this post was submitted on 25 Apr 2025
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I mean, I get they need to cut costs, but come on.... a damn radio wouldnt have killed them
Didn't some Scions come with no radio? The idea being they were targeted at younger folks who were more likely to customize their stereo, so "no stereo, but all the speaker grilles and mount points for one" is a bit like the "no operating system -$211" option on a Laptop. Happy Linux user noises.
Honestly, as long as it's easily DIY upgradable (accessible speaker mounting locations, standard DIN panels, etc) I am all for this. Most OEM audio systems are stupidly overpriced and suck complete donkey balls compared to what you can get for a few hundred bucks at Crutchfield and install in an afternoon.
For the last 20 years or so, most factory audio systems are so integrated into the rest of the electronics that they can be an absolute nightmare to upgrade unless you are a pro, which means you get the worst of both worlds: garbage audio, AND a steep upgrade path.
I agree, and everyone basically want Apple/Android CarPlay units anyway. The hard part will be getting a wiring harness installed, unless there is some space provided in the dash (putting speakers or anything else in a door is really annoying for the experienced, and too tall an order for the beginner.
You can get them, but I kind of like the idea of just a Bluetooth third-party speaker
The Citroen AMI doesn't have speakers either, it comes with a Bluetooth speaker instead, which you can use outside the car. It makes sense if you just think of the entertainment stuff as something that shouldn't be part of the car and can easily be upgraded/replaced down the line.
Agreed. It's a car. I have an entertainment system at home and great speakers for listening. Cars suck for actual listening quality anyways.
You spent hours in that thing and phone speakers are not made to be louder than traffic and drive noises, especially not for so long. Also a radio offers traffic and accident news from local stations. And if they cheap out on speakers I am quite sure they also don't offer USB ports to charge the phone you run in lieu of a build in system
I definitely read an article somewhere where it says that they provide USB power for the tablet/phone.
kagis
This article has it:
https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a64580484/slate-truck-ev-pickup-truck-suv/
EDIT: I think that a better criticism is that this thing is just a prototype, still almost two years away from mass production, assuming everything goes right for them. Like, they could have any number of things go wrong (the Trump tariff situation, for one...hard to have any idea where things will be). It could be that they crash into problems trying to get mass production going. It could be that they can't hit their target price point.
Speakers are optional. I built one on their site. Speakers are available.
They shouldn't be an upgrade. Basic speakers are like 50 bucks, for an item that costs 20k, thats a drop in the bucket
You can buy a mid-range loudspeaker for like $5 at an electronics store.
This vehicle is clearly meant as an errand truck, not a roadtripper. It wasn't that long ago when base model work trucks didn't have a radio or speakers installed.
Quit getting pissy over something that doesn't even exist yet.