SLATE Truck Debuts as Modular Pickup & SUV

[PungoteagueDave]

My comment was regarding the Northern Mexican towns. Many countries in the world find that offensive. Saying that area is basically US. Or a border town belongs to the other country.

Truth and reality. Mexicali and many Canadian factory towns don’t exist without U.S. proximity. 90% of Canadians live with 100 miles of the U.S. Political correctness doesn’t play with me. I was instrumental in taking Walmart to their first 12 Mexican locations, financed development all along the border inside Mexico, from Matamoros to Tijuana, and have more recently motorcycled across every border checkpoint except one between Mexico and the U.S., most multiple times. I developed three factory outlet centers in Mexico, two in Canada, and over a dozen in the U.S., so understand cross-border relationships and economics as well as anyone, now teach it as a retirement gig at the graduate level. After retiring, I recently rode from Aguas Caliente to the Guatemalan border while motorcycling from Deadhorse Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina. All this sovereignty sensitivity is off-putting and ignores the reality of economic dependency. Who cares about giving offense at recognizing the reality that Canada and Mexico both free-ride the U.S. in defense and technology while undercutting our farming, energy and labor markets? Only those who are professional diplomats. Homies on the ground just pass another cervesa and tell you how to avoid running afoul of the local narcos. Ask me how I know, after finding several bodies on the road down into Copper Canyon…

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[devdrone6]

If Slate, Tesla can produce vehicles for cheap in the USA then other companies need to figure out how. I am not saying all components need to be from here, but this manufacturing has to come back to the USA. I have seen it go out of the US since writing high school papers about it in the eighties/nineties and no politician has done anything about it. I am willing to pay a bit more for US manufactured items, but the quality needs to be there. There was a time where the price reflected the quality, I am not sure we can say that anymore in most cases.

Back to the slate - mine is showing early 2027 delivery. Need to see this thing in person though before that.

 

[Mini2nut]

They missed the boat by not offering an AWD version for the 4-season states.

 

[YDR37]

Demand seems to be high with 180k reservations. It will be interesting to see the conversion rate.

A "reservation" was just $50, fully refundable. Obviously that's not much of a commitment, so I wouldn't expect all 180,000 reservation holders to follow through.

But as of today, Slate started taking "preorders", which are $300 and non-refundable (or only $250 if you previously paid for a reservation, but still non-refundable). So that actually is a commitment.

Slate claims they got 10,000+ committed preorders within a few hours of opening the books. That seems like a decent start.

 

[Mini2nut]

Although it's at a higher price point I would choose the upcoming Telo "Kei style" pickup over the Slate. The packaging efficiency is next level. They have around 13k reservations. Tesla co-founder Marc Tarpenning Is one of the financial backers.

https://www.telotrucks.com/

 

[YDR37]

They missed the boat by not offering an AWD version for the 4-season states.

Slate reps have indicated that AWD is coming.

 

[YDR37]

Although it's at a higher price point I would choose the upcoming Telo "Kei style" pickup over the Slate. The packaging efficiency is next level.

A Ford Maverick is 199.8 inches long. Some people think that it is kind of small for a pickup.

A Slate is 174.6 inches long. So it's 25.2 inches shorter than a Maverick, or a bit more than two feet. Is that small, or what?

But a Telo is only 152 inches -- that's 47.8 inches shorter than a Maverick, or just about 4 feet. Yet the Telo has a longer bed than a Maverick (5.0 vs 4.5 feet). And unlike the Slate, the Telo has also has four doors and seats five.

It gets crazier. The Telo has a midgate, and with the midgate open, it can supposedly haul 4x8 plywood sheets -- with the tailgate up. Or you can add a third row of seats and carry eight passengers. In a vehicle that is 4 feet shorter than a Maverick.

The Telo will cost significantly more than a Maverick or Slate, but it could be an amazing urban vehicle.

 

[CyberTrk]

Considering that the M3 and MY start at $37k and $40k, what could be a possible price if Tesla decided making an UTE version (something very popular in Australia)

 

[YDR37]

Considering that the M3 and MY start at $37k and $40k, what could be a possible price if Tesla decided making an UTE version (something very popular in Australia)

When a pickup shares the same platform as an SUV, the pickup version is typically less expensive. Examples: Ford Maverick vs. Bronco Sport, Rivian R1T vs R1S, Slate pickup vs. SUV.

In theory, Tesla could offer a small pickup based on the Model Y, maybe using the longer-wheelbase Model Y L platform that they offer in China. Would probably start in the mid- to high-$30,000s. Would probably sell well in the US and certain overseas markets, like Canada, Mexico, and Australia/NZ. Not so much in China or Europe.

In practice, though, I don't expect it to happen. Tesla has indicated that they are no longer developing traditional manually-driven vehicles; the Roadster will be the last. I don't think they are kidding.

Someone will have a hit with a small inexpensive EV pickup, but it won't be Tesla. Most likely Slate, Ford, or Kia.

 

[CyberTrk]

When a pickup shares the same platform as an SUV, the pickup version is typically less expensive. Examples: Ford Maverick vs. Bronco Sport, Rivian R1T vs R1S, Slate pickup vs. SUV.

In theory, Tesla could offer a small pickup based on the Model Y, maybe using the longer-wheelbase Model Y L platform that they offer in China. Would probably start in the mid- to high-$30,000s. Would probably sell well in the US and certain overseas markets, like Canada, Mexico, and Australia/NZ. Not so much in China or Europe.

In practice, though, I don't expect it to happen. Tesla has indicated that they are no longer developing traditional manually-driven vehicles; the Roadster will be the last. I don't think they are kidding.

Someone will have a hit with a small inexpensive EV pickup, but it won't be Tesla. Most likely Slate, Ford, or Kia.

I doubt that Tesla will make an UTE, my point was to imagine if it could be realistic of offer such M3/My for $30k-$35k compare to the Slate starting price of $25k.

The major difference between the Slate and a M3/MY UTE would be the total lack of any navigation or computer controlled driving systems, for which Tesla has been constantly offered weekly OTA incremental updates and enhancements.

- The Slate lacks any autonomous technology or active collision mitigation requiring complex sensors. It only has standard cruise control.​

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- There is no built-in infotainment screen or modern connectivity. The dash features a dock for your own phone/tablet, and it lacks standard built-in speakers.​

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- Navigating without native built-in systems creates distinct challenges. Drivers must constantly verify their state of charge, factor in real-time elevation changes, and calculate distances, resulting in a higher cognitive load.​

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- The lack of direct integration with EV battery management systems strips the vehicle of its ability to proactively preconditioning.​

I understand that the Slate EV intentionally strips away built-in computer-controlled driving systems, advanced AI, and large touchscreens to achieve a highly affordable, modular starting price of roughly $25,000.

However the lack of integrated computer technology would certainly a big miss for any new EV.


Note: There will be certainly third-party kits integrating app calculating elevation, weather, speed, to estimate arrival battery percentages using some OBD-II Integrations tools to streams real-time battery state of charge directly into a route planner Apps.

All together, all those Slate additional kits would make it less competitive to a possible Tesla M3/My UTE.

 

[Alpine]

Learn from the Cybertruck and don't get on a waiting list just to get a first year truck from a start-up with delegated service. What could go wrong!? If the richest car maker has issues with QC on a new vehicle, what do you think could happen with a new vehicle from a new company.

 

[YDR37]

I doubt that Tesla will make an UTE, my point was to imagine if it could be realistic of offer such M3/My for $30k-$35k compare to the Slate starting price of $25k.

A small EV pickup priced at $30K-$35K, but not totally stripped down, seems like it could be realistic. In fact, Ford is known to be developing a Maverick-sized 4-door EV pickup that is targeting a $30K starting price. Supposedly it "looks nothing like the infamous Tesla Model 3–based 'Truckla' or as wild as the Cybertruck."

The new EV truck may reuse the old "Ford Ranchero" name -- and the old Ranchero was basically an American Ute. Could be formally unveiled later this year, with availability in 2027.

 

[CyberTrk]

A small EV pickup priced at $30K-$35K, but not totally stripped down, seems like it could be realistic. In fact, Ford is known to be developing a Maverick-sized 4-door EV pickup that is targeting a $30K starting price.

While the Slate bed is only 42.9 inches width, there could be a big practicality difference if the future FORD EV pickup keeps the Maverick bed with a 53.3 inches wall-to-wall width, as users reported been able to carry 4x8 plywood.

 

[Outdoors]

Learn from the Cybertruck and don't get on a waiting list just to get a first year truck from a start-up with delegated service. What could go wrong!? If the richest car maker has issues with QC on a new vehicle, what do you think could happen with a new vehicle from a new company.

Not sure, but I will go with a team that was assembled in 2022 to build a pick up with around 600-800 parts vs the 4-5,000 that are on a Cybertruck. They were pretty silent for a number of years. Not creating hype for something that was over promised and under delivered. In fact they over delivered on range and price. Who knows it might come out on time unlike some other companies we know.

I am amazed by people that need all this technology to go the vendor down the street and pick up four boxes, and drove them 12 miles to the warehouse. Must have FSD, Air suspension, cooled seats,
and be marginally bulletproof.

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