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

First I read $20k, then $30k, all click bait marketing.
I figure $60 to $100+k when it hits the showroom.
 
Just pre-ordered my Slate truck for $250 (300 - $50 reservation). I’ll use it a second “car”: basic transportation of mostly one person (me) from point A (home) to point B (local places).
It’s a car that happens to have a bed: Great! … Not much of any features: Love it! … Oh, and it’s also electric: Don’t really care, but will do.
 
CedarX said:
Just pre-ordered my Slate truck for $250 (300 - $50 reservation). I’ll use it a second “car”: basic transportation of mostly one person (me) from point A (home) to point B (local places).
It’s a car that happens to have a bed: Great! … Not much of any features: Love it! … Oh, and it’s also electric: Don’t really care, but will do.
Click to expand...
Lacking access to a federal tax rebate, I like that Slate has set a starting price of $24,950 and their claim the range has increased from 150 to 205 miles.
 
Just an update. Ford and Ram have written off billions on their EV lines. They spent billions to make EVs and are now writing it all off as complete failures. They sold so few that it wasn't worth keeping the lights on in the factory. Now Ford and Toyota are doing an overhaul of their planning to see how they are going to compete against the Chinese EVs which are selling all over the world but of course none in the US. The chinese stuff always starts out pretty crappy but after a few years they fix a bunch of things and then have some very nice vehicles. The realization of the western countries is that they can't compete with China, period. This is across many, many industries. When the west went all in on globalization, they decided to make everything in China to save some money. So, almost all production is in China and to change that would take changes in laws that the west will not do. Instead the west will become poorer and less affluent over time. China has risen to the top. Sadly it is what it is. My suggestion is to learn Mandarin! LOL
 
Spkrdctr said:
Just an update. Ford and Ram have written off billions on their EV lines. They spent billions to make EVs and are now writing it all off as complete failures. They sold so few that it wasn't worth keeping the lights on in the factory. Now Ford and Toyota are doing an overhaul of their planning to see how they are going to compete against the Chinese EVs which are selling all over the world but of course none in the US. The chinese stuff always starts out pretty crappy but after a few years they fix a bunch of things and then have some very nice vehicles. The realization of the western countries is that they can't compete with China, period. This is across many, many industries. When the west went all in on globalization, they decided to make everything in China to save some money. So, almost all production is in China and to change that would take changes in laws that the west will not do. Instead the west will become poorer and less affluent over time. China has risen to the top. Sadly it is what it is. My suggestion is to learn Mandarin! LOL
Click to expand...

Yes, billions have been written off across the auto industry - as they have adapted to current federal policy (not LOL).

Below is a gift link to a May 2026 WSJ article on how Ford is working to build an EV truck starting at $30K.

 
Spkrdctr said:
Just an update. Ford and Ram have written off billions on their EV lines. They spent billions to make EVs and are now writing it all off as complete failures. They sold so few that it wasn't worth keeping the lights on in the factory. Now Ford and Toyota are doing an overhaul of their planning to see how they are going to compete against the Chinese EVs which are selling all over the world but of course none in the US. The chinese stuff always starts out pretty crappy but after a few years they fix a bunch of things and then have some very nice vehicles. The realization of the western countries is that they can't compete with China, period. This is across many, many industries. When the west went all in on globalization, they decided to make everything in China to save some money. So, almost all production is in China and to change that would take changes in laws that the west will not do. Instead the west will become poorer and less affluent over time. China has risen to the top. Sadly it is what it is. My suggestion is to learn Mandarin! LOL
Click to expand...
My start up was sold to a Chinese venture firm when we could not continue our clinical trial due to the pandemic. My direct experience is they do very little R&D, they have very few high tech cutting edge and even basic engineering expertise, their laws prohibit buying outside sub-assemblies, they need the west to develop tech that can copy in fast follower mode. There are exceptions like magnets, renewable energy from wind and solar and a few others. Their strength is abundant labor, low or no profit with all services provided for or highly controlled by the government and very little competition leading to them being a low cost producer. Geely Holding aka Volvo and Polestar have been mediocre in the PEV market.
 
Spkrdctr said:
Just an update. Ford and Ram have written off billions on their EV lines. They spent billions to make EVs and are now writing it all off as complete failures. They sold so few that it wasn't worth keeping the lights on in the factory. Now Ford and Toyota are doing an overhaul of their planning to see how they are going to compete against the Chinese EVs which are selling all over the world but of course none in the US. The chinese stuff always starts out pretty crappy but after a few years they fix a bunch of things and then have some very nice vehicles. The realization of the western countries is that they can't compete with China, period. This is across many, many industries. When the west went all in on globalization, they decided to make everything in China to save some money. So, almost all production is in China and to change that would take changes in laws that the west will not do. Instead the west will become poorer and less affluent over time. China has risen to the top. Sadly it is what it is. My suggestion is to learn Mandarin! LOL
Click to expand...
I'm more optimistic than you! In Europe, Renault is doing pretty well with their R5, R4, and now Twingo EVs. It's not all about technology, or making the best or cheapest EV; it's still about making a desirable vehicle that people want to buy. That's what I liked about the Slate truck: first, I'm not sure it's a "truck"—more a car with a bed... It's not at all the best bang for your buck—since there is hardly any bang, the bang-to-buck ratio is not that great. It is simple, with less features than typical (a plus in my book: less features = less problems), and it remains affordable if not the cheapest. The other interesting idea in the Slate truck is that you could "permanently" customize it and evolve it from one configuration (e.g. basic truck) to another (e.g. SUV) during its life span. This could attract another group of buyers. The fact that the Slate truck is electric may or may not be important for the targeted customers (it's not that important for me).
But you're correct, if one wants the best EV technology, China is the place to look and, as much as I want Slate to succeed, they may collapse miserably after the initial spike of interest.
 
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