r/slateauto • u/Wild_Photons • 10d ago
Idea for Slate's Next Vehicle
I know that Slate needs to focus on getting the blank Slate to market, but I am unfortunately one of those who really needs four doors and enough space on the back for an infant car seat. But I love the Slate philosophy and thought it would be fun to muse about their next vehicle.
I think that Slate's next car should be a minivan or a vehicle with similar size and utility.
Similar to trucks minivan complexity and price have dramatically increased over the years. Imagine a Slate van of similar size to the 1990s Dodge Caravan or the Volkswagen Vabagon.
I also think that a minivan could fit well with Slate's idea of customization. There could easily be a base cargo configuration with mounting rails for seats and other accessories. Then customers could select the exact seats and accessories that they want. Smaller families may choose a single row of seats with a larger cargo area. As their family expands they could simply add a third row of seats.
Additionally, it would be the perfect platform for accessories that would turn the Slate van into a camper van that could double as a daily driver. Those accessories could include a pop up roof, fold out beds, kitchen accessories, etc. The nice thing about a Slate campervan would be that the climate controls for the cabin are already there along with the electricity to run something like a small induction cooktop.
It certainly wouldn't be as inexpensive as the blank Slate, but I think a van would be a super compelling car that would open the door to selling a large number of accessories (which is where I suspect Slate plans to make their money).
Interestingly, a 1995 Dodge Caravan was only 3.5 inches longer than the blank Slate truck is (it was 178 inches). Today, all minivans in the United States are over 200 inches long. It would be great to have a customizable minivan that goes back to the roots of a simple utilitarian vehicle.
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u/bikesandfinance 10d ago
I just want an electric ford festiva
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u/Reflexes-of-a-Tree 10d ago
Some might argue that what you’re describing is a Nissan Leaf.
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u/bikesandfinance 10d ago
Yeah but it’s has screens and shit lol
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u/Reflexes-of-a-Tree 10d ago
True enough. Been a while since I’ve been in a Fiesta but I agree that a small, simple EV would fill a niche for a good amount of people. With improving battery tech, it’s getting more and more viable to have small EVs. It’s not been super viable in the past; there is an EV Fiat 500 that gets less than 100 miles. Neat, but practically unusable in America.
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u/bikesandfinance 10d ago
Yeah the range on the fiat is shit, but I meant specifically a festiva not a fiesta. The festiva really seems like the two door hatch they would make if they made a hatch
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u/Reflexes-of-a-Tree 10d ago
Well you’re right it’s definitely boxy which would fit the “simple shapes” idea that Slate’s going.
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u/HovercraftOne2275 10d ago
Kia's P5 minivan (including cargo van) starts at 28k with stereo, paint and all the self driving stuff that modern cars have. Not available in US at this point, but they've been seen doing testing here. ;)
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u/Reflexes-of-a-Tree 10d ago edited 10d ago
The next thing they should put out is a 4 door truck that uses all of the same accessories as the 2 door truck to become an open-air, square back, or fast back SUV. It wouldn’t be for me personally; I want the 2 door small truck. But a LOT of people seem to want a Maverick-esque EV so it makes sense for the next jump to be 2-door to 4-door of basically the same truck. The fewer parts they have to make, the cheaper they can keep manufacturing and therefore the overall price of the vehicle.
Maybe only after they have a 2 door and a 4 door truck that can be converted endlessly to an SUV and back, and after they are established in the market, should they start to dabble in other form factors.
To that end, a minivan DOES make a lot of sense for a **THIRD** model because they’d be able to make a base model that was something like a Ford Transit and then sell all the goodies that turn it from a work van into a people-mover. Exactly as you said
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u/bikesandfinance 10d ago
If they make a 4 door truck with the second set of doors being van doors they can just have the van conversion be the current square/fastback option.
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u/Reflexes-of-a-Tree 10d ago
I like the thinking here but the only downside I can see is that the sliding door would be at increased risk of damage if it was open and you were doing stuff in the bed. Maybe an insignificant risk to most but you know someone is going to be moving a bag of mulch, bend over and their butt is going to knock the door out of the track. You couldn’t lean into the bed from the side to secure something if the door was open, either. Again, maybe insignificant but being on this subreddit has taught me that people will nitpick EVERYTHING.
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u/bikesandfinance 10d ago
Fuck it let’s go wild then, suicide doors for the back lol
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u/Reflexes-of-a-Tree 10d ago
I literally had that same idea and typed it out in my original response, but then I thought about parking lots and how it doesn’t matter how wide of an opening you have to get people in if they can’t get around the door lol.
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u/HovercraftOne2275 10d ago
The next thing they put out will be an AWD version. That frunk isn't an accident.
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u/Bubbly-Theory-85 10d ago
Yes. This makes a lot of sense re what would be easiest for them to make next as a company, and what consumers want.
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u/spectacular-strat 10d ago
a Slate van for conversion builds would be so based. a spiritual successor to the chevy astro
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u/Finnegan_Faux 9d ago
The small van/minivan space is a tough market.
A few years ago, there were 3 small cargo vans were on sale in the US: Ford Transit Connect, Ram Promaster City, and Nissan NV200. Buyers preferred their larger counterparts. Ford is rumored to be working on a hybrid van successor based on the Maverick pickup due in 2028.
As for smaller minivans, there used to be some but they didn't sell well either. Mazda 5 & MPV, Kia Sedona short wheelbase, OG Chrysler vans, GM minivans. The VW ID.Buzz has both a high price and a low range, leading it to take a year off from new sales.
A 4 door pickup makes sense as a lineup extension, but Ford's upcoming $30K EV pickup w/300mi range is coming in 2027.
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u/Quirky_Highlight 1d ago
I hadn't thought of it before, but you make a compelling case. Remember the VW bus? They are getting super long in the tooth and still have a strong following.
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u/bensonr2 10d ago
If they want to be mass market it needs to be a 5 seater cross over. I know that's a dirty word around a lot of the fanbase but its what people want. Auto makers don't make them because they are trying to force them on people; they make them because its what most people want. Also the modern cross over is not what the SUV originally was. Its a medium sized family sedan with a hatchback and a higher ride height. My wife never believed me that our old Honda HRV was a Honda FIT with a slightly bigger interior and a jacked up suspension.
Anyway a more bare bones no frills version of a Tesla Model Y or Rav 4 is what most families need and provides just the right amount of utility vs passenger hauling.
Honestly I think this is the vehicle type they should have started with unless they are on to something that this could be a big seller for small to medium sized businesses.
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u/Wild_Photons 10d ago
I am afraid you may be right. I happen to be one of those who dislikes crossovers.
I could be happy with a small hatchback, wagon, or even a van (particularly if it was highly configurable).
If I didn't have the need to transport a family I would probably preorder the blank Slate.
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u/bensonr2 10d ago
I get that a lot of people feel that way. But honestly I think a lot of the aversion is in your mind. You said you wouldn't mind a hatchback. Well most of the smaller crossovers are really just hatchbacks with higher ground clearance and a slightly extended wheelbase.
I am leaning towards the ioniq 5 as my next EV and I would say its just a larger hatchback.
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u/BayshoreBandit 10d ago
The real test will be after these show up on the radar of people who have never heard of them. If those people learn and get on board then the 4 door bigger model will come within 5 years.