There’s a new American automaker on the block, and it’s taking aim at a sorely neglected segment of the electric car market. EV startup Slate emerged today, debuting the new Slate Truck targeting an extremely affordable $25,000, post-incentive starting price. To hit that mark, Slate stripped out all but the bare necessities for reliable electric driving. We’re talking hand-crank windows here, but also a blank slate that’s highly customizable — so customizable, in fact, that the pickup can be transformed into an SUV with a flat-pack accessory kit.
Michigan-based EV startup Slate has been operating in secret for a few years now, attracting funding from Amazon chief Jeff Bezos and many other wealthy investors. (Bezos’ Amazon was also instrumental in the launch of Rivian with an early $700 million investment in the then-fledgling automaker.) In a world where most EV startups launch with costly flagship models before scaling down to cheaper additions, Slate’s bottom-up, low-price approach to launching its brand is a novel one, and given the current uncertainty around inflation, tariffs and the rising cost of goods, perhaps a timely one.
Keep It Simple: New Slate Truck Could Be Next Year’s Cheapest EV
Just a little guy
The Slate Truck is surprisingly small. At just 174.6 inches from bumper to bumper with a 108.9-inch wheelbase, the little EV is a full 21 inches shorter than the Hyundai Santa Cruz and 25 inches shorter than Ford’s Maverick, currently the smallest pickup trucks you can buy in the US. Of course, those are four-door crew cab pickups with back seats, while State’s pickup is a single-cab two-seater (at least in its standard configuration).
Despite its smaller stature, the Slate’s standard 5-foot bed is longer than the Ford’s 4.5 feet and Hyundai’s 4-footer. Plus, the EV features a 7-cubic-foot “frunk” storage space under the hood. With up to 1,433 pounds of payload, the little Truck is in the ballpark of the other compact pickups and should make it a decent runabout for errands that involve small hauling. However, its 1,000-pound towing capacity is significantly lower than its combustion-powered competitors.
Minimal, customizable
The small size is part of how Slate expects to keep the Truck’s price “under $20,000 after federal incentives,” but the brand’s minimal approach to features, bells and whistles is the bulk of how it keeps costs low. For starters, the EV looks like it only comes in one color — flat gray — and customers are encouraged to wrap the Slate Truck in whatever color or livery tickles their fancy. Basic 17-inch steel wheels fill the Truck’s wheel arches, and body panels feature exposed hardware.
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