Slate's electric pickup truck unveiled: What to know

A new electric pickup truck that’s simple, small and customizable was unveiled this week, and it’s reportedly backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. 

Slate Auto, a new electric vehicle startup, says its trucks will be sold online in a direct-to-consumer model.

Here’s what to know: 

Slate electric pickup truck

What we know:

The "Blank" Slate Truck, which is the base version, is a two-seat electric pickup that is very simple inside. It comes with crank windows, HVAC knobs, and no infotainment system – meaning drivers will have to use their phone to connect to their own portable Bluetooth speaker or accessory audio device. They’re all sold in the color "Slate Gray," but the company says the trucks are designed to be wrapped in the buyer’s choice of color.  

The Slate is expected to have around a 1,400-pound payload and 1,000-pound towing capacity, according to the company. 

It has a projected range of 150 miles, and the company says a longer-range battery pack can extend the range to a projected 240 miles. It will be charged using the North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, developed by Tesla and has steadily moved closer to becoming the industry standard.

The company also offers various "SUV Kits" to transform the Slate pickup into a 2-door, 5-seat SUV, which the buyer can choose to have installed prior to delivery or purchase the kit later on. 

The Slate converted to an SUV is pictured. (Credit: Slate Auto)

"If you choose to purchase it after delivery, it can easily be installed by your local Slate service provider or at home following our video tutorial," the company says. 

Slate says the expected price of the blank Slate is under $20,000 after the federal tax credit is applied, assuming that it’s still available once the vehicle is ready to hit the road. 

Timeline:

The startup said it expects to begin delivery at the end of 2026.

Dig deeper:

Slate Auto said its vehicles are designed in California, engineered in Michigan, and assembled in the Midwest, noting how it believes "an American vehicle should be engineered and manufactured in America."

The company said drivers of the new electric vehicles will be able to get them serviced at more than 2,500 locations across the U.S. "through an upcoming national partnership."  

The backstory:

Slate Auto started as project within Re:Build, a manufacturing conglomerate founded by Jeff Wilke, the former CEO of Amazon's worldwide consumer business, and Miles Arnone, co-founder of Cannon Capital and current Re:Build CEO, according to CarAndDriver.com. In 2023, Slate secured more than $111 million in funding from 16 investors, one of which was reportedly Bezos.

What they're saying:

 "Slate exists to put the power back in the hands of customers who have been ignored by the auto industry," said CEO Chris Barman. "Slate is a radical truck platform so customizable that it can transform from a 2-seat pickup to a 5-seat SUV."

What you can do:

Those interested in getting their hands on Slate’s new electric vehicle can now reserve one for a refundable $50 fee on the company’s website.