Who’s Reserving the Slate EV: Everyday Americans, Young Professionals, New Drivers, Contemporary Seniors, Auto Enthusiasts

[Daemoch]

• Unless someone else makes a car purpose built for people to work on and mod themselves, I don't see a real competitor.
• You want cheap? Stop buying new things. Buy something off a lease at least.
• If the warranty and service stations is the big concern, then a DIY vehicle is probably not the best fit for you, even new.
• If range is the concern, then maybe stick with gas.
• If you want to haul a boat/trailer/etc with some actual weight, again, its not for that.

It's not "competing against a Maverick" as I see it. It's competing for those buyers who otherwise would be stuck buying a Maverick or a Tesla or an old B2000 or Ranger or Tacoma or similar because thats the best current offering for what they want/need and don't have any other choices.

Offer me a brand new Subaru Brat with a catalogue of options I can go back and addon anytime I want later, give it a well documented and publicly available build out manual with all the specs and diagrams and how-tos (Chiltons/Haynes, but factory authorized), and throw in an official embrace of 3rd party (aftermarket) support..... Yah, now we have a competitor. Then my big decision is "gas or electric?"

Just cause its electric or cheap doesn't qualify it as 'competition' for/to everybody.

 

[Daemoch]

Name one other vehicle we can go out and buy that we can mod the crap out of as idiot 20 somethings, then get married and start a family and turn into a respectable transportation/grocery getter, then change again to use to haul junk as we move into a bigger house with 2 kids and a dog. And when we are done with it we can swap out for some new panels, seats, and a new wrap and get some decent curb appeal on the resell or trade in.

Cause I dont see another car I can do that with.

 

[KevinRS]

They said "just under $20,000 with the $7,500 tax credit".

If the price was $25,000 they would have said "just under $17,500 with the $7,500 tax credit", instead.

They never said "Just" under 20k, it was only "under 20k" which is a nice round number. Somehow you are equating "under 20k" with "20k exactly, no rounding up, locked in price".
Since the credit went away, it's been "Mid-20s" and I wouldn't call 27,500 "mid" 20s. They may be cutting a bit more margin to keep it "Mid" but I do expect it to actually be under 27k even if that is before a destination fee and taxes and registration. Hopefully they keep the destination and any other fees to a minimum. Of course this is all out the window if something happens like steel prices or battery prices etc shooting up.

 

[RedJoker]

It's not "competing against a Maverick" as I see it. It's competing for those buyers who otherwise would be stuck buying a Maverick or a Tesla or an old B2000 or Ranger or Tacoma or similar because thats the best current offering for what they want/need and don't have any other choices.

This is me. I want a cheap EV truck / van. I wish it would tow 2000# but I might be able to make it work. If Slate doesn't come to fruition, I'll be "stuck buying" something else because I "don't have any other choices." Perfectly stated.

 

[E90400K]

• Unless someone else makes a car purpose built for people to work on and mod themselves, I don't see a real competitor.
• You want cheap? Stop buying new things. Buy something off a lease at least.
• If the warranty and service stations is the big concern, then a DIY vehicle is probably not the best fit for you, even new.
• If range is the concern, then maybe stick with gas.
• If you want to haul a boat/trailer/etc with some actual weight, again, its not for that.

It's not "competing against a Maverick" as I see it. It's competing for those buyers who otherwise would be stuck buying a Maverick or a Tesla or an old B2000 or Ranger or Tacoma or similar because thats the best current offering for what they want/need and don't have any other choices.

Offer me a brand new Subaru Brat with a catalogue of options I can go back and addon anytime I want later, give it a well documented and publicly available build out manual with all the specs and diagrams and how-tos (Chiltons/Haynes, but factory authorized), and throw in an official embrace of 3rd party (aftermarket) support..... Yah, now we have a competitor. Then my big decision is "gas or electric?"

Just cause its electric or cheap doesn't qualify it as 'competition' for/to everybody.

It's a small pickup. It competes against the Tacoma, Frontier (their extended cab models) and with the 4-doors: Maverick, Santa Cruz, Ranger, and Colorado, all which can be had for under $35K MSRP before manufacturer and dealer discounts. All of which have a lot of content compared to the Slate and paint (in multiple color choices).

Sorry, but it just does.

 

[Bayfire2441]

It's a small pickup. It competes against the Tacoma, Frontier (their extended cab models) and with the 4-doors: Maverick, Santa Cruz, Ranger, and Colorado, all which can be had for under $35K MSRP before manufacturer and dealer discounts. All of which have a lot of content compared to the Slate and paint (in multiple color choices).

Sorry, but it just does.

I think the point being stated though is that, while there's plenty of "small trucks" for sale. Those buyers would have already bought those trucks. I personally think that the niche Slate is gonna find themselves is people who want a simple no thrills vehicle that they can easily do whatever they want with. Weather that's enough to sustain the company is another story. If the Slate doesn't come out, I don't see any new car on the market I'd be willing to buy over going to the used market from now on. I love the fact that it doesn't come with a radio and that they are actively going to make repair info readily available.

 

[Sandman614]

What I've noticed from this Maverick crowd is just a whole bunch of confirmation bias. They come in here trying to convince themselves that they made the right choice. They got bullied by the full size truck crowd telling them their little truck wasnt a real truck, so they flood other forums with "doINg tRUcK sTUfF" posts to prove they bought a real truck. Then an even smaller and more unique truck comes along and they finally have something to direct their anger at and pass along the bullying to, doing exactly what the full size truck crowd did to them. They're not as successful as the oldest, and now the youngest is getting all the attention. They are the middle child of the truck world.

 

[SichuanHot]

Name one other vehicle we can go out and buy that we can mod the crap out of as idiot 20 somethings, then get married and start a family and turn into a respectable transportation/grocery getter, then change again to use to haul junk as we move into a bigger house with 2 kids and a dog. And when we are done with it we can swap out for some new panels, seats, and a new wrap and get some decent curb appeal on the resell or trade in.

Cause I dont see another car I can do that with.

I don't think many young or mid 20 somethings are going to buy a limited function EV as a first and only new car. It's just too compromised unless the they have other cars in the hanger already.

That said what you describe isn't limited to the Slate. Pretty much any hot sedan or wagon like a BMW 530/540 can do all that and more. The jury is still out on resale. People can swap doors and panels on Jeeps and that doesn't automatically increase its resale value.

 

[AZFox]

They never said "Just" under 20k

The Internet remembers.
Search and ye shall find.

https://tech.yahoo.com/transportation/articles/slate-truck-know-low-cost-080815456.html
The Slate Truck is a simple, electric vehicle made in the United States, with an expected price of just under $20,000, according to its website. Slate Auto is a firm backed in part by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, according to a report by NBC News.
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/au...e-auto-unveils-affordable-ev-truck-rcna203014
Its starting price point: $20,000 after federal EV incentives.
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a64564869/2027-slate-truck-revealed/
Nascent automaker Slate is putting a lot of faith in the federal EV tax credit sticking around, because with the $7500 subsidy, the company's battery-electric 2027 Truck will cost consumers a little less than $20,000. Even without that, the Slate Truck will retail for just under $27,500.
On the bright side, sometimes they left out "just under".
https://www.theverge.com/news/658223/slate-factory-electric-truck-location-indiana
Since Slate Auto came out of stealth mode last week, the internet has been abuzz with speculation about the finer details of the ultra-barebones electric Truck, which is set to cost just $20,000 when it enters production next year -- assuming our [federal EV incentives] are still in place by then.

The writers were told the price by company representatives.

Here's a screenshot from Slate own website:

Since the credit went away, it's been "Mid-20s" and I wouldn't call 27,500 "mid" 20s.

I wouldn't either, but they would, and did.

They've said "Mid-20's" from the very beginning. It has been discussed here ad nauseam.

 

[OldGoat]

For what it's worth I am only buying EV's from here on out. Mostly due to being able to charge at home off solar OR cheap night rates from our energy company. Add to that not paying $3500 as we did this year to keep a beloved Honda Odyssey running. (timing belt-water pump job, two ignition coils, brake job). Along with oil changes and fuel filters etc. I factor in what I've paid over the years on so many ICE vehicles for engine related repairs and even if the Slate is at 30K total, I figure over a few years I'm dollars ahead. All I've needed to spend on my Mach E is for a cabin filter and tire rotation. Period.
Daemoch said it best in his post- Slate may not be for everyone. For those of you so enamored with Mavericks-for chrissakes go buy one NOW! They are only going to cost more in the near future.