Imagine a truck that’s electric, affordable, and can be customized even into a SUV. Sounds unbelievable. Well, meet Slate’s new truck. This startup is hitting the market with an EV designed with a vision of affordability and modularity upfront. It’s a pretty new take on the current market of EVs, which are generally expensive and stuffed with technology.
Slate Auto: How it Started?
The three-year-old startup was founded in 2022. Slate’s investors are big names in the business world such as Jeff Bezos, Mark Walter, and Thomas Tull.
The startup is staffed by industry veterans looking to branch into the world of low-cost EVs. There are no official numbers on how much Slate’s truck will cost. The company claims the vehicle will cost under $20,000 with the EV Tax Credit applied. Interested buyers can hold a reservation with a refundable $50 payment.
So what makes Slate special?
Unique Vision of American EV Industry.
Getting an EV these days doesn’t come cheap. According to caredge.com, the average selling price of a new EV is $55,544, much higher than the average price of a new gas vehicle. Slate’s vision would bring this price down by over half for their pickup truck.
Slate is also leaning into a direct-to-consumer model instead of working with traditional dealership networks. This is a major shift that will, if successful, change how automakers distribute abilities.
The automaker encourages DIY (do-it-yourself) upgrades and offers instructional videos on how to work on your vehicle or install certain mods. Here’s a breakdown of some of the expected features on the Slate truck.
According to Slate CEO Chris Barman, the modular approach encourages consumers to tailor vehicles to their specific needs and budgets. So, you can buy a base model and upgrade it according to your preferences.
The car comes with one motor option, a single-motor RWD system with 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It has two battery options: a 52.7-kWh unit offering 150 miles of range and a larger 84.3-kWh pack offering up to 240 miles of range. Slate's truck comes with a native NACS (North American Charging Standard) port and 120-kW DC fast charging, delivering a 20- to 80-percent charge in under 30 minutes. The truck has a maximum tow rating of 1,000 pounds and a 1,433-pound payload rating. By modern standards, the electric pickup truck is tiny: 174.6 inches long, 70.6 inches wide, and 69.3 inches tall.
The rest of the truck is fairly simple. There’s no infotainment system. No sound system, either. However, speakers can be added. There are no power windows; instead, opting for an old-school hand crank. The truck also only has one color option from the factory: grey.
While the truck is generally barebones, it does have modern safety features. Standard advanced driver assistance systems include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a rear-view camera feed. The truck contains eight airbags.
When Can You Buy Slate Auto?
The first deliveries are expected in Q4 2026. This means that buyers can get their electric trucks toward the end of the year. By late 2027 or early 2028, Slate Auto aims to produce around 150,000 trucks annually.
The vehicles will be designed in California, engineered in Michigan, and assembled in the Midwest. They will be serviced at more than 2,500 locations across the U.S.
Slate’s truck is one of the most innovative EV concepts in a while. The company’s focus on affordable and owner-friendly vehicles seems almost revolutionary, but we’ll have to see if it has a major impact.