SLATE Truck Debuts as Modular Pickup & SUV

[AO-Pete]

I like it. I think it's success or otherwise 100% depends on hitting the $27.5k price point, and, of course, still having the $7500 fed to get the Blank Slate below $20k. At that point, it's a hugely compelling option for a kids first ride, especially with all the customization options. Others will want it as a (new) beater truck. There's a big movement towards retro and de-tech, as well as a move away from the extreme consumerism we've seen in the past few years.

As others said, the US might not end up being its primary market, but something like this would go down a storm in many other parts of the world (assuming retaliatory tariffs aren't a thing by then).

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[YDR37]

I like it. I think it's success or otherwise 100% depends on hitting the $27.5k price point, and, of course, still having the $7500 fed to get the Blank Slate below $20k. At that point, it's a hugely compelling option for a kids first ride, especially with all the customization options.

The price of the customization options will be important. I think that few people are going to stick with the Blank Slate at $20,000 (after tax credit), they will start adding options from the (vast) menu. So the final price will be more than $20,000 for most buyers; the question is how much more.

Hopefully they keep the option prices low. The one option price that I did see: user-installable wraps starting at $500. That seems like a good price for a wrap, so maybe other options will be competitively priced as well.

 

[Sjohnson20]

It makes more sense in international
markets like Japan as a Kei replacement.

 

[Outdoors]

It makes more sense in international
markets like Japan as a Kei replacement.

I think many may not know the vehicles in the foreign markets. Hilux is a very popular truck in my area of SA. Interested to see how rugged this thing is.

 

[vandytom]

Rivian should be more worried than Tesla. CT tech is too good.

 

[SCTesla]

Rivian should be more worried than Tesla. CT tech is too good.

This is not a competitor to either.

 

[YDR37]

This is not a competitor to either.

It will not be a competitor to the Cybertruck or the R1T.

It could potentially be a competitor to the Model 3, Model Y, or the forthcoming Rivian R2, depending on the cost for the SUV package and other upgrades that most people would want. If you can spec a reasonably well equipped 5-seater for, say, $30-35K after tax credit, that could work for some people. Slate hasn't released pricing for the options yet, so maybe that will be possible, or maybe not. Too early to say.

 

[SCTesla]

It is not a competitor to the Cybertruck or the R1T.

It could potentially be a competitor to the Model 3, Model Y, or the forthcoming Rivian R2, depending on the cost for the SUV package and other upgrades that most people would want. If you can spec a reasonably well equipped 5-seater for, say, $30-35K after tax credit, that could work for some people. Slate hasn't released pricing for the options yet, so maybe that will be possible, or maybe not. Too early to say.

This like Aptera is designed to be a niche vehicle in the US. As others have said, I can see it doing ok abroad, but not something high volume.

I just read a story on it, when you "upgrade" it to add speakers or a touchscreen, it's literally a sonos speaker and a tablet.

 

[cybercuh]

I love small, no-frills trucks. Reserved.

 

[RoboTaxi]

Can’t spell SLATE without TESLA ?

 

[Mini2nut]

I'm curious on how many $50 reservation were placed.

Slate is basically offering the affordability and simplicity of a 1980's Toyota truck in 2027.

I think the lack of an AWD option, limited range and its tiny size are going to big negatives for a lot of potential buyers. The Slate pickup is smaller than a Ford Maverick.

 

[YDR37]

The Slate pickup is smaller than a Ford Maverick.

Yup. I get shorter by 25.1 inches, or a bit more than 2 feet.

But there's no second row of seats in the Slate's pickup configuration. So the Slate pickup actually has a longer bed: 5 ft for the Slate, vs. 4.5 ft for the Maverick. The Slate also has a respectable frunk (7 cubic feet, almost as large as the Cybertruck's), which the Maverick lacks entirely.

Edit: some sources say the Slate bed is 75 inches long, which would be 5.25 ft.

 

[Outdoors]

For this demographic I think Slate is looking at changing attitudes towards transportation.

While the number of cars per household is rising in the US, it is rising at a slower rate.

Slate is so affordable that two families could share a vehicle and afford it to sit at a vacation home without thinking about it. It's new. People don't want to buy a used car for a vacation home, when new is an alternative.

Have 5 of them for rentals at a condo complex for short term users.

Or have 5 Cybertrucks. Look at the capital investment difference.

Again changing attitudes towards transportation. Many of us don't think like that. We all have are garage full of fun. Myself included.

 

[robt614]

I hope they find a market, I really do. Its a nice option for those needing cheap, reliable transport. Kudos to them for making cheaper, kinda fun. I think the consumer for this will stretch their budget to afford something new, under warrantee, low cost per mile, low maintenance, and upgradable. My kids are all in their 20's and would use this haul band gear, dogs, etc. Now, lets see if they pull the "Cybertruck pricing" rug by launch.

 

[Mini2nut]

It will put a dent in the used car market at $27,500 before incentives

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