EV startup Slate Auto, which counts Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as a key investor, just unveiled its first vehicle.
The new pickup, revealed at an event on Thursday night in Los Angeles, will start at just $25,000 when it goes on sale in 2026, Slate said — even lower with potential tax credits.
The no-frills model is devoid of common niceties like power windows or a radio that allows customers to make as many or as few upgrades as they desire.
“We wanted to get that cost out of the base vehicle,” Slate CEO Chris Barman told Business Insider in an interview.
“It really gives freedom of choice to the owner of what accessories they would want to put on the vehicle, either at the time of purchase or over time, depending on what their budget may be,” the former Fiat-Chrysler executive and engineer added.
The Slate Truck, which is expected to be produced at an undetermined location in the Midwestern United States, would be the cheapest new EV and pickup truck in the US.
The current cheapest EV is the standard-range Nissan Leaf, which starts at $28,140. The most affordable pickup truck on sale in the US is the Ford Maverick, which starts at $26,995.
A $25,000 price point would mean achieving something the current EV sales king, Tesla, has been unable to do. Elon Musk has long teased consumers with the prospect of a $25,000 model, but there is currently no firm timeline for its release.
Rivian’s truck and SUV, like Tesla’s competing models, are far from bare bones and start at nearly $70,000.
The Slate EV’s powertrain will feature a 52.7 kWh battery pack and a 201-horsepower electric motor driving the rear wheels. It has a target range of 150 miles and should be able to recharge overnight using a household socket.
Those needing more range can upgrade to a larger 84.3 kWh pack, which should be able to travel up to 240 miles.
It will also feature advanced safety tech like automotive emergency braking and forward collision warning, Slate says.
The Slate truck is a blank slate for owners to personalize
According to Slate, all trucks will leave the factory in a single base configuration with only basic amenities, such as steel wheels and crank windows.
Then, the consumer can choose from over 100 accessories, from hardware like power windows to different wraps that give the truck a personalized look.
“We really think enthusiasts are going to be excited about this,” Barman told us.
In addition, an SUV kit will be available that converts the truck into a five-passenger SUV, complete with a roll cage, rear seats, and airbags.
All the accessories, including the SUV kit, can be upgraded retroactively and are designed to be installed by the owner as DIY projects. (You can also choose to have the work done professionally, of course.)
“This is going to, we hope, inspire a whole new population of a younger generation who maybe never even thought about working on their cars, that’s going to be excited about it because pride of ownership, and it’s an extension of their personality,” the Slate CEO added.
The Slate truck is now available for preorder with a $50 refundable deposit.
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