I haven’t been excited about a car in quite a while, and I’m definitely not a pickup truck fan. That said, I’m on the waiting list for Slate because:

  1. Minimal electronics and no call-home. Almost every other vehicle on the market today (including all EVs) have OTA telemetry and insane data collection policies. The Slate will use your phone connection (at your option) to download OTAs if needed
  2. Cheap for what you get. Assuming the quality is OK sub-$30K without rebates gets you decent range and NACS charging
  3. Highly customizable - get what you need, and nothing else

That said, it’s a Bezos-backed automotive startup who hasn’t delivered a product yet, so there is clearly a lot of potential downside here.

  • snooggums@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    8 days ago

    Modification is the big selling point for Slate. Outside of a few accessories and the ability to change the suspension, no automaker is offering the aftermarket bonanza that Slate is. Sure, there’s no paint, but Slate will print wraps for the vehicles and ship them to owners. Want your truck to become an SUV? Order the rear top, seats, and rollcage, and you have room for more passengers.

    This is absolutely an approach intended to maximize the profit from what is very likely to be overpriced customization. I won’t be surprised when they put up barriers to 3rd party or owner customization.

    Not to mention how are they going to distribute the vehicles without a paint job if they don’t have a paint shop on premesis, massive amounts of plastic wrap?

    If people just buy the base model and don’t add on a lot of optional and likely overpriced add ons I see the company folding within a couple of years.