Video: Slate Truck | 11 Minute Critical Analysis

[AZFox]

Adam's Everything EV (17.7K subscribers) discusses the Slate.

 

[tubes]

It's worth a look. He has pre-ordered one. He talks a lot about value. Overall, he likes it a lot, but he has valid criticisms. The big one being the missing costs on various setups, especially the open-air version which he likes. Also, the missing destination fee. A lot of us are critical of the missing prices too.

He complained about the fastback cost and didn't know why it so expensive. The highest comment answered that (different glass). Since the open air looks like a fastback, he just figured the price might be the same. I get it. We don't know because Slate hasn't told us.

He was critical of the Ford upcoming UEV FUD and doesn't believe it will be $30k.

He went into depth about charge speed and ability to road-trip with it. I glazed over at this because I will not be road tripping with this, and probably most of us won't. To me, that's not the use case. The main use case is an around-town commuter or hauling vehicle.

 

[AeroWolf]

He falls in the same trap of not thinking outside of Slate as many YouTube reviewers. Buying everything from Slate at once to then compare against a comparable trimmed and vehicle at the initial purchase price. This is the type of thinking most consumers have been conditioned. Buy and forget.

 

[ack154]

It's worth a look. He has pre-ordered one. He talks a lot about value. Overall, he likes it a lot, but he has valid criticisms. The big one being the missing costs on various setups, especially the open-air version which he likes. Also, the missing destination fee. A lot of us are critical of the missing prices too.

He complained about the fastback cost and didn't know why it so expensive. The highest comment answered that (different glass). Since the open air looks like a fastback, he just figured the price might be the same. I get it. We don't know because Slate hasn't told us.

He was critical of the Ford upcoming UEV FUD and doesn't believe it will be $30k.

He went into depth about charge speed and ability to road-trip with it. I glazed over at this because I will not be road tripping with this, and probably most of us won't. To me, that's not the use case. The main use case is an around-town commuter or hauling vehicle.

Based on nothing other than my imagination... I don't see why the Open Air shouldn't cost less than both the SUV and the Fastback. It's basically either of those packages without the top (which would lead me to wonder why you'd really skimp on the Open Air when you might as well just get one of the other packages that includes a top in case you ever need it - but obviously that will depend on whatever the difference ends up being).

 

[GaRailroader]

Based on nothing other than my imagination... I don't see why the Open Air shouldn't cost less than both the SUV and the Fastback. It's basically either of those packages without the top (which would lead me to wonder why you'd really skimp on the Open Air when you might as well just get one of the other packages that includes a top in case you ever need it - but obviously that will depend on whatever the difference ends up being).

What if the open air kit is a sectional hard top that they've not unveiled yet? I am sure removing a full SUV top or fastback top would be unwieldy but if it came off in multiple pieces.(maybe 2 sides a top and a back) You could take it apart in pieces and leave the pieces in the corner of your garage. That is the only way I can see the open air kit being difficult to price. They need to offer a soft top.

 

[GaRailroader]

He was critical of the Ford upcoming UEV FUD and doesn't believe it will be $30k.

I think the surprise on the Ford will be that the $30k version is going to be lower range similar to Slate. I also think it is aimed at a different market. The blank Slate is appealing to the 'pick-up' crowd. I think the Ford UEV Ranchero will be more appealing to the Crossover crowd. A nice family hauler that offers a little more utility than your neighbor's RAV4 or Tesla Model Y. I think both the Slate and Ranchero will be successful but I don't think there will be a lot of cross shopping in between.

 

[Ronnie]

He keeps comparing it to cars, not pickups. There is no other electric compact two door pickup on the market. This to me is the value. This is the type of vehicle i have been looking for, and Slate delivers, plus in a simple straight forward design. There is nothing to compare it to except the old Toyota mini trucks which sold like hotcakes. It is a mini truck re invented for modern times. Thank you Slate.

 

[AZFox]

He keeps comparing it to cars, not pickups. There is no other electric compact two door pickup on the market.

Also, simplicity is a valuable feature that doesn't have a line item.

 

[KevinRS]

The reason for open air kit not having a price may be that it was conceived as: buy an SUV kit and take off the top.
They may now be considering a different model, but just like the no doors option, not really a reason for a price.
Do we really think the SUV "caps" are 1 piece? It seems to me that the concept is "flat pack" so it would be multiple pieces put on and removed sequentially. Maybe 5 main pieces of roll cage, and around that many pieces for the cap, attached to the roll cage.
Would make for a lot easier shipping and storage, and easier build.

 

[sodamo]

Wasn’t talk awhile back that the top panel of the SuV was removable?

 

[AZFox]

Wasn’t talk awhile back that the top panel of the SuV was removable?

Yes. Windows, too. "You can go full open air mode."

 

[LoneWolfo6]

Their sale pitch is starting to remind me of the early 2000 Nokia phone or the 2020 Whoop, we will give you the base product and then nickel and “Dollar”you for the aftermarket items.

With no pricing, the Slate is starting to resemble the $39k Tesla CT, with $120k starting release price tag.

Surprise $$$ 💸

I know Slate won’t ever be close to that much but it is not the affordable EV truck they first enticed us with before $7,500 went away.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

I don't understand people asking if there's a market for a cheap utilitarian vehicle designed to be customized. WHERE WERE YOU FOR THE JEEP CRAZE? I think the price of wranglers is what killed it off (or at least decreased market share), but from the early 2000s to a few years ago, people would buy a wrangler with crank windows and a leaky soft top and then spend thousands of dollars modifying it. Did covid wipe the brains of auto journalists?

 

[ScooterAsheville]

I look forward to a series of follow-on announcements from Slate this year. They've said they'll be announcing things as they pin them down. Slate's job right now is to build a functioning assembly line, coordinate with suppliers, stay solvent, and keep the attention of both customers and influencers.

it's all about "retiring risk", as we used to say in my R&D days. In Slate's case, it's also about "retiring uncertainty". We should all have a great summer and fall consuming the news.