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So three issues.
An ICE drivetrain is a certain size and shape- you have a big lump of engine under the hood, a fat cigar of a transmission under the center of the car, a gas tank in the back, etc.
An EV drivetrain has a VERY DIFFERENT size and shape- the entire battery and drive system is essentially a skateboard on top of which you can build the rest of the car.
So you can't just take an ICE car and swap out the ICE for batteries and motor. The whole car needs a redesign. And if you're making the car for modern, tech-savvy buyers, why would you make a boring old low-tech car?
Second- EVERY car is turning into a rolling datacenter like a smartphone. Try to buy a base model car with no screen and manual windows or whatever- it doesn't exist anymore in many brands. Automakers go for the high profit items, and that's NOT the base models.
Third- a lot of the tech is now mandatory. Backup cameras, and soon driver attention monitoring among other things.
Sad thing is- I think there's a demand for it, if the price is right. If getting rid of most of the tech dropped $10-20k off the sticker price I think whoever tried it would sell millions. I'm not sure you're allowed to anymore though.
Seems like Slate can get by with everything removed but airbags. And the price is right.
Starting at $25k, it's really not a great price :/. Seems like it'll be hard to compete with options like the Ford Fathom. EVs aren't as expensive as they used to be.
I love the Slate, and I hope to own one someday, but I'd probably shop for one that's a few years old.
I was super interested in the Slate until I realized it can't tow shit. I don't need anything crazy. An old S10 tows plenty for me. But not being able to tow a thing and being a truck is just a no go for me.
If the Fathom is 20k but has all the spyware we've come to expect from major manufacturers, I'd still buy the Slate. It annoys me that Bezos is involved, but I'd swallow that for some privacy in a new vehicle.
Yeah that's understandable. I pay more for auto insurance because I don't give them my data, so I get that. Hopefully this niche market will be big enough for Slate to survive.