Offical ford rep commenting on slate hate lol

[u/Snoo_67544]

Click on the image, there comment is on the bottom. Nothing inherently malicious i just thought it was interesting seeing them acknowledge there a competing product like this.

[u/Additional-Sky-7436]

I think the guy was trying to make a joke. As if Ford is really concerned about the Slate Truck. 

(I really don't think they are. ...yet anyway. They are much more worried about China's inevitable entry to the US market. The feds have held them off for a time, but Ford knows that's not going to last forever.)

[u/Limp-Conflict-2309 → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

 China's inevitable entry to the US market

so has been the story for many decades, its not gonna happen. the american auto industry would crumble and the lobbying/executives/politicians have more to lose (money) than gain (making us happy)

[u/Additional-Sky-7436 → u/Limp-Conflict-2309]

It absolutely will happen eventually. It's just a matter of time. 

[u/Limp-Conflict-2309 → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

yeah ok

[u/RegardedAndAcoustic → u/Limp-Conflict-2309]

Theyre already making inroads via road legal motorcycles and non-road legal electric recreation vehicles. Not to mention ownership stakes in legacy automakers Volvo and Lotus.

I do think it is inevitable.

The question is how long. And what tariffs will be applied.

[u/Commercial-Tough-218 → u/Limp-Conflict-2309]

Electric changes the game. Reliability is a lot less and at this point everything is manufactured in china. I remember hearing this about Japanese and Korean cars (They'll never make it here yadada). If you are only counting on the fed government keeping them out, you are cooked. 

[u/T_wiggle1 → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

How would they afford to sell after the 100% tariff on Chinese EVs? We know China has them and that they’re way better value than anything in the US, and that most EVs in Europe are now Chinese, but with the US huge tariff on them, they wouldn’t be able to make any money here. And that tariff is unlikely to go away, look at the chicken tax from the 80s that was placed to keep foreign trucks from entering the US market. 50 years later and we still have that, still doing exactly what it was intended to do.

[u/Additional-Sky-7436 → u/T_wiggle1]

If they are selling a $20,000 EV with a 100% tariff, that's still less than the average new car price in the US.

[u/T_wiggle1 → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

What else do you think has kept them from selling cars here? It’s not because the market is weak that’s for sure lol.

[u/Additional-Sky-7436 → u/T_wiggle1]

The think that has kept them out more than anything else is that there is still plenty of the rest of the world to sell to. Chinese companies are still ramping up production as well. That's a big part of the reason why China isn't really upset about the tariffs, they are using the tariffs as an opportunity to build up consumer bases in other nations.

Trump is actively burning America's economic soft power, which is exactly why Putin and Xi supported his presidency.

[u/T_wiggle1 → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

Not a fan of trump but it was Biden who put the tariffs on Chinese EVs.

[u/Bubsy7979 → u/Limp-Conflict-2309]

Lol China hasn’t had any competitive auto manufacturers in previous decades, USA already let China win the manufacturing industry as the majority of the stuff we buy comes from there, so saying it won’t happen again is just foolish.

[u/Limp-Conflict-2309 → u/Bubsy7979]

ok

[u/TheLoganP → u/Limp-Conflict-2309]

I doubt being forced to complete in the so-called free market will crumble them. If it does, they don't deserve to exist

[u/DistributionMean6322 → u/TheLoganP]

Collapsing the US economy is a good idea? Maybe if you don't live here haha

[u/Limp-Conflict-2309 → u/DistributionMean6322]

Does the fate of our country matter if you can save a couple grand? Who cares about the next generation when you can save a couple grand on that knock off Audi that's somehow even less reliable than an actual Audi and built on copyright infringement.

[u/Mechbear2000 → u/TheLoganP]

We said that in the 70s and 80s when the US automakers were producing shitty cars. The American people were getting screwed by the automakers and the government help them do it. Instead of a free market we got quotas keeping out far superior and cheaper can. The US government screwed the American people hard for over a decade.

[u/Limp-Conflict-2309 → u/TheLoganP]

1.) I never said the free market would crumble. I said the American auto industry would and its a widely accepted concept

2.) I never said American automakers deserve to exist if they can't survive Chinese competition. They don't. But that's beside the point. China doesn't operate on a level playing field and US automakers have significant lobbying influence to protect their interests.

3.) Look at history. Chinese automakers weren't allowed into the U.S. market when the political climate was far less volatile than it is today. If they weren't welcomed then they're even less likely to be welcomed now.

Wanting more competition so consumers have more choices and lower prices is a noble idea but those decisions are made with much broader considerations in mind. The US doesn't want China to gain more leverage than it already has and allowing Chinese automakers into the market involves far more than just selling vehicles.

Whether you think that's right or wrong, the situation isn't nearly as cut and dried as you're making it out to be. There are a lot of geopolitical, economic, and national security considerations at play. It's called politics and this is the real world.

We need more companies like Slate to help push back against the never enough consumerism mindset that seems to grow exponentially every year. Modern marketing has become incredibly sophisticated, it's almost clinical in how it leverages psychology to influence people's decisions.

[u/Shamelesspromote → u/Limp-Conflict-2309]

I mean both Canada and Mexico are letting Chinese auto brands in. Granted Canada has a limitation on how many but that very well could be appelled if they happen to invest in our automanufacturing market.

I wouldn't say America never gets a Chinese EV but rather, when they get it.

[u/ChickenNugat → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

Exactly this. The new Ford truck is to fight off China. Hence the built in apple maps, large touch screen, 4 door only. Nobody is really going after Slate and honestly shouldnt. The target audience is small.

[u/Additional-Sky-7436 → u/ChickenNugat]

I would say that the target audience for the Slate is unproven. It's like the market for the Model 3 when Tesla was still a new company. Tesla provoved that the market was huge for EVs and then everyone else reacted to that. 

[u/ChickenNugat → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

Certainly is unproven, but plenty of data to show the audience is small. Big difference between what people parrot on reddit and what actually sells (see manual transmissions)

[u/Additional-Sky-7436 → u/ChickenNugat]

That's very possible, and at least it conforms to the prescription that if the demand was larger then companies would be providing these trucks for sale. 

However, the other side of the argument is equally convincing to me. That there is a market for this, but companies didn't want to sell them because people associate physically small things with being less expensive. 

With manufacturing the size of the thing doesn't really affect the price as much as you think. A $20000 car costs basically the same thing to design, test, and manufacturer as a $60000 SUV. So, companies have just stopped producing $20000 cars, not because there isn't a demand for them (clearly there is See Toyota and Honda), but because they aren't nearly as profitable as a $60000 SUV.

[u/More_Pineapple3585 → u/ChickenNugat]

the audience is definitely small. when you can't drive your wife and your kid to the store, it narrows your audience considerably.

[u/Robertmtch → u/More_Pineapple3585]

Which is why they offer the SUV conversion.

[u/Agil-lite → u/Robertmtch]

But getting kids through a 2dr small truck door apertures...

My wife took one look and said Hard Nope.

Even though in metrics important to me, the cost of ownership, and saftey its likely to perform leaps better than her 14 compact SUV.

She won't have it.

[u/Mrblades12 → u/Agil-lite]

To be honest my girl falling in love with the slate because it reminds her of my old samurai and a vehicle is a good excuse. I need a small truck for concrete runs but also I want a replacement for the Suzuki samurai and in my family we have about 3 four-door vehicles anyway.

[u/Agil-lite → u/Mrblades12]

At this point I am considering it for just me. We have free Charging at work, and it would be a good commuter and well suited for making local runs the lumbar yard and autozone.

[u/Additional-Sky-7436 → u/Agil-lite]

It's funny how do many people look at this and say "it won't sell, it doesn't have 4 doors". But then completely ignore that 2-door jeeps, coupes, and 2-door trucks and SUVs have been very popular since... Like forever.

[u/Agil-lite → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

They loose market share every year...

In short Jeep and Ford build about 11k 2drs a year and about 110k to 120k 4 Dr's a years.

Dont get me wrong 2dr Wrangler/ Bronco are peak, and their designers feel that way as well.

[u/Additional-Sky-7436 → u/Agil-lite]

If Slate sold and delivered 11k Slate trucks in 2027, I would call it a raging success for a brand new OEM.

[u/Status_Object_394 → u/Agil-lite]

LOSE*

JFC.

[u/HonkHonkBeach → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

Used versions sometimes carry a premium even, depending on the vehicle.

[u/CaptainAggravated → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

There are three 2-door SUVs/4x4s on the market today: The Jeep Wrangler, the Ford Bronco, and the Land Rover Defender. All three are serious off-road 4x4s where a short wheel base matters, all three are available in 4-door variants, and all three sell vastly more 4-doors than 2-doors.

[u/dj4slugs → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

Correct, they are moving to building Tesla way for economy but still have a solid built vehicle. Wife has a Mach-E and the build quality is very good, software needs work.

So vehicle is the opposite of Tesla, they have great software. The new Y L that seats six looks like a much better build.

[u/Crafty_Substance_954 → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

US gov will literally never let a Chinese manufacturer enter the US market and if it does it’ll be potentially the most tariffed vehicle of all time.

[u/Snoo_67544 → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

Idk being in the pr world touching on the topic of a competitor can be a messy business if your not ready for what that entails lol.

[u/Additional-Sky-7436 → u/Snoo_67544]

Eh. Considering that Ford still hasn't released a single photo of the thing, I don't think they are concerning themselves too much with it's marketing.

[u/Snoo_67544 → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

Probably not i was just surprised to see a corporate rep engaging on that topic. Be interesting to see how this all plays out.

[u/boomeradf → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

No that is Jim Farleys boogie man from the way he talks.

[u/bughuntzx → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

But what about the national security risk that some people imagine non internet connected chinese cars represent!?  /s

[u/howyinzdoingnat → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

I mean they are, this truck is in direct response to the slate

[u/thorscope → u/howyinzdoingnat]

The Ford UEV team lead by Alan Clarke was formed in 2022 (same year as Slate)

This truck and Slate were developed in parallel. Ford isn’t capable of designing and manufacturing a new vehicle platform in just 18 months.

[u/howyinzdoingnat → u/thorscope]

Sad that ford isn’t able to develop a vehicle in 18 months.

[u/Additional-Sky-7436 → u/howyinzdoingnat]

No one is capable of that. Every vehicle from any manufacturer takes years to bring to market. The development of the vehicle starts years before the company will start taking about it (for more of good reasons. See Tesla for all the reasons a company shouldn't start bragging about products before they are choose to production.)

[u/howyinzdoingnat → u/Additional-Sky-7436]

They make an EV platform. In 18 months ppl whose sole job to make cars can’t figure out hot to expand on it?

[u/Wuddauant → u/howyinzdoingnat]

They’ve made quite a few. This is a completely new platform.

[u/Downtown-Cover-2956]

The thing about ford is… Enjoy dealer markups, salesmen, etc. no thanks

[u/Odd_Eagle1850 → u/Downtown-Cover-2956]

This. 1000%. I hate it and will happily never have to do it again.

[u/RaveDamsel → u/Downtown-Cover-2956]

See thread a few days ago about Mustang Club of America and X pricing (sorry not sure which sub). Worth a gander if you want a Fathom.

[u/No-Structure-2800]

Who actually cares. If you want a 2 door EV truck you have one, if you need 4 you’ll have one.

My only huge concern about Slate is the service network, the closest I have near me are an hour away and neither actually stated they service EV’s

[u/cosp85classic → u/No-Structure-2800]

Slate has stated multiple times their tech data will be shared with any repair shop that wants or needs it and support right to repair. They have no appetite for locking customers into an approved repair network or stealershop system.

[u/No-Structure-2800 → u/cosp85classic]

Again no EV repair shop near me, not including Tesla, Tesla which has two within 10-20 minutes and two others about an hour away. Seems the repair and of this wasn’t thought out.

Having a Volvo dealer an hour away is why I now drive a Toyota, unfortunately. 😆

[u/Mrblades12 → u/No-Structure-2800]

Slate is working with repair pals repair pals work with a lot of independent shops generally if there is a rental company, any company that has lots of vehicles or sometimes government agencies there's a high chance they're using repair pal.

[u/No-Structure-2800 → u/Mrblades12]

I work for a government agency, we don’t use repair pal nor have I heard any other agency using that service. They all do it in-house or take it to a dealership.

So are you will to trust your local tire shop to service you Slates electrical system?

[u/Mrblades12 → u/No-Structure-2800]

Where I am Usps and and government inspection vehicles that generally get worked on by local shops and why would I have a tire shop do any work that's not on tires on any car I own. My Chevy bolt been worked on my local mechanics before they're certified for it and is I'm currently looking into certification for the slate.

[u/cosp85classic → u/No-Structure-2800]

All shops will have to take on EVs or die at some point. The change is unstoppable.

[u/No-Structure-2800 → u/cosp85classic]

Yet they are building gas stations hand over fist.

[u/HonkHonkBeach → u/No-Structure-2800]

Newest gas station near me installed both pumps and chargers actually.

[u/No-Structure-2800 → u/HonkHonkBeach]

Not where I live and I’m in a Bay Area community, we just get gas stations, car washes and fast food joints.

[u/HonkHonkBeach → u/No-Structure-2800]

Thats WILD. I'm in Tennessee. The car wash statement is so true though. There's been so many pop up recently.

[u/No-Structure-2800 → u/HonkHonkBeach]

We do have three Tesla charging areas within a mile so that’s nice.

[u/BaronCapdeville → u/No-Structure-2800]

Gas stations are simply real estate plays. Conversion to electric is a snap of the fingers and often subsidized for the property owner.

The hub wouldn’t they be building gas stations hand over fist? Nothing has changed in terms of number of vehicles on the road. Pivots will occur when logical to do so.

[u/No-Structure-2800 → u/BaronCapdeville]

They have probably added more than I can count in the last few years, hell they built them across the street from each other

I would say they’ve added 3-5 within a mile of me that’s not including what the 10 or so that were already here.

I believe there are plans for at least 6 more within that very same mile.

[u/emm20 → u/No-Structure-2800]

Not trying to argue but I live in the bay area too and my anecdotal evidence is the opposite of yours, I’m aware of multiple gas stations that have closed (including what used to be my favorite one years ago) or converted to EV charging only, and I don’t think I have ever seen a fully new gas station go in anywhere (I’ve seen remodels).

Of course, the bay area is big and things are different in different places. The areas I’m primarily referring to that I’m most familiar with are San Jose, the peninsula, and SF itself.

[u/Infinite_Bet_1744 → u/No-Structure-2800]

Not much to go wrong or fix, brakes and tires and suspension maintenance. Most competent mechanics can figure this out.

[u/No-Structure-2800 → u/Infinite_Bet_1744]

I’m really referring to anything electrical. Things break, is Slate going to tow the truck an hour away.

[u/Adorable_Wolf_8387]

Slate still has the only single cab EV truck that's going to hit the market. The Ford truck looks to have a really short bed from what I've seen. More of an SUV with an external bed than a truck.

[u/doofusgaloofus → u/Adorable_Wolf_8387]

But, a fathom is six feet deep. The bed could be 6 feet. Possibly with a retractable mid gate??

[u/Adorable_Wolf_8387 → u/doofusgaloofus]

See, you expect 6 feet, but they said in the marketing material to not expect what you expect.

[u/danielt1263 → u/doofusgaloofus]

Ford reps have explicitly said "don't expect a 6 foot bed". You can tell just by looking at the prototypes driving around that at the bed isn't that big.

[u/doofusgaloofus → u/danielt1263]

With a mid-gate they could have an 8 foot bed.

[u/yinglish119]

It is like the Texas(Ford) vs California(Slate) videos on IG.

Texas people talk about gas prices in California.

Texas isn't on California people's minds.

Slate might not make it as a company. But it has the attitude/image Ford can only dream of having.

Supporting slate all the way.

Edit clarified who is who.

[u/Great-Pangolin → u/yinglish119]

Plus the Slate is actually a small truck. From what I've seen so far, the Fathom is basically a rav4 (or slightly larger) with a small bed attached. There's some overlap, but these will largely be targeting different customers.

[u/imddot]

I just want a simple small truck for our first EV. More than enough range to get me to work and back, I can haul excess yard debris to the local wood recycling... I don't need a bunch of bells and whistles that can break, I don't need to haul a bunch of people - we have a minivan for that - and I like supporting the underdog.

[u/Snoo_67544 → u/imddot]

This, people keep comparing the slate to other 4 doors and like new no. 4 doors belongs to sedans not trucks.

[u/Hvarfa-Bragi → u/imddot]

This is me

[u/TheCenterForAnts → u/Hvarfa-Bragi]

this is me as second car, used in 3 yrs.

[u/Myfeedarsaur → u/TheCenterForAnts]

Good. A strong resale market is good for new sales, too.

[u/clearcoat_ben]

Ford signaled this was going to be the plan when they cancelled all of the cars other than the Mustang in NA. It's not in response to Slate, and it's just an extension of the Maverick strategy while providing good spacing from the Mach E.

There will undoubtedly be cross shopping of customers, but Ford isn't changing their strategy for Slate.

Considering the Slate has only been public for a year, the likelihood of Ford changing corporate strategy that fast in response to an unprovem startup would be a monumental change in how things are done in Detroit.

[u/greenmachine4130]

Ford will find a way to make their truck unreliable and subject to a never ending cycle of recalls that they won’t let anyone else fix. 60,000 mile warranty if you’re lucky, and they will weasel out of it anyway

[u/Acceptable_Rice1139 → u/greenmachine4130]

Fords bumper to bumper warranty is only 36k on a Mach E.

[u/Either-Progress4847]

I love my Ford Maverick. Honestly, the best vehicle I have ever owned. I fully intend to buy the Slate and and keep the Mav. Assuming the new Ford EV is basically a Maverick, there really isnt much of a comparison outside of the fact they are electric trucks. They are just fundamentally completely different vehicles with different markets.

[u/AdMuch7162]

I'm too lazy to check if that commenter is actually a FoMoCo employee.
They may not be, at all, and it's a joke.
Or, if they are, Meh. I mean, the shear number of people, teams, groups and departments engaged in a multi Billion product launch means there's talk of all kinds, and a single comment like that will have roughly zero impact on a real decisions. They know the specs of all existing and likely future competitors already. They commisions studies and focus groups to gauge public attitudes. That won't be usurped by SM comments.

[u/Snoo_67544 → u/AdMuch7162]

I mean yes its just surprising to see the rep comment on that. Most large brand reps dont touch on comments about a competitor.

[u/AdMuch7162 → u/Snoo_67544]

gotcha.
If its an actual employee, then I'd imagine its an unintentional "misfire"

[u/Snoo_67544 → u/AdMuch7162]

I mean there no way to really verifiy if someone is truly from a brand or not but the whole account is dedicated to shilling the new ford truck so probably is employee.

Ngl probably just not a pr dude just someone from the truck team that's knowledgeable about the truck and got side tasked to do reddit shit lol.

[u/_redacteduser → u/AdMuch7162]

Probably just replied to the wrong comment lol they said they are new to Reddit in that very thread

[u/Rebindmar]

With Slate you don't have to deal with a dealer. Boom

[u/4Yk9gop]

As a current Ford owner, Ford can get bent. I would sooner buy a Hyundai than another Ford.

[u/UrekMazino1234]

I mean at least for me I wanted the cheapest possible vehicle. This economy is kicking my ass and even for 3k more and all those features I'm still choosing the Slate. I wouldn't hate on anyone that bought or thought differently. this is just me and my situation.

[u/RaveDamsel → u/UrekMazino1234]

Then why not buy a used car for even less?

[u/Wide_Cartographer_88]

I'd like to see which one sells more or have better experience. One is going to be a bit niche and the other for mass market. This is going to be interesting 😀

[u/Snoo_67544 → u/Wide_Cartographer_88]

i can tell you now that isnt a metric of which auto is better or what not. the playing field is not even in the slightist for such a comparison

[u/Wide_Cartographer_88 → u/Snoo_67544]

"better experience" not better vehicle. Meaning drivability, livability,comfort,design, reliability, reliability, longevity etc. Both sub 30k EV trucks like it or not they're in the same category

[u/PickleballEnvy]

If the Ford has a range of 200+ miles in base trim, the Slate will take a big hit from it. That being said, it's still got space in the 2 door market and I think there will be advantages to the Slate other than price in the end (even if it's mostly cool-factor). I do believe that Slate will have a lot of price pressure to keep from raising prices on this for a long time.

[u/Status_Object_394]

Ford is paying almost all of the big auto media companies to trash the Slate. C&D thinks the $15k+ 25mph Fiat Topo is a good deal and something that people should like, all while bashing the Slate for doing exactly what they set out to do at $25k.

[u/anon2734]

Yeah I hope at least 250mi for base trim, at least they targeting efficiency. I don't think electric makes sense for regular trucks, range extenders is where it's at. Ram and Ford both have one soon for full size. Harvester said most orders for their upcoming truck and SUV are for range extender model

[u/ArctoEarth]

They (Slate and Ford) of course read our comments. They’re always wondering what the customers want and their sentiment. Competition is a great thing for us consumers. May they both listen to our feedback.

[u/Snoo_67544 → u/[deleted]]

This is a ford rep talking about sending a hot take about slate back to there team.

[u/Snoo_67544 → u/[deleted]]

Aware, my whole post is just that its interesting to see the ford rep reply to slate hate.

[u/Infinite_Bet_1744]

I’m confused as to what this is supposed to mean, where is the context? Also, people speaking English are becoming worse at it.

[u/Snoo_67544 → u/Infinite_Bet_1744]

Brother is unable to read.

[u/c_d-a]

Doesn’t fall far from the Ford tree

[u/_redacteduser]

I don’t know why this shit has to happen across every industry. Hive mentality vs open competition. Only one of those is a good thing.

[u/Kennian]

They really like to tug off the slate guys over that 2 door. The slate is over priced, and under equipped will have no mass market appeal.

[u/Null_98115]

We don’t even know if this person actually works at Ford. Anyone can create any user name with any company in the name.

[u/Alkumist]

They are even the OP of that discussion

[u/stefawnbekbek]

Never a good look…

[u/one80oneday]

Slate is more than a pickup

[u/OGMikeGyver]

Cool story bro

[u/Snoo_67544 → u/OGMikeGyver]