cross-posted from: https://rss.ponder.cat/post/221659
The old “Under $20,000” banner has been replaced with “Mid Twenties.” | Image: Slate Auto
Slate Auto’s American-made electric pickup — the one with no paint, no stereo, and no touchscreen — is no longer priced “under $20,000.” The increase is a result of Trump’s “Big, beautiful bill,” which will end the federal EV tax credits on September 30th when signed into law later today.
That sub-$20,000 price for the Indiana-built pickup was a big selling point for the EV startup backed by Jeff Bezos, and was only possible after applying the $7,500 tax credit to the retail price. The price promotion was scrubbed from the Slate Auto site as recently as yesterday, according to TechCrunch. The website now shows an expected price of “mid-twenties.”
Slate’s under $20,000 price tag for a vehicle it won’t start delivering until late 2026 was always accompanied by an asterisk, with fine print highlighting federal incentives that were “subject to change.” And change was certainly expected: Trump campaigned heavily on the promise to end President Biden’s fictitious “EV mandate,” because electric cars are for socialists in MAGA world.
Trump’s embrace of oil and gas, while simultaneously dismantling incentives meant to spur the adoption of EVs and clean energies, is a gift to Chinese makers of electric cars, solar panels, and batteries. The US is now on course to own the past while China is firmly positioned to dominate the future.
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Let’s face it, most buyers will end up spending above $30k with add-ons and modifications. Not a lot of buyers will be willing to leave it unpainted/unprotected and with no stereo/entertainment.
Yeah I guess they can pay $37 k then
Yeah, I tried their configurator and was thinking about this. Once it has the bed cover and 2nd row of seats, bigger battery, speakers, power windows, fog lights...
Also to be fair, not a lot of people can actually take advantage of the tax credits.
How so? I thought it was a blanket credit: battery made in US, half credit, car assembled in US, the other half.
Tax credit vs tax rebate/refund probably. As I understand it tax credits you can only take advantage of if you pay enough in taxes, as it's essentially a discount on federal taxes that you owe the government.
I see. As I understand it, automakers successfully lobbied for the credits to be used at the sale, so I wonder if that solved that issue. Moot point in two months, anyway.
Yeah, I looked into it myself because I was obviously interested in an EV, but from what I understood, basically if you expect a refund, you get nothing.
The credit is a one time discount off your owed taxes for that one year only.
So I looked it up further, and I'm yet to confirm this with my tax guru, but it looks like your taxes owed are reduced by the credit. So it's not related to whether you get a ~~thing~~ return or not (as that's tied to your withholding).
Edit: autocorrupt.
A lot of local businesses could benefit from a truck like that. I don't listen to music driving, I know I'm on the minority, but we exist. I'm more interested in if the interior is weather rated like a Wrangler. If so, this is a game changer for a weekend car. Get that open top add-on and go have fun.
The other big plus is that you don't need to buy any extra up front. It's all installable at home.
Yeah, I couldn't believe the bragging about under $20k while missing basics.
It's the whole point. For 1 it doesn't need paint. If you want a different look, they sell wraps, but why would you bother? The stereo is the only thing people will think is missing. Which you can integrate anything by design. It will already have backup camera and screen, and a phone mount. It's not for everyone, but it's what many people want.
17" infotainment center that breaks and you can't find a replacement because it's different than the new model so you have to buy at high costs, fuck that. I don't need it.
It has AC, cruise control, power locks. I can put a sound bar or stereo system in for a lot cheaper than if pay from a manufacturer. And get something I choose
The other thing is the manual windows. I get it, but automatic windows are just more convenient nowadays.
Yeah but automatic windows you have to deal with the motor breaking over time or the little switch fighting you.
At least in my wife's car from 2019 you press to roll the window up and then it stops and starts going down, so you have to let go and press up again over and over until you make it to the top
Sounds like you need to buy either a new Switch or a new actuator, and both should be available for most cars for under $100, And installing them is typically something done with a screwdriver and possibly a 10 or 13 millimeter wrench.
I could totally see no stereo/entertainment, but with no paint how long before it rusts out??
I believe the exterior is a composite and specifically made for you to wrap it. here's someone doing it at home. Basically a giant sticker.
So what if you did not wrap it. Would it hold up?
Saturn cars used plastic panels, and they held up better than the company did. No, seriously, I see one every now and then, and the 20-years old panels are fine.
Yes. Like the plastic bumpers on Subaru cars.
Saturn used it and it was fine. according to this article, the plastic expanded and contracted meaning there had to be big gaps and made it unappealing.
I can live with missing a lot of stuff, but a stereo system with at least bluetooth and AC if you live anywhere that gets even remotely hot are necessities for me.
But I don't live in the US anyway (and I am glad about that), so I cannot get this truck anyway. I am looking forward to something similar being sold here, but in a small van version, that would be my ideal electric car.
I do live in the US but I'm excited for Telo. Seems pretty close to what you describe.
What are you on about? It has a coated steel chassis, the paneling is entirely plastic and cant rust. They dont offer paint, but they'll sell the car with a vynyl wrap at extra cost.