Extra, Extra....Read All About It!

[cyure]

I hope this doesn’t cause any delays…

Edit: I have faith that this will not cause any delays.

Faith and patience…

 

[THil08]

https://www.wltx.com/article/news/state/lawmakers-delay-decision-on-covering-sc-agencys-overages-at-scout-motors-site/101-87d33983-01f3-4201-b655-0e1b6e3fb274

I put this up hours ago!!! But fricking cyure decided to talk about school bus yellow. She needs her own topic so she can rant.

 

[THil08]

I hope this doesn’t cause any delays…

Edit: I have faith that this will not cause any delays.

It probably won't just our deposit to get in line will be 30% if the car itself. Lol

 

[J Alynn]

I put this up hours ago!!! But fricking cyure decided to talk about school bus yellow. She needs her own topic so she can rant.

Sorry I missed that you posted it. My bad

 

[maynard]

I put this up hours ago!!! But fricking cyure decided to talk about school bus yellow. She needs her own topic so she can rant.

Calm down young man!

 

[jeremydunworth]

This is the case in many ways with industrial robotics and warehouse automation. Robots are replacing humans doing jobs that nobody wants to do anyway, and since those jobs are often tiresome, monotonous repetitive and sometimes dangerous, they also tend to have very high churn. Robots also use AI, so the metaphor for this is definitely accurate.

In the big picture, I agree with you. I would dispute whether AI is as necessary to industrial robots as the AI hype machine makes it out to be. And I still enjoy a good humanoid robot falling over video every chance I get to see one. For instance:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Wellthatsucks/comments/1v61xwb/qualcomm_introducing_its_new_ai_robot

This is a good quick read on the bullshit that is the current ML/AI hype cycle:

https://bsky.app/profile/timnitgebru.blacksky.app%2Fpost%2F3mrl4lukgrk2v

Edit: who is that presenter in the robot collapsing video? He is this guy: https://www.qualcomm.com/company/about/leadership/nakul-duggal

 

[THil08]

Just to show how friendly AI is and how smart these humanoid robots are. They have worst tempers than a 2 year old.

 

[tjnorden]

I don't feel like Slate and Telo are direct competitors. The Telo is kind of a micro truck for the urban US market. They may not be as expensive as Scout, but they are not aiming for the budget market either (IIRC, >$40k base price). That base price sacrifices battery size (and about 100 miles of range), and is not the dual motor version. Add in Trim levels - and a lot of Telos are going to exceed $50k. Slate is primarily aiming for the budget market - and the only reason they are smaller than a full sized truck is to cut costs. As a budget vehicle, if they hit their prices - I don't see many people buying loaded ones (although I do expect them to nickle and dime every penny from customers - will AC be extra, or a subscription?).

I live in a full sized truck culture. But have lived in the city before. Can not say I enjoy trying to park an F250 downtown - or even drive on some urban streets. So I can appreciate what the Telo is attempting, just not sure how large their market is going to be at their price level. It will be convenient, but might end up being priced out of the blue colar market. But if priced right, I could see my brother-in-law getting one as a dog mover. It could be a hit as a micro EV minivan - maybe even what the Buzz could have been.
---
In all honesty, the Telo interests me, the Slate does not. But that interest is tempered. I don't know how well the US market will accept a cab forward vehicle. Likewise, Telo seems to me like a LOT of other vehicles that I watched that did not have manufacturing backing and eventually just faded away. It just felt like the business plan was to sell the business, or sell the idea - not the vehicle.

I agree with this. I wasn't interested in the Slate but saw one in person last weekend in Newport RI and was actually kind of impressed with it. I didn't realize that if you got the SUV version it was relatively easy to convert it to back to a truck. If you needed (which I now think I do but the committee here has said no) a small SUV for around the town and occasionally a pickup it's a pretty good deal. It was also bigger than I thought it would be but still felt a lot smaller than a Rivian.

 

[Mousehunter]

Just doing more Telo research.

I guess the first question (actually my second, but it should have been first) is repair. Scout is planning for service centers, and mobile repair (which I do not recall, but expect will be via partnerships). Slate and Telo - partnership only. Ok, if you get enough partnerships, it might work. But now other than the partnership agreements, they really will not have a huge amount of control over the experience - not like the franchise model, and certainly not like a factory controlled model.

Second, was production. Telo has said they are attempting limited production in 2026. Will see how that works out for them as well. First off, they are not making the their own bodies. Well, that is probably fair - even GM used to not make their own bodies (but in all fairness, they did buy out the carriage builder (Fisher) in 1919...) They are hoping for 500 units this year, and ramping up production next year for a planned capacity of 5000 units per year. Honestly, that is really niche level. Like half the DeLorean production rate (of course that is not really fair, as Delorean had only a year of production). At that production rate, I don't see them as a huge "competitor" for anybody outside other niche vehicles. Per google article, Scout's initial serial production rate is planned at 70k/year, with the factory able to go up to 200k once fully operational.

 

[J Alynn]

Just doing more Telo research.

I guess the first question (actually my second, but it should have been first) is repair. Scout is planning for service centers, and mobile repair (which I do not recall, but expect will be via partnerships). Slate and Telo - partnership only. Ok, if you get enough partnerships, it might work. But now other than the partnership agreements, they really will not have a huge amount of control over the experience - not like the franchise model, and certainly not like a factory controlled model.

Second, was production. Telo has said they are attempting limited production in 2026. Will see how that works out for them as well. First off, they are not making the their own bodies. Well, that is probably fair - even GM used to not make their own bodies (but in all fairness, they did buy out the carriage builder (Fisher) in 1919...) They are hoping for 500 units this year, and ramping up production next year for a planned capacity of 5000 units per year. Honestly, that is really niche level. Like half the DeLorean production rate (of course that is not really fair, as Delorean had only a year of production). At that production rate, I don't see them as a huge "competitor" for anybody outside other niche vehicles. Per google article, Scout's initial serial production rate is planned at 70k/year, with the factory able to go up to 200k once fully operational.

It’s great they have realistic start up approach but at 5000 units a year, how do they even stay in business. Doesn’t seem sustainable even for a niche company

 

[J Alynn]

New hire for Scout Motors

Vice chair of Richland County Council takes community engagement position with Scout Motors

It’s not yet clear how the new position will interact with his seat on Richland County Council, but he won’t be required to abstain from future votes that involve the manufacturer.

www.postandcourier.com

 

[speedrye]

Probably not a good sign for Slate that only 10k have put their $300 preorder deposit down, of the 180k preorders.

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/first-drive-2027-slate-truck-prototype

I thought they'd have more preorders. Heck, Scout had 160k preorders 5 months ago, so they might be close to the 180k mark now as well.

 

[cyure]

Probably not a good sign for Slate that only 10k have put their $300 preorder deposit down, of the 180k preorders.

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/first-drive-2027-slate-truck-prototype

I thought they'd have more preorders. Heck, Scout had 160k preorders 5 months ago, so they might be close to the 180k mark now as well.

That take rate doesn’t seem great for them.

 

[Hedges1]

Heck, Scout had 160k preorders 5 months ago, so they might be close to the 180k mark now as well.

Jamie mentioned they were already North of 180,000 at the beginning of July. Based on the daily adds to the Reservation FB Group, especially the last few days, that number is increasing at a great pace.

 

[J Alynn]

Probably not a good sign for Slate that only 10k have put their $300 preorder deposit down, of the 180k preorders.

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/first-drive-2027-slate-truck-prototype

I thought they'd have more preorders. Heck, Scout had 160k preorders 5 months ago, so they might be close to the 180k mark now as well.

I bet Scout is in the solid 180’s by now for sure. I suspect the slate prices out too high for the primary demographic but just me guessing

 

[J Alynn]

Jamie mentioned they were already North of 180,000 at the beginning of July. Based on the daily adds to the Reservation FB Group, especially the last few days, that number is increasing at a great pace.

Love hearing that

 

[cyure]

I bet Scout is in the solid 180’s by now for sure. I suspect the slate prices out too high for the primary demographic but just me guessing

Also they really leaned into the EV tax credit and kept saying $20k. I’m sorry $27 and roll down windows is just too much for that.

This also proves my point that I still say the Scout launch edition at least needs to start with the number 6. Even if it’s a mid trim that starts at $69,999 fine, the first number is a 6.

 

[speedrye]

I bet Scout is in the solid 180’s by now for sure. I suspect the slate prices out too high for the primary demographic but just me guessing

Yeah, with the base version at $20k, I'd have one in the garage as the beater truck for errands and stuff. At a full 33% higher price? No thanks.

 

[speedrye]

Also they really leaned into the EV tax credit and kept saying $20k. I’m sorry $27 and roll down windows is just too much for that.

This also proves my point that I still say the Scout launch edition at least needs to start with the number 6. Even if it’s a mid trim that starts at $69,999 fine, the first number is a 6.

I much prefer Scout's stated "under $60k" which to me strongly implies the number 5.
I'm okay without a launch edition, so long as I get what I want. Faith and patience. Oh no, I'm starting to sound like you!

 

[Hedges1]

I much prefer Scout's stated "under $60k" which to me strongly implies the number 5.
I'm okay without a launch edition, so long as I get what I want. Faith and patience. Oh no, I'm starting to sound like you!

Everybody was pretty shocked to see Launch edition R2 loaded up and under $60k, but the Scout is much bigger vehicle and will come with another $5k in battery costs. They REALLY gotta leverage VW procurement advantages to stick to the previous pricing targets...but they haven't backed off yet. Regardless, I don't think we'll see sub $70k Scouts for awhile - that's just not how the cookie crumbles anymore. Sell Up out of the gate.