Do you think Ford should invest in, or buy Slate?

[DeluxeStang]

Most EV startups bring little new to the table, and aren't worth the risk of investing in, but I believe Slate has some good ideas, and a good design, but needs help actually engineering/manufacturing the vehicle. Not to mention partnering or being owned by Ford could make it possible to service these vehicles at Ford dealerships potentially, which would be a massive benefit. 

 

I just think Ford should hedge their bets. It sounds like CE1 is very radical, very radical in how the vehicles look, and act. Buying Slate so you could offer a far more convenient truck on top of that might be a good idea if you're trying to win over more truck buyers to an EV. An areo truck and a boxy truck being sold side by side, each with their own pros and cons, let the customers pick which one they want. 

 

Slate seems like they're bringing a lot of strong ideas to the table, and I believe Ford should be looking for ways to turn them into an ally instead of their competition. 

[rmc523]

22 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

Most EV startups bring little new to the table, and aren't worth the risk of investing in, but I believe Slate has some good ideas, and a good design, but needs help actually engineering/manufacturing the vehicle. Not to mention partnering or being owned by Ford could make it possible to service these vehicles at Ford dealerships potentially, which would be a massive benefit. 

 

I just think Ford should hedge their bets. It sounds like CE1 is very radical, very radical in how the vehicles look, and act. Buying Slate so you could offer a far more convenient truck on top of that might be a good idea if you're trying to win over more truck buyers to an EV. An areo truck and a boxy truck being sold side by side, each with their own pros and cons, let the customers pick which one they want. 

 

Slate seems like they're bringing a lot of strong ideas to the table, and I believe Ford should be looking for ways to turn them into an ally instead of their competition. 

 

But what would Ford gain out of it?  They can just develop their own similar top hat on CE1 (I assume they already are), and trucks are their specialty?

 

Slate adds nothing to the picture for Ford, IMO.  Apparently they're getting their batteries from Ford's joint venture, so there is a bit of overlap there, but still, I don't see what exactly they'd add aside from being a distraction for Ford.

 

I also don't want you to think I'm just poo-pooing on them - we've just seen other ventures like Rivian not work out, and they had far more advanced tech than this Slate group seems to have (which I guess could be an argument for working with them), so I'm skeptical of what benefit a partnership would be?

 

Ford EV Partner SK On Will Supply Batteries For Slate Truck

 

Slate Auto will indeed get its EV batteries from SK On, the company has announced, to the tune of 20 gigawatt-hours (GWh) beginning in 2026 and lasting through 2031, with an option to secure more as it ramps up production moving forward. Those batteries – which are high-nickel NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) units – will be built in the U.S. as well.

Edited April 28, 2025 by rmc523

[DeluxeStang]

12 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

 

But what would Ford gain out of it?  They can just develop their own similar top hat ( I assume they already are), and trucks are their specialty?

 

Slate adds nothing to the picture for Ford, IMO.  Apparently they're getting their batteries from Ford's joint venture, but still, I don't see what exactly they'd add aside from being a distraction for Ford.

 

Ford EV Partner SK On Will Supply Batteries For Slate Truck

 

Slate Auto will indeed get its EV batteries from SK On, the company has announced, to the tune of 20 gigawatt-hours (GWh) beginning in 2026 and lasting through 2031, with an option to secure more as it ramps up production moving forward. Those batteries – which are high-nickel NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) units – will be built in the U.S. as well.

A far more conventional looking truck with a unique cab configuration and packaging, a way to hedge Ford's bets, that's what they get out of it. The CE1 Ford EV truck is almost certainly gonna be radical looking, that's how it's been described by Ford's CEO amongst others. Nothing wrong with that, but truck owners tend to be quite conservative in terms of their design tastes. 

 

It would be wise, especially considering affordable EVs are the ones that actually have high demand, and as such, there's a larger market for them, to offer a futuristic sleek aerodynamic truck for people who want something more radical, and sporty looking. Then offer a truck that's basically as conventional looking as it gets. There's room to appeal to both crowds and Ford should rather than going all in on one styling direction or another. 

[rmc523]

31 minutes ago, DeluxeStang said:

A far more conventional looking truck with a unique cab configuration and packaging, a way to hedge Ford's bets, that's what they get out of it. The CE1 Ford EV truck is almost certainly gonna be radical looking, that's how it's been described by Ford's CEO amongst others. Nothing wrong with that, but truck owners tend to be quite conservative in terms of their design tastes. 

 

It would be wise, especially considering affordable EVs are the ones that actually have high demand, and as such, there's a larger market for them, to offer a futuristic sleek aerodynamic truck for people who want something more radical, and sporty looking. Then offer a truck that's basically as conventional looking as it gets. There's room to appeal to both crowds and Ford should rather than going all in on one styling direction or another. 

 

Has he said the CE1 truck will be radical looking, or other vehicles on the platform will be that way? (genuinely asking)

 

And, even if the CE1 is radical looking, I revert to my other point of....let's say they do want to have a "safe"/traditional design option alongside the radical one......why would they invest billions in this random no-name company and hope it works, when they could just take their own great new CE1 platform and put a more traditional top hat on it with tried & true/well known Ford branding?

[DeluxeStang]

24 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

 

Has he said the CE1 truck will be radical looking, or other vehicles on the platform will be that way? (genuinely asking)

 

And, even if the CE1 is radical looking, I revert to my other point of....let's say they do want to have a "safe"/traditional design option alongside the radical one......why would they invest billions in this random no-name company and hope it works, when they could just take their own great new CE1 platform and put a more traditional top hat on it with tried & true/well known Ford branding?

We're just gonna have to agree to disagree man. 

[rmc523]

17 minutes ago, DeluxeStang said:

We're just gonna have to agree to disagree man. 

 

But I'm trying to understand your logic, though, of why Ford investing in/buying Slate would benefit Ford?

 

You haven't proposed anything they'd bring to the table outside of "boxy traditional truck design" and "customization".  Both of which Ford could do on their own, as we've seen with something like Bronco.

 

If they had a new battery technology or unique motor design or something that Ford could learn from it might be something, but they don't seem to have that either.

Edited April 28, 2025 by rmc523

[DeluxeStang]

59 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

 

But I'm trying to understand your logic, though, of why Ford investing in/buying Slate would benefit Ford?

 

You haven't proposed anything they'd bring to the table outside of "boxy traditional truck design" and "customization".  Both of which Ford could do on their own, as we've seen with something like Bronco.

 

If they had a new battery technology or unique motor design or something that Ford could learn from it might be something, but they don't seem to have that either.

Their approach to the industry has been unlike anything else we've seen in the ev startup space. Most EVs thus far have been large, very expensive products with very limited customization abilities. This product takes a radically different approach to basically anything else on the market. 

 

It stands to reason that if someone else is making a very compelling product in a segment you're competing in, a radically new approach, it could benefit your brand to partner and learn from them. Additionally, turning a rival into an ally is never a bad strategy. 

 

Ford seems to have taken a creative approach with the development of the CE1 platform, it's innovative, but as for the rest of the truck, who knows. Whereas this seems to have a rather restrained platform by EV standards, but took a radical approach in several other areas, like saving 300 million by not having a paint shop, and instead encouraging customers to wrap the truck. Or by developing an entire range of accessories that will be profit drivers for the company. 

 

Could Ford do something like that? Yeah, but they haven't done that with their existing EVs, and there's been no mention of broad customization and accessories for future EVs mentioned up until this point. 

[DeluxeStang]

1 hour ago, rmc523 said:

 

But I'm trying to understand your logic, though, of why Ford investing in/buying Slate would benefit Ford?

 

You haven't proposed anything they'd bring to the table outside of "boxy traditional truck design" and "customization".  Both of which Ford could do on their own, as we've seen with something like Bronco.

 

If they had a new battery technology or unique motor design or something that Ford could learn from it might be something, but they don't seem to have that either.

It just seems logical for Ford who's been struggling to make profitable EVs, outside of working to develop CE1, the most logical ways to generate profit are to offer a broad range of accessories, but also, to partner with other brands. Either by building their cars, or selling this CE1 platform to them, amongst other things. 

 

This Slate truck is kinda in a weird gray area where it's partially developed, but they haven't locked in a factory yet, or finished the engineering on it. Ford just invested a shit ton of money into BOC which in hindsight, a massive plant that won't have a great output because the large EVs it was created to produce aren't selling well. Outside of moving CE1 production there, the next best thing is to leverage that plant to make money building others products. 

 

Ford makes hundreds of millions, if not billions building other brands cars when the alternative would have been to leave that plant under capacity and under utilized, and brands like Slate have a dependable manufacturing partner, it's a win-win. 

[DeluxeStang]

1 hour ago, rmc523 said:

 

But I'm trying to understand your logic, though, of why Ford investing in/buying Slate would benefit Ford?

 

You haven't proposed anything they'd bring to the table outside of "boxy traditional truck design" and "customization".  Both of which Ford could do on their own, as we've seen with something like Bronco.

 

If they had a new battery technology or unique motor design or something that Ford could learn from it might be something, but they don't seem to have that either.

As stated, Ford could also generate a considerable amount of revenue by selling their CE1 platform to brands like Slate. Kinda like how VW sold their EV platform to Ford. If this CE1 platform is the end all, be all, I can see a lot of startup brands being interested in buying it, even if it means throwing out their own engineering work. Imagine how cool this slate truck would be if they delayed it by a few years to switch to Ford's CE1 platform, and produced in out of one of Ford's plants. 

 

It means a higher quality platform, it means the platform has Ford quality, and can be serviced and repaired at thousands of Ford locations. This could save these start up brands a shit ton of time and money by partnering with someone like Ford instead of trying to build their own series of dealers and services centers across the country. 

 

Now is the time to take a unique approach. This whole thing is about how could Ford rethink their partnerships to make things like producing EVs more profitable and sustainable. 

[CurtisH]

On 4/27/2025 at 11:59 AM, DeluxeStang said:

Most EV startups bring little new to the table, and aren't worth the risk of investing in, but I believe Slate has some good ideas, and a good design, but needs help actually engineering/manufacturing the vehicle. Not to mention partnering or being owned by Ford could make it possible to service these vehicles at Ford dealerships potentially, which would be a massive benefit. 

 

I just think Ford should hedge their bets. It sounds like CE1 is very radical, very radical in how the vehicles look, and act. Buying Slate so you could offer a far more convenient truck on top of that might be a good idea if you're trying to win over more truck buyers to an EV. An areo truck and a boxy truck being sold side by side, each with their own pros and cons, let the customers pick which one they want. 

 

Slate seems like they're bringing a lot of strong ideas to the table, and I believe Ford should be looking for ways to turn them into an ally instead of their competition. 

So, which product line should Ford delay/cancel in order to free up enough money for this venture?  They don’t seem to have a bunch of spare cash lying around to invest in Slate.  

[akirby]

18 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

As stated, Ford could also generate a considerable amount of revenue by selling their CE1 platform to brands like Slate. Kinda like how VW sold their EV platform to Ford. If this CE1 platform is the end all, be all, I can see a lot of startup brands being interested in buying it, even if it means throwing out their own engineering work. Imagine how cool this slate truck would be if they delayed it by a few years to switch to Ford's CE1 platform, and produced in out of one of Ford's plants. 

 

It means a higher quality platform, it means the platform has Ford quality, and can be serviced and repaired at thousands of Ford locations. This could save these start up brands a shit ton of time and money by partnering with someone like Ford instead of trying to build their own series of dealers and services centers across the country. 

 

Now is the time to take a unique approach. This whole thing is about how could Ford rethink their partnerships to make things like producing EVs more profitable and sustainable. 

I see nothing unique about Slate that Ford can’t easily copy with CE1.  There could be an opportunity to sell the platform but they need to develop their vehicles first.

[Rick73]

My 2 cents on Ford buying Slate….

 

If Ford want to test the waters on an affordable yet profitable compact truck, they could probably do so with less investment or risk by offering a somewhat similar-size vehicle but based on Maverick.  A 2-door ICE Maverick with 5~6 foot bed and with a base powertrain could potentially be much cheaper than Slate, and appeal to larger mass market that are still apprehensive about BEVs.  Granted, if Ford haven’t offered a smaller and lower-cost Maverick already it’s likely because they think there is too little demand at a price that would be profitable enough, which begs the question of how much demand would there be for a Ford Slate?  I don’t know, but expect it would be better under Ford brand than Slate as a start-up.  Improving probability of Slate PU success is the only positive I see to Ford buying Slate, which seems very unlikely to me.

 

Small trucks similar to Slate in size were available in the 80s and sales were not great if I recall correctly.  The VW Rabbit and Dodge Rampage come to mind.  Times have changed so maybe worth a second try.

 

[jpd80]

On 4/29/2025 at 1:13 AM, rmc523 said:

 

Has he said the CE1 truck will be radical looking, or other vehicles on the platform will be that way? (genuinely asking)

Yes, Farley kinda mentioned that in and interview a while back, I think it had to do with proportions 

when everyone was talking about short hoods and smaller frunks. At that time I was discussing with

DeluxeStang and others and just cautioning the unbridled optimism on CE1 being all things to everyone.

Unfortunately some other members saw that as being overly negative so I eased back on sharing opinions.

 

On 4/29/2025 at 1:13 AM, rmc523 said:

 

And, even if the CE1 is radical looking, I revert to my other point of....let's say they do want to have a "safe"/traditional design option alongside the radical one......why would they invest billions in this random no-name company and hope it works, when they could just take their own great new CE1 platform and put a more traditional top hat on it with tried & true/well known Ford branding?

The whole point to recreating traditional segment vehicles is to have something a bit different,

and over time new buyers cycle in with differnt tastes - maybe some new proportions are good... 

 

I doubt that the $20,000 small pickup gains much traction once real engineering review begins

and the reality of todays costs seeps in. Current announcement is all about a bunch of execs

with grandiose visions…..I think Tesla is currently getting a dose of reality on costs and the

changing market sentiment. So fast forward three or four years, can’t really see a $20,000 trucklet.

Edited May 2, 2025 by jpd80

[DeluxeStang]

24 minutes ago, jpd80 said:

Yes, Farley kinda mentioned that in and interview a while back, I think it had to do with proportions 

when everyone was talking about short hoods and smaller frunks. At that time I was discussing with

DeluxeStang and others and just cautioning the unbridled optimism on CE1 being all things to everyone.

Unfortunately some other members saw that as being overly negative so I eased back on sharing opinions.

 

The whole point to recreating traditional segment vehicles is to have something a bit different,

and over time new buyers cycle in with differnt tastes - maybe some new proportions are good... 

 

I doubt that the $20,000 small pickup gains much traction once real engineering review begins

and the reality of todays costs seeps in. Current announcement is all about a bunch of execs

with grandiose visions…..I think Tesla is currently getting a dose of reality on costs and the

changing market sentiment. So fast forward three or four years, can’t really see a $20,000 trucklet.

Agreed, it's all about how those proportions, and the general design is executed. I've often said if Ford wants to do radical areo and cab forward design on some of their EVs, it would be really cool if instead of trying to make them look like more conventional affordable products, if they took styling influence from stuff that was more exotic and unique looking. Instead of trying to make a small affordable crossover look like the escape we're familiar with, try something radically different. 

 

Case in point, I don't know what project this sketch was created for, looks like Puma, but you can see how the front end has a almost Ford GT vibe to the shape of the headlights and front fascia. This probably wouldn't suit the look of a truck very well, but for like a small affordable funky crossover, this would be quite good and interesting looking. 

 

Edited May 2, 2025 by DeluxeStang

[rmc523]

On 5/2/2025 at 5:26 PM, jpd80 said:

Yes, Farley kinda mentioned that in and interview a while back, I think it had to do with proportions 

when everyone was talking about short hoods and smaller frunks. At that time I was discussing with

DeluxeStang and others and just cautioning the unbridled optimism on CE1 being all things to everyone.

Unfortunately some other members saw that as being overly negative so I eased back on sharing opinions.

 

The whole point to recreating traditional segment vehicles is to have something a bit different,

and over time new buyers cycle in with differnt tastes - maybe some new proportions are good... 

 

I doubt that the $20,000 small pickup gains much traction once real engineering review begins

and the reality of todays costs seeps in. Current announcement is all about a bunch of execs

with grandiose visions…..I think Tesla is currently getting a dose of reality on costs and the

changing market sentiment. So fast forward three or four years, can’t really see a $20,000 trucklet.

 

Oh I get that.  That particular comment was directed at the idea of purchasing Slate.......if they really wanted to appeal to both a traditional AND radical (style wise) type of buyer, they could just make a more traditional top hat and bifurcate the market with a radical CE1 design and a more traditional boxy CE1 version rather than outlaying a ton of cash for this new brand that seemingly doesn't have anything unique aside from DIY bolt ons.