A no-frills electric truck for the masses
The EV world is saturated with sleek crossovers and six-figure status symbols, but Slate Auto is going in the opposite direction. Enter the Slate Truck: a compact, bare-bones electric pickup that starts at just under $27,500 - or as low as $20,000 after the federal EV tax credit. Built in the Midwest and backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, this little EV aims to be as practical and adaptable as it is cheap.
Slate calls it "radically simple," and they mean it. No infotainment system, no power windows no paint-just steel wheels, composite body panels, and a dock for your phone. It's minimalist by design and size, measuring just 174.6 inches long, with two seats, a five-foot bed, and a large 7-cubic-foot frunk.
The anti-Cybertruck approach
While Tesla's Cybertruck pushes futuristic excess, the Slate Truck keeps things utilitarian. TechCrunch even dubbed it the "anti-Tesla." The idea? Strip out the bells and whistles to make EV ownership financially accessible. Still, standard safety features, like cruise control, power locks and forward-collision warning with emergency braking, remain.
What the Slate Truck lacks in flash, it makes up for in flexibility. A 201-hp rear motor powers the 3,600-pound truck to 60 mph in about 8 seconds. It's rear-wheel drive only - no dual-motor variant has been announced - and comes with a 47-kWh battery good for around 150 miles of range. An optional 75-kWh pack boosts that to 240 miles.
Customizable by design
Slate's secret weapon is its accessories. More than 100 items will be available at launch, letting customers turn the basic truck into a more comfortable daily driver or even a five-seat SUV. The SUV kit adds a rear bench, a roof panel, airbags, and a roll bar. Want lift or lowering kits, alloy wheels, or vinyl wraps? Those are on the menu too.
Installation is largely DIY, though Slate plans to offer a network of approved installers for less hands-on customers. This "Burger King of trucks" approach as Car and Driver called it - have it your way - is a smart play for buyers priced out of the premium EV segment but eager for something they can personalize.
Final thoughts
Slate won't deliver its first trucks until late 2026, but early buzz and a $50 refundable reservation fee have already attracted interest. The brand is counting on continued federal subsidies and state EV incentives to keep the truck's net price appealing, potentially dipping as low as $16,500 in places like Colorado.
That's cheaper than almost any new car on the market today, let alone an EV or a pickup. For buyers willing to trade touchscreen tech for practical utility, the Slate Truck could fill a niche no one else is seriously targeting. Whether this blank Slate becomes a hit depends on demand, but the company's gamble on simplicity and modularity is a refreshing pivot in an industry chasing ever-higher price tags.
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This story was originally published April 25, 2025 at 6:41 PM