VIDEO: The Rise and Fall of American Small Affordable Pickup Trucks

[KJRaven]

I just did a cursory check on prices for any new truck available in the US... the only truck under $30,000 MSRP is the maverick. Auto Trader confirms my findings... https://www.autotrader.com/car-shopping/cheapest-new-trucks

When the slate comes to market in the "mid-$20k"... I believe that they will do. That will put it roughly 10-15% cheaper than the Maverick's MSRP.
Then they will sell well. Mostly to young drivers as a first/second vehicle, non primary vehicles, and primarily to fleets who just need a small truck for one person to go do a job. There isn't anything in the market that fits that need right now.

 

[Luxrage]

I just did a cursory check on prices for any new truck available in the US... the only truck under $30,000 MSRP is the maverick.

Even then that's barely scraping under 30K. Ford's build and price total for the cheapest bare-bones 2WD 2L in white:

 

[KJRaven]

Even then that's barely scraping under 30K. Ford's build and price total for the cheapest bare-bones 2WD 2L in white:

yep, I was just going by MSRP. You can typically buy them for less, but MSRP was the most fare comparison. Either way the SLATE should be cheaper, and for some (myself included), it being a full electric truck makes it more attractive.

 

[GaRailroader]

Even then that's barely scraping under 30K. Ford's build and price total for the cheapest bare-bones 2WD 2L in white:

Yeah, the 2L is the base model now. To get the Hybrid it is $1k more. When they first came out I believe the Hybrid was the base model. I don't ever see myself buying an ICEV again but if I did I would definitely chose a hybrid over the straight gas. My dislike of automatic transmissions is greater than my dislike of internal combustion engines.

 

[KJRaven]

Yeah, the 2L is the base model now. To get the Hybrid it is $1k more. When they first came out I believe the Hybrid was the base model. I don't ever see myself buying an ICEV again but if I did I would definitely chose a hybrid over the straight gas. My dislike of automatic transmissions is greater than my dislike of internal combustion engines.

I am with you on that! Transmissions especially CVT have just been garbage for a long time now.

I have driven a Plug in Hybrid, Chevy Volt since 2012, bought a gen 2 in 2016 and it has been my daily driver since. It is roughly 95% electric, so I do not see any future that my next vehicle is not a full electric. I miss having a truck though, so my next vehicle will be a full electric truck. SLATE checks a lot of boxes for me. If i could find a used Rivian or Lightning around $30k, then I would prefer that, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

 

[KevinRS]

When comparing the Maverick, keep in mind that even the hybrid version is NOT a plug in hybrid, so no matter your driving habits, you still will be going to a gas station regularly.

 

[beatle]

I am with you on that! Transmissions especially CVT have just been garbage for a long time now.

I have driven a Plug in Hybrid, Chevy Volt since 2012, bought a gen 2 in 2016 and it has been my daily driver since. It is roughly 95% electric, so I do not see any future that my next vehicle is not a full electric. I miss having a truck though, so my next vehicle will be a full electric truck. SLATE checks a lot of boxes for me. If i could find a used Rivian or Lightning around $30k, then I would prefer that, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

Lightnings are already sub-$30k depending on the trim. R1Ts can be found sub $40k now. I expect them to get pretty close to $30k by the end of the year when leases start to flood the market, though there might be some resistance with the earlier trucks. They are all quad motor which tend to hold their value a bit better.

 

[WT_Door]

I am with you on that! Transmissions especially CVT have just been garbage for a long time now.

I have driven a Plug in Hybrid, Chevy Volt since 2012, bought a gen 2 in 2016 and it has been my daily driver since. It is roughly 95% electric, so I do not see any future that my next vehicle is not a full electric. I miss having a truck though, so my next vehicle will be a full electric truck. SLATE checks a lot of boxes for me. If i could find a used Rivian or Lightning around $30k, then I would prefer that, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

I'm not trying to nudge you away from the Slate - but I see 2022 Ford Lightnings for under $30k near me (~ 60k miles).
I think Rivian R1T is still holding on to higher pricing ($50k+), but that may drop in the next 6 months as a wave of R2s hit the market (and existing Rivian owners have priority in receiving R2 orders - which would result in an increase in the number of used R1 vehicles even if many of these existing Rivian owners buy an R2 while keeping their R1).

 

[ValkorTheOptimistic]

Great video. Covers the early imports, the chicken tax, the CAFE standards and the big 3's desire to favor higher margin vehicles.

I wouldn't go as far as to call it a "great" video. The AI got really hard to listen to, and it seemed like about 75% filler.

At least it laid out the timeline well and gave a good overview of those three things. I just wish I hadn't had to spend half an hour to get it.

 

[atx_ev]

I just did a cursory check on prices for any new truck available in the US... the only truck under $30,000 MSRP is the maverick. Auto Trader confirms my findings... https://www.autotrader.com/car-shopping/cheapest-new-trucks

When the slate comes to market in the "mid-$20k"... I believe that they will do. That will put it roughly 10-15% cheaper than the Maverick's MSRP.
Then they will sell well. Mostly to young drivers as a first/second vehicle, non primary vehicles, and primarily to fleets who just need a small truck for one person to go do a job. There isn't anything in the market that fits that need right now.

If you search autotrader, new nationwide, you can get a maverick xl for 23K

 

[atx_ev]

Even then that's barely scraping under 30K. Ford's build and price total for the cheapest bare-bones 2WD 2L in white:

try searching autotrader for new mavericks, nationwide. You can get one for 23K

 

[KevinRS]

Lightnings are already sub-$30k depending on the trim. R1Ts can be found sub $40k now. I expect them to get pretty close to $30k by the end of the year when leases start to flood the market, though there might be some resistance with the earlier trucks. They are all quad motor which tend to hold their value a bit better.

My question is, "When those leases start to flood the market" what will the people who turned them in switch to driving? Most EV drivers aren't going to switch back to ICE, The Lightning will be stopping production by the end of the year, and other automakers have pulled back as well.
It seems that there will be a matching demand for EVs at the same time, most of those customers would probably prefer a new EV, but many may have to find the best pre-owned one they can.