Underpromise, overdeliver? A hands-on look at the $24,950 Slate auto
▼ Summary
– Slate Auto originally reported its electric truck would have 180 miles of range, but it now offers 205 miles, and the tow rating increased from 1,000 to 2,000 pounds.
– The entry-level Slate truck is priced at $24,950, and the company’s marketing has been intentionally playful and under-promising.
– Ars rode as a passenger in the Slate truck, which has a smooth acceleration curve, 0-to-60 mph in eight seconds, and a top speed of 90 mph.
– The pre-production vehicle handled bumps and corners well with no squeaks or issues during the test drive.
– The Slate truck features one-pedal-driving regenerative braking, similar to other electric vehicles.
Slate provided flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles and accommodation so Ars could ride in the Slate truck. Ars does not accept paid editorial content.
LOS ANGELES,Think of it as a theme park trick brought to the automotive world. Slate Auto has essentially pulled a Disneyland: underpromise, then overdeliver. When a ride sign at the park says a 45-minute wait, guests often find it’s shorter. Slate applied the same logic to its electric truck. The entry-level battery originally promised 180 miles of range; that figure has climbed to 205 miles. Tow capacity jumped from 1,000 pounds to a more useful 2,000 pounds. And the load rating? It went from 1,400 pounds to 1,550 pounds.
The question is whether this was always the strategy or just smart marketing. Leaking the base price of $24,950 last week felt like guerrilla tactics. Since the truck’s debut a year ago, Slate’s messaging has leaned heavily into playful, self-aware humor. At the launch event in Gardena, California, new CEO Peter Faricy told reporters that “Slate is so much more than an affordable truck.”
So what’s it like to ride in one? Slate wouldn’t let me drive, but the passenger seat offered plenty of insight. The cabin doesn’t feel cheap, even though the price tag is low. Acceleration is smooth, not fast. The driver stomped the pedal while turning right at an intersection, and the truck responded without drama. 0-to-60 takes about eight seconds, and top speed is 90 mph. A single motor sends 181 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. You wouldn’t want to go faster in this little truck anyway.
The pre-production model handled bumps and corners well. Usually, vehicles not yet ready for prime-time produce squeaks or hiccups during test drives. None appeared during my trip around the block. The truck also features one-pedal regenerative braking, a favorite among EV enthusiasts. Fans of that feature will find it works just as expected here.
(Source: Ars Technica)
