Comment by alistairSH 3 days ago
~$30k for a manual-window, slow-charging truck? Will anybody in the US actually want one?
It's a cool concept... looks good to my eye, small trucks are neat, etc. But, I'd want push-button windows, up-to-date charge controller/battery tech, and the normal EV integrated app. Maybe if it was really a $20k truck (they're advertising the price after incentives, many of which are either going away or vanish for higher income earners).
>It's a cool concept... looks good to my eye, small trucks are neat
And it's barely a truck, 1000-lb towing capacity. A VW Golf can tow twice as much.
Makes you wonder if they picked that form factor to appeal to a certain market segment that's current underserved?
I love the concept, but at $20.000USD it's to much. My guess is that they'd need to hit 15.000USD for the extend range version. Two minor thing I would chance, as others pointed out: Bench seat, and the second: Just make the holes/mounting options for an after market stereo.
Hopefully this is successful and will push other manufacturers to create similar options. I saw an old Morris parked outside the gym the other day, it took up maybe 2/3 of a parking space, it was perfectly size for my grandparents, it perfectly sized for my needs. I get that the car grows a bit in size, once all the modern safety features are added, but I don't see why that would amount to much more than the size of say an Opel Kadett D or E, or a Volvo for the 1980s.
I bought a new car (EV) 3 years ago. $20K is too much for a 150m range truck, though I probably still wouldn't buy a 150m truck for $15K.
Nissan is still selling 2,300 LEAFs in the U.S. per quarter, with a much worse charging story.
https://usa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/nissan-group-repor...
Thing is, it's not even really a $20k truck. It's a ~$30k truck, with some federal rebates available to some buyers.
If it was a legit $20k truck/SUV, it would make a fine replacement for my wife's current car (at least by usage requirements, but not even close by style/luxury demands).
> Tell me you haven't purchased a vehicle in the current millennium, without telling me?
I have, and I think they are way to expensive for the use I get. My issue is that $20.000 quickly becomes $30.000 once my government is done with adding taxes. I drive a 12 year old car, original price was ~25.000USD. It's going to be around 30.000USD to replace it, once it dies. The price difference between getting an extremely bare bones car vs. one from a known brand, in colour, with better range going to be negligible I fear.
Anyone? Sure. If this was available 2 months ago, I may have bought one instead of a used Polestar. The Polestar is wildly faster, more luxurious, better range, but I'd have liked a truck, and if I got the $7500 tax credit, I'd have paid about $9k less for this. (Used, 20k miles, $29k.)
Lots of people? Much harder to say. Has to be either "first car" kind of thing for someone young, or "second car" in a family where it's OK to have a 2-seater with limited range be used for commuting/errands. (Or "third car" for people with money to spare.)
There's a 5-seat SUV version, so that expands the market a bit. I'm still not convinced it'll sell without beefing up the specs a bit while maintaining the price.
"third car" for people with money to spare.
Yeah, but the same ~$20k - $30k buys you a heck of a lot more ICE. A new Maverick XLT starts in that range. Or a Lariat trim at $34k. And if this is just a toy, that same money gets you in a new base or very high-spec used Miata.
120kW charging system, so ~30 minute 20-80% (on a relatively small battery), was what I saw. It's not "wall plug" slow, but it's nowhere near state-of-the-art. The small battery and slow(-ish) charging means it's mostly a run-about and less (relatively) suitable for roadtrips. The American market loves to buy on the most intense use, not the average or minimal - giant pickup trucks because somebody might go to Home Depot once a season or tow a small boat at the beginning/end of lake season. Etc.
>I'd want push-button windows, up-to-date charge controller/battery tech, and the normal EV integrated app.
Don't they already have Cybertrucks for that ;)