Bezos backed $20k Slate EV truck with 150-240 mile range

[TonyJZX]

SLATE Maker

You make your SLATE as unique as your lifestyle.

www.slate.auto

a few points:

its $27k... $7k is federal EV grants that may or may not stay around

the gimmick here is the EV comes in one size one color one config... if you want another color than Soviet gulag era grey you need to go with a wrap

also the car tries to trade on its spartan nature with base windup windows and no audio system - the car is trading on accessory customisation where you can buy or even 3d print interior accessories like bluetooth speaker holders etc.

it has a 50 kw hour battery but it doesnt seem to utilise this well given its range is only 150 miles or 240km... let's just say there are EVs not available in the US at the same price that have double the range with the same size battery so I do not know what 'magic' exists in the US that makes them fall so far behind the curve...

to add further insult to injury these EVs not available in the US are normal cars with paint, in car audio and all the normal things one expects for similar or even less money

as of launch theres a base and an extended battery... this pushes the car from 3,600lb to 3,800lb

a 4x4 model is on the horizon

the truck has two optional SUV tray 'caps' so you can turn it into a Ford Bronco 4 seater like OJ Simpson used to drive but I dont like the of a 2 door 4 seat SUV... there's no need for that when everyone else has 4 doors.

overall the truck is sort of interesting on a technical level but I dont expect it to last in the end unless Bezos wants to turn on the cash spigot

Ford could very easily launch an $29,990 EV Maverick and its game over... but knowing Ford, they won't.

 

[SlowJim]

I love the concept but in reality, a 2 door is going to alienate like 75% of potential buyers. Also the price needs to come down a bit for how barebones it is.

 

[mhardy6647]

Ford could very easily launch an $29,990 EV Maverick and its game over... but knowing Ford, they won't.

Perhaps because their EV process economics with the eMustang actually taught 'em something?

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a60621256/ford-ev-revenue-losses-q1-2024/

($130k) per eMustang a year ago.
... and in 2025? Gettin' worse.

Ford expecting mounting EV losses this year

Ford revealed in its latest earnings report that its Model e electric vehicle division is expected to see losses above $5 billion in 2025, similar to last year.

www.foxbusiness.com

 

[mhardy6647]

PS They had me at crank windows... I'd love to have those again! (and, nope, not being facetious)

Two doors never bothered me...

https://flic.kr/p/fFVp1u

 

[EERecordist]

Several major world automakers have very inexpensive gas/diesel pickups which are only sold in the lesser-developed countries.

One Drive In Toyota's $10,000 Pickup Will Make You Want One

The basic truck is back. We drove it and it is utilitarian perfection.

www.motor1.com

 

[Martin]

I put down a $50 deposit two days ago.

Martin

 

[JeffGB]

PS They had me at crank windows... I'd love to have those again! (and, nope, not being facetious)

Two doors never bothered me...

https://flic.kr/p/fFVp1u

I have a Jeep Wrangler with crank windows. I specifically made sure it didn't have electric. If I drive into a lake, river or swamp someday, I would prefer to have a window opening method that didn't involve electric power shorted out by water.

 

[mhardy6647]

Last vehicle I had with hand crank windows was a 2000 Ford Focus ZX-3, "Rojito", a car that I quite liked and that served me (and, subsequently, our son-in-law & daughter) admirably for close to 200k miles in toto before being claimed by rust.



photos above taken, if memory serves, about the time we passed it along to the aforementioned next generation.

 

[tineared]

I have a Jeep Wrangler with crank windows. I specifically made sure it didn't have electric. If I drive into a lake, river or swamp someday, I would prefer to have a window opening method that didn't involve electric power shorted out by water.

I have become accustomed to power windows & locks so I carry a glass breaker in my car for just such a circumstance...

 

[ta240]

also the car tries to trade on its spartan nature with base windup windows and no audio system - the car is trading on accessory customisation where you can buy or even 3d print interior accessories like bluetooth speaker holders etc

I remember the late 90s when most companies offered a trim level like that except no A/C either. They sold kits for adding the A/C and radios.

I'm really curious how a vehicle like that would sell today. Every time I hear people cry about just how ridiculously expensive cars have gotten it makes me laugh a bit because the customers seemed to demand that they be big and super fancy and with that comes expensive.

 

[ta240]

I have become accustomed to power windows & locks so I carry a glass breaker in my car for just such a circumstance...

Nice, how long is the blade? Carrying 3" or over in this state can be a felony in most places. I have a terrible time trying to find anything good that is under 3.
Mine is an assisted open and I make sure I have a copy of the statute handy that declares that to Not be a switch blade. A friend got hassled by a Sheriff's deputy that insisted his was a switch blade.

 

[ta240]

Last vehicle I had with hand crank windows was a 2000 Ford Focus ZX-3, "Rojito", a car that I quite liked and that served me (and, subsequently, our son-in-law & daughter) admirably for close to 200k miles in toto before being claimed by rust.



photos above taken, if memory serves, about the time we passed it along to the aforementioned next generation.

It looks about like my 2003 Tacoma interior. I absolutely love the simplicity of it.

 

[GeorgeWalk]

I have Ford Maverick hybrid. I like it. Just enough tech and it gets 42mpg. It also fits nicely in my garage.

I also have a Kia EV6 (fully electric, all the bells and whistles). I love that car also, by my wife mostly drives that.

I just looked at the Slate. Interesting DIY vehicle. There people that like that idea, that is just not where I am these days.

 

[Timcognito]

With all wheel drive and good ground clearance it could be big hit with the off road crowd. Seems like all the add on's are on the exterior. Could also be a hit with short run grocery, food, parts and local delivery fleets.

 

[mhardy6647]

It looks about like my 2003 Tacoma interior. I absolutely love the simplicity of it.

Totally agree about those ol' Tacomas.
My ol' Taco, of which I was quite fond. I believe it was a 2000.


I guess that was the last vehicle I actually owned with hand cranked windows, come to think of it.

 

[DWPress]

I love the idea of a small utility truck. I had a few small trucks in the 80's and 90's like Rangers and S10s and even a smaller Toyota and I drove them all until they died. With a tow kit you can move a lot with a short box and trailer - some of us still cut firewood, move light machinery and other productive tasks.

I love the idea of these things being modular and don't mind the stripped down package at all. Crank windows are great - the stupid button that opens my driver window is broken at the moment, what a pain in the ass! I drive less than 4000 miles a year and mostly within a couple hundred miles so something like this would be ideal. $26K is still to much for an electric farm truck and it would need to at least get to a AWD powertrain to make it practical for us Northerners.

But yes, go south into Mexico and keep going and you'll see a whole lot of cheap but nice looking Chinese EVs. They have the world market already. The US auto industry will not survive long after we stop focusing on burning dinosaurs and having ridiculous standards in place to "protect" American jobs while the technology elsewhere keeps moving forward.

 

[Mart68]

But yes, go south into Mexico and keep going and you'll see a whole lot of cheap but nice looking Chinese EVs. They have the world market already. The US auto industry will not survive long after we stop focusing on burning dinosaurs and having ridiculous standards in place to "protect" American jobs while the technology elsewhere keeps moving forward.

The revitalised Chinese MG brand was the 10th best selling marque in the UK last year. (81K sales compared to Volkswagen which was the best selling marque at 166K units).

I remember when they first appeared and no-one thought they had any credibility and would sink without trace. How times change.

 

[Timcognito]

Totally agree about those ol' Tacomas.
My ol' Taco, of which I was quite fond. I believe it was a 2000.


I guess that was the last vehicle I actually owned with hand cranked windows, come to think of it.

I still have 2012 Taco regular cab with crank windows. I added an intermittent wiper stick, couldn't stand on/hi/off only. About to go to my brother 3 miles away so I get to borrow it now and again. Got a brand new Ionic 5 EV made in Georgia which I am loving. I swear there is just about as much room in the back with the seats down as the Tacoma

 

[Colonel7]

I have Ford Maverick hybrid. I like it. Just enough tech and it gets 42mpg. It also fits nicely in my garage.

I also have a Kia EV6 (fully electric, all the bells and whistles). I love that car also, by my wife mostly drives that.

I just looked at the Slate. Interesting DIY vehicle. There people that like that idea, that is just not where I am these days.

Similar. I have an AWD hybrid Maverick and a Hyundai Kona electric so I would conceivably be their market. The Maverick is slightly more expensive without the ev subsidy that may disappear on the Slate. The Slate is 5 years too late with 7 year old tech and $10k too expensive for what is a 2 seater pickup that is a kit car inside. It’ll compete against very cheap used beater pickups for less than $10k, which work just fine around town.

 

[tineared]

Nice, how long is the blade? Carrying 3" or over in this state can be a felony in most places. I have a terrible time trying to find anything good that is under 3.
Mine is an assisted open and I make sure I have a copy of the statute handy that declares that to Not be a switch blade. A friend got hassled by a Sheriff's deputy that insisted his was a switch blade.

It is a 3" blade. Most of my folders are. While I have a CW permit, I prefer not to need it. Benchmade and Spyderco both make many excellent 3" and under folding knives. My EDC is a Benchmade 940. I am interested in seeing what type of electric cars will be available soon as I am in the market for a new car. I intended to buy a Tesla, but...