Slate Trucks Skip Dealerships, But Service Plan Raises Questions

Slate Trucks won't be sold at dealerships, so buyers won't have to haggle over the $26,400 advertised price. But when a vehicle breaks, and this is Slate's first product, the question of where to get it fixed matters. Consumer Reports says EVs still tend to have more issues than gas cars, so the concern is real.

Slate says it will rely on more than 3,000 RepairPal service providers nationwide. The four-year, 50,000-mile warranty covers the truck, while the powertrain and battery are covered for 10 years or 110,000 miles. That battery warranty promises at least 70% capacity by the end, which would drop the 205-mile range to about 144 miles.

A Recurrent study found modern EVs usually keep more than 90% of their charge after three years, which would mean roughly 185 miles.

Slate also wants owners to handle some maintenance themselves. The Slate App and free Slate U hub are meant to teach simple jobs like filling washer fluid, changing cabin air filters, and swapping wipers. Owners can track their own service records there. If someone gets stuck, they can share images with Slate and get help from a support tech.

Still, parts of the plan have wrinkles. Roadside assistance is included in the warranty, but Slate says it may not be available everywhere. A press release said buyers would always be close to a service center, but a footnote clarified most would be within 100 miles and that provider might not be able to do warranty repairs.

Electrical and battery work will be limited to specially trained RepairPal shops, about 200 locations so far, or 15% of the network.

Skipping dealerships isn't necessarily fatal. D. Power rates the Model 3 higher than the BMW 3 Series. Slate argues that right-to-repair limits have locked out owners and independent mechanics, and its service setup could be an advantage. Whether a four-door pickup is next? No word.