segment - where patrons get to pose questions - I asked if Slate was a potential candidate for an OEM acquisition. The answer was an enthusiastic yes, and that Ford was probably the most likely buyer (or investor). There was even a little hint that Autoline had some "off the record" information on that possibility.

 

[Dorbiman]

Im a very simple man

I agree. The VW ID.2/GTI tempts me, but there's no guarantee (or even likelihood) that they'll bring it to the US, and also I really appreciate the way the Slate has been built for longevity and ease of maintenance. The Slate Truck just really is my speed. The only problem I have with it is that it's not for sale right now.

 

[Adam W]

The only problem I have with it is that it's not for sale right now.

That is kind of a drag. I'm looking forward to the day this forum switches from fan-club to owners-club.

 

[Dorbiman]

Ford would buy Slate only to kill it off. Ford is already working on its own smaller-size EV pickup. There is a good chance Slate will not be sustainable anyway.

What would be Ford's business case to acquire or invest in Slate? Slate offers Ford zero in new technology.

I don’t think it’s the technology. There’s nothing that Slate is doing that’s technologically impressive. It’s a return to simplified manufacturing in my eyes. Ford literally wrote the book on it, but lost the plot long ago

 

[Dorbiman]

I think Ford could make a $29,000 2-door Ranger with a manual transmission for way less than it could acquire Slate.

Don’t doubt they could

 

[SLATEchad]

Ford would buy Slate only to kill it off. Ford is already working on its own smaller-size EV pickup. There is a good chance Slate will not be sustainable anyway.

What would be Ford's business case to acquire or invest in Slate? Slate offers Ford zero in new technology.

Slate has planned this thing out very smartly, with leadership and engineers that have been in the industry and know very well what they're doing. They've simplified and streamlined their design and even without the tax incentive, the CEO says they expect to be profitable by 2027. Within a year of potential release. Even if it takes a little longer than that, I'd say that's sustainable. Their entire business plan is maybe the most sustainable I've seen from any auto maker. It will be interesting to see what comes out, and if Ford actually has their claimed "Model T of EV's" that will revolutionize the auto industry, then that could have a strong impact on Slate's performance. From renders I've seen, the Ford doesn't look nearly as appealing to me, but I'm not sure how accurate those renderings are, and if it's the right price, a lot of people can get over the looks.

 

[cadblu]

Agreed, one thing Slate has done rather well is refocus the demand for EVs, at a time when other OEMs (e.g. Toyota) were pulling back and looking to Hybrid technology. The recent repeal of the EV tax incentive was evidence of this. Now it appears the rest of the auto industry is retooling their strategy for EVs. Time to market is everything, and Slate needs to pull this off without a hitch.

 

[GaRailroader]

I think Ford could make a $29,000 2-door Ranger with a manual transmission for way less than it could acquire Slate.

And it wouldn’t meet CAFE standards.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

And it wouldn’t meet CAFE standards.

I thought they ride of the cafe?

 

[GaRailroader]

No they didn’t get rid of them but they took away the fines for failing to meet them. They are still obligated to meet them and report their results to NHTSA. It would probably be better if they did get rid of them and acknowledge that they didn’t have the desired effect.

 

[RetiredOnPaper]

It's basic, it's electric. Yes a gas small pick up could be cheaper. But, my north Michigan cottage already has a solar generator. I can make electrons, I can't make gas. I already have a 7 yo Tesla, so I know range issues are mostly BS. Grew up and lived in Detroit all my life with most of the family in the auto industry, but what do I know?

 

[GaRailroader]

Searched on, "Do the current CAFE standards really prevent auto manufacturers from selling midsized 2-door pickup trucks". The internet returned.

Ford sold the 5th Gen Ranger as a 2-door cab up until the 2023 Model Year. In 2024 the 6th Gen dropped the 2-door cab. Right now, Toyota and Nissan both sell the Tacoma and Frontier in a 2-door cab configuration. The latest gen Taco (N400 was introduced in MY 2023). The current North American Nissan Frontier (D41) was introduced for the 2022 Model Year.

If you're thinking CAFE doesn't allow small 2-door pickups...

My bad. I assumed you were meaning a 2 door truck in the same form factor as a Slate. The 2023 2 door Ranger and crew cab Ranger ride on the same wheelbase so would be functionally equivalent as far as the CAFE standards go. The Ranger is 3 feet longer than the Slate so not really what I would be cross shopping even if they did offer it as an EV. What the CAFE standards killed was trucks like my 2006 Ford Ranger regular cab with 6 foot bed. Overall length was 188, about a foot longer than the Slate which also happens to be the difference in bed length between Slate and old Rangers. The new Ranger is 2 feet longer than the old regular cab Rangers up through 2012.

 

[GaRailroader]

Because I'm a geek, I read the CFR (40 CFR Part 600) - I used to do such things for my profession. The CFR has definitions for wheelbase and track width in the reg. with citations to the meanings. Click on the hyperlink to the meanings of each and as of 1/3/2017 the definitions are no longer provided by the CFR. That seems to indicate the "footprint" criteria-based CAFE was sunsetted as of January 2017. Reading the 40 CFR Part 600, which is the current regulation for determining CAFE makes no mention of vehicle size and footprint.

BTW, I bought new a 1987 Ranger STX, regular cab with a 7' bed. Awesome truck. When I bought my 2022 Bronco I was expecting something a bit smaller in size, but I have to say now having owned it for the past three years, it seems right-sized. Being the Gen 6 Ranger is the same platform as the Bronco, a 2-door regular cab Ranger with a 6' foot bed would be perfect for my needs. I was really hoping Ford was going to make a 2.3L EcoBoost manual transmission Bronco Pickup to compete with the Jeep Gladiator, but Ford was just teasing. LOL. I could pare down to just one ORV if Ford offered the Bronco Pickup and not bother with a Slate.

It looks like they are now pushing them to have a higher GVWR in order to get classified as non-passenger car for efficiency standards. Ford Rangers now have a GVWR of 6050 pounds just over the 6000 lb threshold. My 1st truck was a 1992 Ford F-150 Reg Cab SWB with 5800 lb GVWR, 2nd was a 2006 Ford Ranger Reg Cab SWB with 5000 GVWR and my last one was a 2019 Chevy Colorado Ext Cab with 5500 GVWR. Current Ford Ranger has higher GVWR than my full size truck from 1992.

 

[GaRailroader]

So, then any of the Ranger, Colorado, Taco, or Frontier can be sold in a 2-door configuration and vehicle size has nothing to do with it, like I initially said. GVWR is just a number. The current Taco and Frontier sell a 2-door, RWD truck.

GVWR is not just a number. It has to be able to be loaded to that weight and handle safely. If you build a Slate size ICE truck and put springs on it to support a 6000 GVWR it will ride like a brick.