Is It Time for Automakers to Create More Simplistic Vehicles Without the Extra Features? | Carscoops

      Would you support Ford, Toyota, and GM in eliminating unnecessary features to reduce the initial cost of new vehicles?

      21 hours ago

      by Chris Chilton

      Marie Kondo's Netflix show, Tidying Up, from 2019, motivated countless individuals to reevaluate their accumulated possessions and discard what they didn't need. Six years later, could Slate's extremely basic Truck bring about a similar change in the automotive world?

      Slate claims it aims to create a vehicle that includes all vital functional and safety features modern drivers require, while omitting any extraneous additions. This means no flashy color-changing LED lights, no complex touchscreen interfaces, no cooled seats, and no advanced cruise control that allows you to let go of the wheel while eating lunch on the go.

      Do You Really Need All Those Features?

      The electric Truck from Slate goes even further, as the standard version lacks a radio, speakers, and relies on manual windows. Most features you would typically expect from manufacturers like Ford or Toyota can be added as options, but this would increase the overall cost.

      By excluding these features from standard options, Slate is promising a price of $28,000 for the truck, which could drop to $20,000 if tax credits are still applicable when production begins next year.

      Dacia's approach of low-cost and minimal content has gained significant traction in Europe, where the Sandero has become the best-selling car. In the United States, where Dacia is absent, the concept of a more stripped-down vehicle like Slate appears to pique the interest of car enthusiasts.

      This leads us to question whether other manufacturers ought to offer more basic cars, trucks, and SUVs with significantly less technology than even their entry-level models currently feature.

      Even the most basic Maverick XL comes with an 8-inch touchscreen (Ford)

      The fully-loaded Maverick XL

      The entry-level Maverick XL, while considered basic, would still present a long list of features for Marie Kondo to critique, despite being far less luxurious than the high-end Lariat model. The XL comes equipped with air conditioning, power locks and windows, cruise control, Bluetooth, an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, an electric parking brake, and automatic LED lights.

      In many instances, it may cost Ford more to create simplified alternatives to these features than to keep them included. Evidence suggests that manufacturers like Audi find it more financially viable to produce entry-level cars loaded with various features, only making them inactive unless owners opt for a subscription plan.

      Remember When Mirrors Were Optional?

      Equipment levels have improved over time, and features once exclusive to luxury cars are now standard. For instance, 40 years ago, BMW was willing to sell even their 7-series in certain markets without a radio, manual transmission, cloth seats, and with only one mirror.

      While it's expected that vehicles will become better equipped as time passes, it does seem that automakers in the 1980s and 1990s were more willing to offer simpler variants. If this is true, the reason for the lack of basic trims today may be that consumers actually prefer more luxurious options.

      Could you forgo some features of the Maverick XL if it meant Ford could lower the price to around $20,000? Would you appreciate it if other manufacturers pursued similar strategies in simplifying their vehicles and cutting costs? Or do you believe that features like touchscreens, Bluetooth, power locks, trip computers, and cruise control should be standard on all vehicles, irrespective of the price?