Survey Sunday: will the Ford Fathom steal Slate Auto's thunder?

Key Points:

• Electrek conducted a survey with nearly 2,700 responses to gauge readers' opinions on whether Ford’s upcoming $30,000 all-electric Fathom pickup would negatively impact Slate Auto, a Bezos-backed startup with a similarly priced electric truck.
• Most respondents were non-committal, believing it was too soon to tell or that price differences could still matter significantly to some buyers, while a vocal minority criticized Ford’s dealer network as a potential disadvantage.
• Some commenters drew parallels between Slate Auto’s approach and historic Ford models like the Model T and Falcon, emphasizing Slate’s focus on affordability, customization, and local service as potential competitive advantages.
• Concerns were raised that Ford’s announcement alone might create a "chilling effect" on Slate’s preorders, as potential buyers may delay purchases to compare the two trucks, regardless of which vehicle is objectively better.
• The discussion highlights broader market dynamics where legacy automaker strategies, dealer networks, and startup innovation intersect, with uncertainty about how these factors will influence the success of both electric pickups.