Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the amount that Slate Auto is investing in its future manufacturing plant in Warsaw. The correct figure is $383 million. News Now Warsaw regrets the error
By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsa
WARSAW — Dream a little dream.
And then fast forward to a year from now, when Slate Auto pickups begin rolling off the assembly line in Warsaw, and then ask yourself a simple question:
How many people will be motoring around Warsaw in a Slate?
Exactly how well the company will do nationally remains an open question, but based on the level of interest seen over the past three days, it appears many area residents have an open mind.
On Friday, several hundred turned out for a close-up look at several Slate prototypes on display in front of the Kosciusko County Courthouse.
It was the third day of a high-profile series of events involving Slate in Kosciuko County — a coordinated effort aimed at endearing the community to its newest corporate partner, which plans to invest some $383 million in a new production plant west of the city that will add 2,000 jos to the local economy.
On Wednesday, nearly 450 people packed the Oawood Event Center in Syracuse for KEDCO’s annual dinner that featured Slate CEO Chris Barmanspeak in her first public address since the company announced in April plans to renovate the old RR Donnelly plant into an automobile manufacturing facility.
A day later, the company celebrated its arrival with a gathering at its Old Road 30 facility and offered tours to guests.
Slate’s goal is to shake up the auto industry by being the first American automaker to offer electric vehicles that start around $25,000, and is doing so by producing stripped-down “Blank Slates” that are ready to go and can be customized and enhanced in numerous different ways.
The Michigan-based company is enticing interest by relying in part on an online “configurator” that allows anyone to look at the different variations that will be available.
Warsaw resident David Driscoll, 30, got his first glimpse of the product on Friday at the block party
“I’ve been seeing them all over the internet (and) have been to the configurator multiple times, so this is the first time I’ve seen one in person,” Driscoll said while standing in a crowd of onlookers quietly gazing at the models.
He said he was impressed with the way Slate has introduced itself to the community while also creating a buzz.
Asked what his thoughts are on the EV concept, he added, “I wouldn’t say I’m a fan, but I’m open to the idea.”
He said he wants to learn more about the cost of building upon the “Blank Slate.”
The company said they’ve already lined up 100,000 people who have put down $50 to reserve a vehicle.
“I will be curious to see how many people actually pull the trigger on that,” Driscoll said.
Jocelyn Fischer, an experiential marketing manager for Slate, said Friday’s event exceeded expectations.
“I love it that this many people show up. What a turnout!” she said.
The company will continue to rev up interest.
“We have a lot in store coming up, Fischer said.
“We’ll continue our road shows, we’ll announce some partnerships coming up and we’ll be all over the country,” Fischer said.
