A recent editorial in Automotive News calls for the production of “appliance cars” with bare bones features that exclude much of the infotainment system.
The column by Jerry Hirsch says the surge in vehicle prices has made cars unaffordable to many buyers. The Toyota RAV4, the bestselling non-pickup vehicle in America, now carries an average price of over $41,500 compared to $33,2000 in 2021.
And the average cost of vehicle ownership is now at about $1,000 per month with all expenses included. Hirsch asks, “How long can this go on?” He calls for smaller vehicles with great fuel economy and safety features but fewer extras. “Automakers don’t need to include embedded infotainment beyond Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Let buyers bring their own navigation and entertainment.”
Certainly, such a trend might benefit the aftermarket.
A truck along these lines is due later this year. As widely reported, Slate Auto plans to release a pickup truck with only bare bones features at a price in the mid $20,000s. It has two seats, grey only (no paint), and a truck bed large enough to hold a sheet of plywood. There’s no power windows, and only 150 mile range. The truck is also small, about 25 inches shorter than a Ford Maverick.
Instead of an infotainment system, there’s only a universal phone mount with USB power.
Then users can pay for extras from a selection of 100 accessories, including a bracket that can hold a large tablet for your screen. There’s also an option for a holder for a portable Bluetooth speaker and users can buy accessory speakers.
Slate Auto also offers a steering wheel controller to control your connected devices.
Slate Auto has said in the past, “Built-in infotainment systems raise a car’s price, and they become outdated quickly and have high failure rates.”
Slate Auto is well funded. One of its backers is Jeff Bezos and it recently secured $650 million to help its launch, says the EV Report.
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so it’s not the lane watch cameras, the auto braking, the EPA mandated MPG, the manditory airbags and the numerous other tech that adds to the price of the vehicle? the stereo is what puts it over the edge. I am in the insustry long enough to remember when cars came with block off plates instead of a radio. It is good news to us!