Is this the solution to the bloat issue in American trucks?

Last night, an audacious new automaker named Slate Auto unveiled its first vehicle—a minimalist, no-frills electric truck designed to combat America’s obsession with oversized, overpowered vehicles. With a target price under $20,000 (after incentives), 150 miles of range, and a stripped-back design, the Slate Truck is a bold experiment in right-sizing personal transportation.

But will it succeed in a market dominated by monster trucks and SUVs?

Why America’s Obsession With Bigger Trucks Is a Problem

1. The Rise of the “Land Yacht”

In 2024, trucks and SUVs made up 75% of new vehicle sales—up from just 50% a decade ago.
The average new car now weighs over 5,000 lbs (2.27 tons), with EVs like the Ford F-150 Lightning pushing 6,500 lbs.
Bigger vehicles = deadlier roads:
- Pedestrian deaths surged 57% from 2013–2022 (NHTSA).
- Trucks with tall hoods (40+ inches) are 44% more lethal (IIHS).

2. The “Compact Truck” Is Nearly Extinct

Ford Maverick (2024):
- 199.7 inches long, 83.5 inches wide
- Considered “small” by today’s standards
Slate Truck:
- 174.6 inches long, 70.6 inches wide
- Closer in size to a classic 1985 Toyota pickup

“Our roads are packed with roving land yachts. The Slate Truck is a throwback to when vehicles were sized for humans, not egos.”

Slate Truck: What You Get (And What You Don’t)

✅ The Good: Simple, Affordable, Functional

✔ **20KPriceTag∗∗–Halfthecostofanaveragenewcar(20KPriceTag∗∗–Halfthecostofanaveragenewcar(49,740).
✔ No Bloatware – No touchscreen, no stereo, no paint (keeps costs down).
✔ Smartphone-Centric – Uses a phone/tablet mount + basic gauge cluster.
✔ Practical Hauling – 1,433 lbs payload, 1,000 lbs towing (enough for most users).

❌ The Trade-Offs

150-Mile Range – Fine for city use, but not for road trips.
No Luxury Features – If you want Apple CarPlay or a premium sound system, look elsewhere.
Aftermarket Customization Required – Want paint? A stereo? You’ll have to DIY.

Could This Be the Start of a “Small Truck” Revival?

Why the Timing Might Be Right

EV Incentives – Federal tax credits could keep prices under $20K.
Younger Buyers – Gen Z and Millennials prefer affordability over status symbols.
Urban Living – Smaller trucks are easier to park in cities.

The Biggest Challenges

⚠ Consumer Psychology – Will buyers reject a “cheap” truck in a premium-obsessed market?
⚠ Political Risk – A Trump win could kill EV tax credits, raising the price.
⚠ Production Realities – Most EV startups fail. Can Slate deliver by 2026?

Verdict: A Long Shot, But a Necessary One

The Slate Truck isn’t for everyone—but it doesn’t need to be. If even 5% of truck buyers opt for a smaller, cheaper, more efficient alternative, it could shift the auto industry’s trajectory.

Final Question:

Would you drive a $20K electric truck with no frills?

Yes, if it saves money!
No, I need more power/luxury.

Apple might space out the upcoming iPhone models to accommodate a foldable

Elon Musk’s replacement was denied by the Tesla board

Without the Google search agreement, Firefox may be gone, according to an executive

Cars

Trevor Milton, the founder of Nikola, is charged with attempting to sabotage the bankruptcy case

by George Mensah 2025-04-12

What started as a smooth court hearing on Friday regarding the sale of Nikola Corporation’s key assets to Lucid Motors took a sharp turn toward controversy — all thanks to a late intervention by a familiar figure from Nikola’s past.

The hearing, conducted via Zoom and overseen by Delaware bankruptcy judge Thomas Horan, had been progressing without a hitch. No formal objections had been filed, and Judge Horan gave his verbal approval for the sale without hesitation. That is, until a new voice broke the calm.

A lawyer, representing ISSO LLC — a firm tied to Trevor Milton, Nikola’s embattled founder — spoke up. His client had “concerns” about the auction process, the attorney said, though he clarified they could be addressed later. He emphasized, however, that he didn’t want his client’s current silence to be used against them in future legal proceedings.

This seemingly minor comment cast a long shadow over what should have been a straightforward conclusion. Trevor Milton, recently spared a prison term by a pardon from former President Donald Trump, appears far from finished with Nikola.

Milton’s Ongoing Influence and Legal Entanglements

Trevor Milton has a complicated history with Nikola. After resigning amid fraud allegations, he faced multiple lawsuits and an arbitration award ordering him to pay $168 million to Nikola — a sum that plays a critical role in the company’s ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Before filing for bankruptcy, Nikola agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit from shareholders who had accused Milton of making false and misleading statements. That settlement hinged on distributing any proceeds from the arbitration award to affected shareholders.

Milton’s legal maneuvering during the bankruptcy process has not gone unnoticed. His representatives’ attempts to contest the sale or delay proceedings suggest he may be angling to undermine the company’s efforts to stabilize and move forward — potentially impacting that $168 million award.

What Lucid Motors Is Gaining — and What Nikola Still Holds

Despite the courtroom drama, the sale to Lucid Motors was officially approved. Lucid acquired:

Nikola’s Coolidge, Arizona factory
The Phoenix headquarters lease
Key manufacturing equipment
Around 300 Nikola employees who will join Lucid’s workforce

However, Nikola is not completely out of the asset business. It retains its inventory of hydrogen-powered trucks and various other equipment, leaving the door open for additional sales to generate much-needed funds.

Nikola’s Legal Team Pushes Back Against Milton

Nikola’s attorney, Joshua Morris, made it clear during the hearing that Milton’s last-minute objections were not only expected but also unwelcome.

“This is a pattern of behavior that we’ve seen over and over,” Morris said, referencing Milton’s history of disruptive tactics.

Morris argued that Milton’s actions appeared to be an effort to sabotage Nikola’s recovery, speculating that Milton might be trying to force a desperation-driven settlement that would devalue the arbitration award he owes.

“We believe these are baseless assertions. When asked for any evidence or specificity, none was provided,” Morris stated. “We ran the sale process openly and involved all parties.”

Ultimately, the hearing concluded without any formal delays, though the unresolved tension between Milton and his former company leaves open the possibility of future legal battles.

A spokesperson for Milton did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

What This Means for Nikola’s Future

The approval of the asset sale to Lucid Motors is a critical milestone for Nikola as it seeks to navigate bankruptcy proceedings and chart a path forward. However, Trevor Milton’s lingering influence and legal maneuvers could continue to complicate efforts to fully stabilize the company.

As Nikola pushes forward, the focus will likely remain on:

Successfully liquidating remaining assets
Upholding the shareholder settlement linked to Milton’s arbitration award
Minimizing disruption from ongoing legal threats

Lucid Motors, meanwhile, gains valuable infrastructure and talent to bolster its own ambitions in the competitive EV market.

Cars

Amazon’s Zoox starts robotaxi testing in Los Angeles

by George Mensah 2025-04-08

Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous car unit, is deploying a small fleet of adapted test vehicles on Los Angeles streets beginning Tuesday, a tiny but significant step as the company prepares to provide public rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco later this year.

The data-collection endeavor marks Zoox’s entry into its sixth city and provides the framework for a potential robotaxi service. Zoox, unlike rival Waymo, which offers paid robotaxi rides in Los Angeles, is still in its early phases. This deployment will send out manually driven Toyota Highlanders equipped with Zoox’s self-driving technology to collect mapping data ahead of more extensive autonomous testing in Los Angeles this summer.

Zoox is actively testing its self-driving vehicles, including the Highlander test fleet and a purpose-built robotaxis without a steering wheel or pedals, in multiple cities. Notably, Zoox has increased the regions where its purpose-built robotaxi is being tested on public highways without a human driver, including Foster City, San Francisco, and Las Vegas. Zoox recently invited employees, reporters, and other qualified guests to test the service.

The company is also doing tests in Austin, Miami, and Seattle with Highlanders driven by human safety operators.

Zoox’s expansion in California comes just a few weeks after the company issued a voluntary software recall on 258 vehicles owing to difficulties with its autonomous driving system that caused unexpected forceful braking.

Zoox’s debut into Los Angeles comes after Waymo launched a fully autonomous commercial robotaxi service in the city. Waymo is currently the only AV firm in the United States that provides a paid service in many areas, including the Bay Area, Phoenix, and Austin. The Alphabet-owned startup plans to establish a commercial service in Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, D.C. within the next two years.

Load More Posts