Despite a cooling EV market, it’s looking as though a new startup is about to enter the fray with an affordable all-electric pickup truck and backing from Jeff Bezos.
A recent report from TechCrunch indicates that Michigan-based Slate Auto is in the midst of developing a new two-seater electric pickup truck with a target price of roughly $25,000. The company was founded in 2022, with the Bezos family office serving as a key investor. Slate Auto is reportedly aiming to launch production by late 2026 at a new manufacturing facility near Indianapolis, Indiana.
Slate Auto homepage
Beyond Bezos, Slate Auto is also funded by several other wealthy backers, include Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter and investor Thomas Tull. The company has already secured at least $111 million in Series A funding, and is said to have raised even more through a subsequent Series B round.
Slate is also taking a different approach than Tesla when it comes to its model release strategy. Rather than launch with a high-dollar, high-margin model, Slate will kick things off with a more affordable, high-volume model as its first vehicle, leaning on customization options to fill in the gaps. Slate’s leadership team includes veterans from top automotive and tech companies, such as CEO Christine Barman, whose career includes several decades at Chrysler, as well as executive chairman Rodney Copes and CFO Ryan Green, both of whom bring experience at Harley-Davidson and Rivian. Additionally, Slate has reportedly recruited hundreds of employees from across the automotive industry, including from GM, Ford, Stellantis, and others.
The startup’s electric truck is designed with simplicity and customization in mind. An early prototype was recently spotted and posted to social media, revealing a compact, rugged design reminiscent of a scaled-down Rivian R1T or Ford Bronco Sport with a bed. Customers will be able to customize their new truck through modular add-ons and accessories, a business model that mirrors revenue strategies used by brands like Harley-Davidson and Jeep. To this end, Slate has trademarked taglines such as “We Built It. You Make It.” and “Blank Slate.”
Looking ahead, Slate Auto is expected to step into the limelight sometime in the next several weeks.
Comments
no one do beautiful cars today… all cars are manufactured so, a box, black wheels, grey, all black… indeed very cheap done with high price, and maybe an EV to make things more complicated. Elegance is past or only seen at Pebble Beach or another oldtimer top event. otherwise is this daily cars for recycling soon. if is 100000 sold or 500000 sold, is same… it is why we bought 13 years ago our garage dacia new, a 4 wheels car if necessary to be used, for example tomorrow to go nearby supermarket and there even worse, bmw, mercedes, vw audi hyundai mini smart etc.
Go back to school.
Well burn my britches, it’s cute as heck. It reminds me of a slightly generic 1980’s Ford Ranger.
Looks like a Jeep pick-up from the 60-70s.
Agree. Those signature Jeep wheel arches are what did it for me plus the squared off green house screams retro.
So a 25K (35K how most will be optioned)
A maverick still sounds like a deal vs this.
The Maverick is a hybrid as well, so no range anxiety. One thing this Slate truck does have is a 6′ bed, which the Maverick should have.
Maybe Mary will smarten up and build a compact truck, too?
Not a chance. She and the other senior exec’s bonus incentive packages are tied big time to achieving high operating margin targets (around 10%). Hence the focus on high margin/high priced trucks and SUV’s.
Affordable, lower margin products don’t fit into that picture. Especially ones that might sell in volume.
If this Bezos backed company can come to market with this as a 25K BEV small pickup truck, they will sell as many as they can build. Having said that, I will believe it when I see it.
Concept cars or one off vehicles are easy, scaling up manufacturing of said vehicle is most definitely NOT easy!!!
This is what americans demand. A basic no frill work horse with good range and standard equipment. If they bring it to market at that cost in the supposed time frame they will sell everyone one of them. I hope it will come to fruition.
Right. However, my mother told me that if it sounds too good to be true….. If Musk couldn’t build a mass market under 30k EV, what makes one think these guys can do it? They don’t defy the laws of gravity.
Nothing exciting about it so it’s probably good for the commercial market I guess.
Don’t forget to also have a ice option.
I believe it when I can go down to the dealer and buy. Otherwise, this is just a “Tucker” in a long long line of promised vehicles.
It’s a fkn ugly ass truck!