G. David Felt

How many times have you heard people say EVs are too expensive! Only the rich can afford an EV! Funded by Jeff Beso, SLATE set out to bring back the simple needs of the bulk of America by building a basic two-person electric truck that would do truck things basically and not much else. Yet if you wanted, you could expand later on to let the truck be so much more. SLATE set themselves a clear goal, build a truck that would be inexpensive, offer radical customizable and affordable options that would allow one to personalize their own transportation ending in a beautifully simplified means of transportation. SLATE CEO Chris Barman at their reveal tonight stated the following: “Slate exists to put the power back in the hands of customers who have been ignored by the auto industry. Slate is a radical truck platform so customizable that it can transform from a 2-seat pickup to a 5-seat SUV.” One would be right to ask, how does one go about being a disruptive business model in an industry that has taken things to the ultimate luxury level, ignoring the basic entry level needs? Simple, start with a simplified manufacturing process, removing unnecessary content while increasing reliability. SLATE delivered tonight the basic EV Pickup that starts with things many might not know existed at one time by traveling back to the 1970's. Steel Wheels Manual Crank Windows Manual HVAC knobs Large Frunk that handles 1,400lbs payload This just for the beginning brings so much more that many have probably never thought about in a DIY Unlimited personalization approach to autos. Slate starts with having over 100 accessories that can be purchased as a bundle or ala-cart. One can do this at the time of order or over time. SLATE points out that the truck can be anything, need more people room, get the flat-pack, an accessory kit that creates a five person SUV. The kit includes additional bench seat, roll cage, airbags that can be done by yourself or be done for you. The truck is designed as a clean SLATE that allows unlimited personalization in vehicle wrapping by yourself or a pro. Yet they do not stop there, we all have heard "Bring your own tech". Rather than learn a new interface, use the one you love. Slate introduces the universal phone mount and USB power. Add a dedicated tablet if you want to. This made in America truck was designed for top personal safety and will have the following standard features: Emergency braking Forward Collision Warning Up to eight airbags This EV pickup for everyone has the following features in regards to the battery pack, range and charging: Two battery packs 52.7 kWh, rwd estimated 150-mile range 84.3 kWh with an estimated range of 240-miles NACS charging port Home charging overnight DC fast charging to 80% in under 30 minutes using 150 kW charger. SLATE has stated transparent pricing is the key, expected starting price to be under $20,000 after current federal incentives. Just a $50 deposit to reserve your pickup / SUV today. Build your SLATE today: SLATE Auto | The Customizable EV That Works for You View full article

This is interesting, @A Horse With No Name saw this today on Instagram as it was Mexico plated BYD driving in California. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHjpyzky6k3/?igsh=MTl0a3lxOGR0YjZtMA==

If I was rich with extra cash I would have shorted Tesla stock back at the start of Idiot47 having taken office and Black Maga Puppet Master Musk having done the stupidity he is doing. At this point, I do not see Tesla recovering and the market is not really recovering either. I suspect it would take forensic accounting review of Tesla, but I think Fraud has already happened in many ways, just look at the GPU issue thing and the movement of them to his AI project. Things are moved around, does not seem to be any paper trail or transparency of the business. Manipulation all for his own personal interest. If the Tesla Cyber Truck was the winner Musk promised, then the 800V system and the style would be selling over and over without the thousands sitting around and the idling of the assembly line. If Tesla was truly leading the auto industry, then the New Y would be on 800V and not still running on a 400V system. Other auto companies, especially in China have far exceeded Tesla now. Tesla is becoming irrelevant. Their biggest plus is their supercharger stations, the rest of their auto line is pathetic.

So we have not posted a story on the Toyota version of this same EV, Toyota bZ7 which I personally think is way better looking and is even better looking than the Tesla S. Thoughts? @Paolino @ccap41 @smk4565 @surreal1272 @A Horse With No Name @oldshurst442 @Drew Dowdell Toyota bZ7 Toyota full bZ family of EVs

My sister has the Envision from China, previously GMC, has had less problems with the Buick than the GMC, so for whatever reason, the Chinese made SUV is more reliable than the US built version. Weird, but I get it, she is going to wait till more Buicks can come back in without the stupid tariffs before upgrading again. Other than that noticeable issue, I totally agree with you and Robert.

Doh, Yup, my bad, I was fast looking at the spec and see I looked at the regular. Good catch. CX-9 is still cramped on the Komodo dragon bang your head getting in and the way they design the seats. It is Cramped. This is also why I have not bought a newer Escalade as GM changed the way the seats work and they are cramped also as the seats do not go down and back as far as they do in my 2006 Escalade. Course with no support for AA / AP it is dead on arrival for all GM EVs. In regards to the 2026 Lexus GX, better as they have de-emphasized the Predator Mouth grill, but still this is Ugly to me.

I agree with the institutional investors that Musk is full of BS and even if he steps back from DOGE, his focus will be on AI and Robots, not TESLA Autos. Major Tesla Investor Rips 'Delusional' Elon Musk After Earnings Call This story pretty much reenforces that the focus is on everything else but Tesla Auto's. Elon Musk says China wants assurances that magnets for Tesla's humanoid robot won't be used for 'military purposes'

Good Point, my 2006 Escalade ESV is 198.9 inches long, so round up to 199 inches and it fits in my garage, but the house was built in 1962. It cannot fit in my sister's newer house from 2007, so I cannot see how these even longer new EVs are going to fit in a modern garage unless they feel everyone will just park outside. WOW, parking lots that have small parking spots are going to be super tight with this car. Super long but not super wide as it is 4 inches shorter width than my Escalade. That is weird, long and skinny? Tacky overall and does NOT say luxury to me. Totally agree with @smk4565 that those plastic lines on the outside of the doors is TERRIBLE.

Eron started out as a Legit business, a merger between Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth but then changed under CEO Kenneth Lay into energy trading and utilities, and I agree with you that they did commit fraud on many levels, but the review by the SEC showed that the last few years just before the collapse was when this all happened. So, two companies wanting to become bigger, merge, continue to have success and then move into other areas of possible growth, but due to incompetence by the executives on risky trading and other areas started to inflate profits to hide the trading losses. The CEO was like a Gambling addict who wanted more and more and yet as he lost, he figured he could hide it till he struck it big and then right side out the company. Sadly, at the expense of so many people he destroyed the company and many employees and investors savings. I have NOTHING against the Technology or the people at Tesla who created very solid Motors, Controller boards and battery packs. My issue is with the person who bought himself a CEO position and the constant lies even now at the quarterly report on what Tesla will deliver. He now hides things, and I suspect the use of AI, Robots, FSD, Robotaxi, etc. are all used to conceal the shaky nature of Tesla. I do suspect Tesla is playing a house of cards and is not as secure as they tend to present. IMHO

🤢 Kinda feel it has a Snowplow face that only a mother could love. Terrible style imho

Easy, Enron grew and became profitable and kept growing and with the growth crazy CEO led comments about future growth, then everything just vaporized and people lost everything. Tesla has also grown, become profitable and the current idiot CEO keeps promising the sky of BS. I feel the floor could verywhell drop out from under them.

Will be interesting to see the whole 3/4 view image with that back wing.

Crazy American's willing to gamble on poor leadership in Tesla. Makes no sense and like ERON, I now feel that TESLA will be a scam that leaves the stockholders crying in the future years. TESLA = PONZI scam I also still like Stihl and have my Dads chain saw that still runs great. Newer stuff might be more questionable.

Buick like Chrysler are Dead Auto Brands stagnant. The Tariffs are just stupid and if you do the full 245% that has been in the news makes Buick dead, dead, dead. Then we have Mazda announcement that they have stopped all production of the CX50 model for the Canada market as they are not going to deal with the Tariffs to go over the border. As such, people laid off, less product, but Canada will now get their CX50's from Japan according to the news. Buick like Mazda are now casualties of idiot leadership by a person who never has had to work hard let alone build anything in a global market.

Seems GM has surpassed Tesla in battery cell production according to Bloomberg story and interview with Mary. GM Produces More Battery Cells In The US Than Tesla

Excuses for the guy about having PTSD. He is a bully, an idiot and deserves in Jail.

Not Overthinking is a good thing this year with all the craziness going on. Washington just raised their gas tax 6 cents per gallon, so 55 cents for WA tax and 18.4 for Fed tax, so a 73.4 cents in fuel tax on top of the gas price. On average 40 to 45 cents per gallon cheaper at Costco/Sams Club here. Worth waiting in line unless I have a dollar discount at Fred Meyers which I get about once a month. Makes it worth fueling up at their slow pumps to save $32 on a tank full. Like you Drew, not renewing Sams Club, just not seeing the value in comparison to Costco here. Sadly Dell has done a RTO for full campuses, Hybrid for all others. As such, I now have to go into work 3 days a week. Lucky our Light Rail just opened up, so rather than 1 to 1 1/2 hrs in my own auto to drive into Seattle. I can drive 5 min to the Lynnwood rail station, jump on the train and be 4 blocks from the office 35 min later. Seattle requires all businesses to provide mass transit passes, good on the busses, trains or ferry system. Looking at fueling up every 4 to 5 weeks now for my Escalade.

Yes sad but he did have his time. While not a religious person, I was happy he was from humble roots in Brazil. He related to the common humanity across our globe way better than some pops that came from well to do backgrounds and felt they were a cast above the lowest group of homeless people. RIP Pope Francis.

We are only at the beginning of a Major Recession if not an outright depression due to Stagflation, the increase in inflation, increase in costs and all Americans being Fleeced by the Idiot Lemmings in DC allowing Idiot47 to destroy the country. Seems the latest is that most auto assembly workers are living pay check to pay check. As such, when companies lay off to stop production due to the economic down turn, many will loose everything I fear. Sad that so many studies show 3 out of 4 workers are living paycheck to paycheck in the U.S. 2025 wage reality: Millions of workers living paycheck to paycheck This is one of the best in depth reads on all income levels and how or why they live paycheck to paycheck. Who Is the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Consumer in America?

This is very cool story, history of when GM started to look at building mass production EVs. Great video of the EV in the story. Retro Rides: The 1969 all-electric GM XP 512E concept Seems GM is sitting on thousands of unsold BrightDrop vans. As such, they are going to lay off the CAMI plant workers till the fall and then only bring back a smaller group of workers. GM throttles down BrightDrop production at CAMI plant Seems the biggest part of the problem is that GM is over $20,000 more than the equal van from Ford in e-Transit form. GM faces BrightDrop EV crisis: Overflowing lots and mass layoffs

This is pathetic and will hurt America and the Citizens long term. The folk at the end is sad as this is the worst tech layout in a long time and no one is hiring. I feel for all those that have lost their jobs.