SLATE Truck Debut! Convertible From Pickup to SUV

[dalola]

I'm not sure what to make of Slate...I can honestly see both arguments for success & failure.

Just from an engineering/automotive/MP/design/sales perspective, there are some interesting & cool features. And they have the financial backing/capitol, it seems.

I just wonder how much of a market there is for this? I'm honestly 50/50 on it right now. It will be fun to watch how it goes the first couple years, once resale production starts.

My struggle is with the "value" proposition. Assuming it starts mid-20's, there is a BIG pre-owned market at that price point, with a lot of solid models, with WAY more features. This makes me question the retail market for this product. I'm sure they'll get decent fleet business, but I think it's a harder case to make for retail consumer sales.

I guess we shall see....

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[Carlitos_92]

I'll warn you up front that this is pretty much clickbait:
https://www.autoweek.com/news/a70258612/jay-leno-drives-slate-truck/

The relevant paragraph:


At the link, there is a 35-minute video of Leno that I have no intention of watching.

I would assume the Leno video is the same one Admin posted in #229? But yeah, I consider his videos mostly infomercials, even if I like the car the video is about. I am envious of his collection, and I think he knows his stuff; it just never seems to come out in his videos.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I don't even foresee a fleet market for Slate. It isn't like Amazon is going to run around with an open bed pickup truck full of packages to be delivered. And they sure as hell aren't going to use the SUV model if the delivery person can't stand up in it. To me slate is DOA.

 

[Bdesign]

the slate will be a novelty for about 6 months. In the end it's a very cheap EV truck with nothing in stock form. Everything is ala-cart. In the end it won't be a very cost effective purchase and it will be around $26K for a truck with no radio, paint or other things people expect.

 

[More w/Les]

News yesterday: No EV Scout trucks will be made at the SC location. May see a hybrid version sometime in 2028. Think the whole project is DOA. State of SC wasted millions of tax dollars on this fiasco.

 

[Carlitos_92]

News yesterday: No EV Scout trucks will be made at the SC location. May see a hybrid version sometime in 2028. Think the whole project is DOA. State of SC wasted millions of tax dollars on this fiasco.

People will often share a source when they quote "news," so here is one:

https://www.motortrend.com/news/scout-brand-relaunch-reportedly-delayed-one-year

 

[More w/Les]

Did not supply a specific source as it was well covered by local news outlets here in South Carolina. Apparently it did not warrant coverage in the national news media outlets. If you are concerned my info is inaccurate, please feel free to check local SC news outlet sources.

Am not condemning the KISS {Keep It Super Simple} concept of an inexpensive vehicle, and really do like some of the innovative ideas put forth in the Scout vehicle, but it needs to be something the public wants and finds useful. The success of the Maverick being a prime example.

However the idea of full electric vehicles becoming the dominant type sold, is a folly foisted on the American/world market to further socioeconomic/political agendas. EVs may be viable for some uses, but let the marketplace make that decision. The waste of time and treasure trying to force individuals to purchase electric vehicles borders on being criminal.

 

[Suzukiridr14]

Slate Truck (Pickup / SUV) Pricing, Specs, Range, Dimensions, Safety
(via affiliate site Slateforums.com)

* 1-click copy/create your account to Slateforums via: https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/account/copy

The Slate Truck is "Not $20K" and never was, the $7500 tax credit expired before the first Slate was ever built!

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Did not supply a specific source as it was well covered by local news outlets here in South Carolina. Apparently it did not warrant coverage in the national news media outlets. If you are concerned my info is inaccurate, please feel free to check local SC news outlet sources.

Am not condemning the KISS {Keep It Super Simple} concept of an inexpensive vehicle, and really do like some of the innovative ideas put forth in the Scout vehicle, but it needs to be something the public wants and finds useful. The success of the Maverick being a prime example.

However the idea of full electric vehicles becoming the dominant type sold, is a folly foisted on the American/world market to further socioeconomic/political agendas. EVs may be viable for some uses, but let the marketplace make that decision. The waste of time and treasure trying to force individuals to purchase electric vehicles borders on being criminal.

You're never going to be forced to buy anything. Let's get that straight.

We're just going to make EV's cheaper and cheaper and gasoline more and more expensive.

The choice will be yours.

$30 a gallon will be a thing in 30-40 years.

 

[Edge Haley]

You're never going to be forced to buy anything. Let's get that straight.

We're just going to make EV's cheaper and cheaper and gasoline more and more expensive.

The choice will be yours.

$30 a gallon will be a thing in 30-40 years.

After seeing a dozen friends, neighbors, etc. switching to EV's I started keeping a list of their comments. Have a list of 25-30 EV users and they ALL seem to say the same thing. Most are Tesla's or Nisson Leafs.

1) Most are surprised, pleased with at 0-60 acceleration.
2) None ever complain about time needed to charge the battery.
3) Every single one says, they would never go back to a gasoline vehicle.
4) Concerned about long distance trips - All say it is way over-blown. (There are now more EV charging stations than gas pumps.) I checked it, and it's true.
5) Reliability - close to ZERO maintenance issues on EV's. (so much less to break on EV's).

Bottomline: They all love their EV's.

As mentioned above - I placed an order for a Slate but if it exceeds $25,000 out the door it would not be worth it for me. I do like the Hybrid for my long cross-country trips...and 460 mile range.

 

[babytruk]

4) Concerned about long distance trips - All say it is way over-blown. (There are now more EV charging stations than gas pumps.) I checked it, and it's true.

I don’t own an EV and not sure if I ever will. I rent EVs all the time. Maine to Miami and shorter trips in between. I totally agree with #4.
long trips were a little longer but not by much. Instead of pulling up to a pump, filling, then going inside for bathroom and food… plug it in and take care of business. Less stress… maybe self induced due to the pump/pee/perogie race I find my petrol self doing all the time.

 

[TheSEARCH]

The Slate Truck is "Not $20K" and never was, the $7500 tax credit expired before the first Slate was ever built!

Yes making it a 27.5 grand pile of stripped bare bones vehicle. It it was 17K maybe. 27.5 its a JOKE. But hey Bezos is backing it for now. I doubt he will very long after the sales numbers. Assuming they bother to make it at all. I could see it scrapped.

After seeing a dozen friends, neighbors, etc. switching to EV's I started keeping a list of their comments. Have a list of 25-30 EV users and they ALL seem to say the same thing. Most are Tesla's or Nisson Leafs.

1) Most are surprised, pleased with at 0-60 acceleration.
2) None ever complain about time needed to charge the battery.
3) Every single one says, they would never go back to a gasoline vehicle.
4) Concerned about long distance trips - All say it is way over-blown. (There are now more EV charging stations than gas pumps.) I checked it, and it's true.
5) Reliability - close to ZERO maintenance issues on EV's. (so much less to break on EV's).

Bottomline: They all love their EV's.

As mentioned above - I placed an order for a Slate but if it exceeds $25,000 out the door it would not be worth it for me. I do like the Hybrid for my long cross-country trips...and 460 mile range.

One million 100000 thousand gas pumps in US. Ev charge plugs 275K Maybe you mean gas stations??? Because what you said is not even close as of today. Source: Gemini AI on my phone
BUT lets get real a gas pump takes 5 minutes to FILL a tank Not 80 percent a tank. EV at a super charger still in the 20 minute range and MANY of those ports are NOT super charger plugs. Many just level two. Only 25 percent of that 275K have ability to use high level DC fast charging

46 percent of us EV owners have considered switching back to gas cars due to charging frustration. again my Source gemini AI.

90 percent of EV owner also have a gas car which they use for trips.

Hey buddy has tesla model 3 2025 dual motor and its fast BUT i sure wouldn't want one,. Plus he says if he gets into much range drops drastically. What impressed me the most was the self driving The car itself not so much .

 

[More w/Les]

You're never going to be forced to buy anything. Let's get that straight.

We're just going to make EV's cheaper and cheaper and gasoline more and more expensive.

The choice will be yours.

$30 a gallon will be a thing in 30-40 years.

............ and electricity will be $20.00+ per kw, if they can make enough. Hope you don't where the temps drop into the teens for much of the winter.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

............ and electricity will be $20.00+ per kw, if they can make enough. Hope you don't where the temps drop into the teens for much of the winter.

DANG! I have about 11 acres covered heavily in Ashe (cedar) juniper which I could cut then fast pyrolysis with multistage condensing to bio-diesel, gasoline, jet fuel. (47% recovery by weight) The bio-char left worth $100-$1200/ cu yard depending on degree of charging with fertilizers, etc (chicken or barnyard poop, compost, etc). Double Dang!! I cleared and burned almost six acres of my tract three year ago. Captured nothing!!!

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Solar panels take a long time to pay for themselves if only on a home.

Add an EV or two to a home and solar panels pay for themselves in just a few years.

Home battery banks are a thing. You can still charge your car at night.

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