Slate Auto has officially stepped into the electric automotive market with its first vehicle, the Slate Truck, an American-made $20,000 two-seater EV with very few extras but plenty of room for upgrades and customization.
After some speculation about the startup with reported backing from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and other deep-pocketed investors, the Slate Truck debuted this week at an event in California.
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"The definition of what's affordable is broken," said Slate CEO Chris Barman in a statement. "Slate exists to put the power back in the hands of customers who have been ignored by the auto industry."
The Slate Truck will only be produced in a single configuration that includes steel wheels, hand crank windows, HVAC knobs and no stereo. But buyers will be able to select from more than 100 accessories, available individually or bundled, including a flat-pack kit that turns the truck into a five-seat SUV.
The standard Slate is an appropriate grey color but the company will offer several options to add color and personalization through wraps. Inside, the basic dash will rely on a universal phone mount and USB power instead of an in-vehicle infotainment system. Despite skipping on many of the traditional extras, the Slate Truck won't scale back on safety features. The company said it's aiming for the highest safety rating and outfitting the truck with active emergency braking, forward collision warning, and up to eight airbags.
The vehicle comes standard with a 52.7-kWh battery pack, 150 kW, rear-wheel drive, and range target of 150 miles, but an accessory 84.3-kWh pack has a target of 240 miles. It will come equipped with a NACS charging port, allowing users to charge overnight on a household outlet, or fast-charge to 80% in under 30 minutes.
Slate said it expects its truck will be priced under $20,000, but that's only after federal incentives, which could be on the Trump administration's chopping block. But the company plans to manufacture the truck in the U.S., which could help alleviate some of the potential impact from tariffs.
The Slate Truck will be sold direct-to-consumer with at-home delivery. Refundable vehicle reservations open now at $50.
