Most modern car companies want to sell you the complete package. They want you to check every option box, ending up with a $60,000 SUV with air suspension, heated door handles and an automatic shoe-polisher. The whole business is based on selling more. That's why Slate Auto is so innovative.
As Sandy Munro explains in a new deep dive, the company is refreshingly focused on making a simple, affordable truck for the masses. That's why he says it's a "really innovative" approach with the potential to be a smash hit. (Note, however, that Munro's company consulted on the design of the Slate, and that Munro has previously praised Tesla without making clear that, at the time, he owned shares in the company.)
The video is a deep dive into the project, with interviews from the CEO, chief engineer and other key experts at Slate. The team explains all of the tough decisions that went into making such an affordable product like the Slate Truck, including the inability to fit a heat pump while meeting the packaging and cost requirements of the team.
But those compromises seem worth it to Munro, who points out the affordable, modular nature of the truck will make it a hit with tinkerers.
You also get a good technical overview of the Slate, including its suspension and battery setup. Everything here looks pretty tried-and-true, and it's clear that Slate is not trying to blow anyone away on specs. Instead, the company seems laser-focused on delivering the cheapest possible vehicle with the most amount of customization and do-it-yourself opportunities.
It's a compelling vision, though the end of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit certainly hurts its chances. Slate originally hoped to deliver its truck for under $20,000 after the tax credit. It now promises a price in the mid-$20,000 range, but that gives it harsher competition.
After all, a Ford Maverick starts around $29,000, and comes with four doors, a radio, a touch-screen infotainment system and more. It's not as modular as the Slate and it isn't an EV, but considering that the base Slate will offer just 150 miles of range, it may prove tough competition.
The question, then, is whether Slate can get people excited about its vision for DIY-friendly, simple electric trucks. Based on how many people ask me about it, I think the company is off to a great start. Everyone is annoyed by how expensive cars have gotten, and Slate has the coolest pitch yet for how to make cheap cars fun again.
Contact the author: Mack.Hogan@insideevs.com
