I'm holding out hope for https://www.slate.auto/en I know it's somehow associated with Amazon, is it going to be a cloud-connected privacy nightmare. I haven't heard anything about it, but I also wouldn't be surprised.

Slate doesn't have infotainment. It's BYOD with a dashboard mount and a USB connection for car integration.

I haven't heard specifically about connectedness otherwise, but I highly doubt there is a hidden SIM card in there somewhere.

It rumored to have VC funding from Besos, but that doesn't give them special access to Amazon nor Amazon special access to Slat.

It can lead to conflicts of interest (see also: https://www.law.com/delbizcourt/2025/10/29/attorney-for-amaz...) but that's a far cry from significant data sharing.

Privacy nightmare undoubtedly, but if you want affordable EVs BYD has you covered. A fully-functional, crash-worthy and apparently quite decent EV for around 16,000 USD (in Australia).

If you can't buy one, blame your government:

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-reviews/2026-byd-atto-1-rev...

What do you mean by crash-worthy? Like it's so cheap it doesn't matter if you wreck it, or that you're likely to survive if you're in a crash?

It means you're likely to survive in a crash.

The Cerice is lovely but if you have a high-speed crash with another car in it you're in big trouble.

The car starts at about €45k, about the same price as a Tesla Model 3!

That's ex VAT.

It's 45k for a very unique car built in the EU. I don't think the price tag is that bad, honestly. It's a fun car for people who already have 2 others.

It’s a shame the Nissan Leaf has so many privacy issues, because otherwise the price is good.

It's a few grand more than a Focus ST. Hardly "luxury" money.

For a toy? definitely "luxury money"

I wouldn't say a "toy". Depending on your needs you could easily daily a 2-seater convertible with a couple of hundred miles range.

Yeah toy might be a little negative. I think it's a leisure vehicle, and, at least as I read the marketing, they're leaning into that. Seems like the extended range model is 300km. If you need a car, you probably don't want it to be this one.

Don’t know the cost here but I would fathom it’s not “cloud connected”

> What is the price of a Carice TC2?

> Prices for a TC2 start at €44.500 excluding taxes (€53.854 including 21% btw/Dutch tax).

I guess that makes it a luxury EV ...