Slate Auto, a new EV startup backed by Jeff Bezos, emerged from the shadows a couple of weeks ago. A Reddit user spotted its stripped-down, $25,000 electric truck a few days later. Slate then teased two new body style variants. And now, we’ve had the full reveal of the truck, which should launch in late 2026. Here’s what you need to know about Slate’s new, seriously affordable electric pickup truck.
Key Takeaways
- Slate’s new electric pickup could start under $20,000 with tax credits
- It can be a two-seater pickup or five-seater SUV with a conversion kit
- The base model offers no radio and hand crank windows
- Slate will offer customizable wraps for the vehicle rather than paint from the factory
- But is “radical simplicity” what buyers want?
The Slate Is A Truck…And An SUV
Slate is building a basic, two-seat pickup from the factory. It can be “transformed” into two SUV variants, a boxy one that looks like a Land Rover Defender and a more fastback-style one that bears some resemblance to the Rivian R3. The transformation happens with a flatpack conversion kit containing a second row of seats, a roll cage, and side airbags. Slate says users will be able to install that on their own, but Slate can also do that.
How Much Does The Slate Truck Cost?
Slate has not yet announced a firm starting MSRP for its truck. The brand states that it will start under $20,000, factoring in the $7,500 federal tax incentive for EVs. That would imply a starting price of $27,499 or lower — so, in the ballpark of the initially reported $25,000. Slate’s truck will presumably supplant the Nissan Leaf as America’s most affordable EV. Slate will offer accessories as packages and à la carte. Slate has not provided pricing on those yet. Buyers can reserve a truck now with a $50 deposit.
What Do You Get For That Price? A Blank Slate
Slate Auto describes its philosophy as “radical simplicity.” That essentially means stripping back anything from the vehicle that is not necessary for its operation or safety, then allowing the buyer to decide what they would like to pay for. And Slate takes that to an extreme. This truck has no infotainment system or screen; there’s a mounting bracket for a phone or a tablet. There’s no sound system; buyers can add speakers as an aftermarket accessory. It comes in one color from the factory: gray (Slate will offer a wide variety of wraps). Slate doesn’t even include power windows; you get a hand crank.
What Are The Slate Truck Specs?
Slate’s pickup comes with one motor option, a single-motor RWD system with 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Slate is offering two battery variants: 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 port — Tesla supercharging access may be available eventually — and 120-kW DC fast charging that can deliver a 20- to 80-percent charge in less than 30 minutes. The truck has a maximum tow rating of 1,000 pounds and a 1,433-pound payload rating.
The Slate truck is, by modern truck standards, tiny. The truck is 174.6 inches long, which is 25.1 inches shorter than the Ford Maverick. It’s 70.6 inches wide, two inches narrower than the Maverick, and 69.3 inches tall, about 0.6 inches taller than a Maverick. Unlike the Maverick, the Slate truck features a full five-foot bed with a 42.9-inch width between the wheels. The curb weight is 3,602 pounds, which is light for an EV and approximately 70 pounds lighter than the Maverick Hybrid.
TopSpeed’s Take
Slate’s truck is one of the most intriguing EV concepts in a while. It’s refreshing to see an EV startup focus on the affordable market and the vehicle itself rather than the technology. This seems well thought out on the production side. Radically simplifying production should ease the production ramp-up and reduce costs. Diversifying the vehicles with accessories (which presumably have built-in profit margins) should help offset costs even further.
The question is whether buyers will actually want this truck. The price point is one part of the equation. But buyers will also want value for that price point. Cutting out a feature like power windows feels more performative than something that will provide actual cost savings. How many customers are looking for a two-seater electric pickup without a radio that provides a range on par with a Fiat 500e or a Mini Cooper? There aren’t any new EVs on sale for $25,000. But used EVs depreciate heavily. Those also get a tax credit. A $20,000 outlay could bring you this bare-bones Ikea truck … or a gently used Jaguar I-Pace.
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