Video: Could Slate be the Next Fisker

[Bee]

Ignore the clickbait title. It’s actually a decent video.

Can Slate Auto Avoid Becoming the Next Fisker?
The automotive industry has a habit of destroying ambitious startups. Billions have been invested, bold promises have been made, and many have disappeared just as quickly. Fisker, Lordstown and Canoo all promised to reinvent the car. They all found reality far harsher. Now, Slate Auto believes it has found a different path. Backed by some of the world's most influential investors and led by former Amazon executives, Slate isn't chasing luxury or the latest technology. Instead, it's attempting something that almost every modern manufacturer has abandoned: building a genuinely affordable American pickup truck. But can simplicity really succeed in an industry obsessed with bigger batteries, more screens and higher prices? Or is Slate heading towards the same financial cliff that swallowed so many EV startups before it? In this ECU documentary we explore the remarkable origins of Slate, the Amazon connection, the company's manufacturing strategy, its financial backing, the growing threat from China, and why this small startup could reshape the future of the American auto industry—or become its next cautionary tale. Watch until the end to discover why Slate's biggest challenge may have nothing to do with building cars.

 

[KevinRS]

I really don't think China is a near term threat with the US banning robot vacuums and drones as security risks. Just no way they are going to flip to oh, it's ok, these vehicles with multiple computers in each aren't as much a threat as a robot vacuum.

 

[Bee]

I really don't think China is a near term threat with the US banning robot vacuums and drones as security risks. Just no way they are going to flip to oh, it's ok, these vehicles with multiple computers in each aren't as much a threat as a robot vacuum.

i agree but I think the bigger threat is that China is competing with US companies in other markets and we have squandered our advantage in battery technology.

Even if we are resistant to EVs in the U.S. right now, other countries are not and the global ICE market will shrink. When U.S. automakers are forced to make a shift, they might be too far behind.

 

[KevinRS]

i agree but I think the bigger threat is that China is competing with US companies in other markets and we have squandered our advantage in battery technology.

Even if we are resistant to EVs in the U.S. right now, other countries are not and the global ICE market will shrink. When U.S. automakers are forced to make a shift, they might be too far behind.

Yes, and that's another downside to the tariffs and other trade restrictions. Isolating US trade with the rest of the world, the rest of the world trades with each other and leaves us behind.

 

[E90400K]

Video was a waste of time, don't watch it . Clickbait.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Video was a waste of time, don't watch it . Clickbait.

I’m happy to click on things to broadly support Slate, but only waste my time on the Forums, bc I’m astounded daily by the high brow repartee. Thanks for saving me a couple of minutes from the former so that I can better allocate towards the latter.

 

[CEW]

10 minute video was actually REALLY WELL DONE and researched. ECU video was smart in focusing on RE: BUILD guys and what they are trying to do in re-shaping how Manufacturing in USA is done - its what they are all about.

And Picture Car Confidential interview (Jamie Kitman) also was able to interview William Barker of Re: Build

 

[CEW]

pt 2-I got cut off. VIDEO was really good if you can move beyond HORRIBLE TITLE - CLICK BAIT!!
again because maker of 10 minute video is focusing on what SLATE and RE: Build are trying to do - remake US Auto manufacturing which has been totally hollowed out by short-term interests and poor quality control.
Jamie Kitman of Picture Car Confidential loved driving the SLATE (in Newport, RI of course!) and actually got to interview a SLATE Board member and founder of RE: BUILD: William Barker: “You have to really believe in a 10-year journey,” Barker told me. “We’ve been really lucky and focused on making sure that everyone we brought into the company is very long-term orientated. Long-term greedy means a wake of value to the ecosystem. Short-term greedy usually is trading paper. Win-win versus win-lose.”

 

[tubes]

Thank you OP for summarizing and not just saying "Watch this!"

I reluctantly decided to invest 10 minutes. It was worth it. One key statement early in the video:
"The entire industry has been solving the wrong problem."

Yes. Somehow the problem became how much tech can we jam into this car and then ask for an upscaled price. This is what pissed me off and made me swear off EVs for 10 years. I even spread hate about them.

Slate instead is saying: "How can we manufacture this differently in the USA simply and still have a viable vehicle that people want, and even want to get excited about?"

That speaks to me, and that softened my EV hate so much I'm now embracing the idea and looking forward to it.

Make no bones about it though, there are strong forces out there who want to hate on the USA and would love to see continued destruction of manufacturing in the USA. Slate is a risk to that. And I'm not talking foreign entities or corporations. I'm talking about every day people who are mad at this, that and everything, and think our system needs to be run by the state. All you have to do is log on Reddit and see what I mean.

 

[CEW]

Well said! And Yes - SLATE is a breath of fresh air in their philosophy and changes they are trying to bring to the entire industry - not only the EV world - but the entire US Auto world (Big 3!) - and associated auto giants in Germany / Sweden.

Sadly, I really think those STRONG forces who will try to bring SLATE down are these same Automakers and their Marketing / PR people!
(already Bots and so many lies and deception on Reddit, YouTube, Facebook!)

 

[air1mtt]

I currently own a 2023 Fisker Ocean One. Bought it with 12k on the clock and all upgrades completed.

There is a dedicated community working g to improve the vehicle and complete some of the programming issues

I absolutely LOVE driving my Fisker. I think the Slate will be better and not run into the issues Fisker ran into, mostly lack of funding. I certainly hope so.

 

[Buffalo]

I’m almost 85 & have bad hearing.
The background music & the English accent made it very hard for me to listen to this.

 

[cadblu]

I really dislike videos with an artificial narration. However, the content was decent with clips from moments of great automotive benchmarks.

 

[Moe]

There are a lot of places in this country where EV drivers are viewed thusly while hybrids are becoming mainstream.

 

[Harley Earl]

Good video. Supportive of SLATE's mission. History of the industry distilled down well. Good to see the successful examples that Toyota sets for the industry included. The examples and history presented are telling.

IMHO; SLATE has a focus on quality, simplicity in design/engineering, paying staffers fairly and appears in it for the long game = Success!