Slate: “$20,000” electric truck from US-based start-up

Slate is a new, US-based start-up promising an electric vehicle that’s affordable for the masses: a sub-$20,000 price tag (after incentives), a modular body that can transform between a 2-seat pickup and a 5-seat SUV, and a barebones interior with near-unlimited personalization options. Is this what the market has been waiting for?

More and more auto manufacturers are looking to crack the code on affordable EVs. While the European brands are focusing on compact city cars, the Americans at Slate are looking at it in a different way: their product is still a truck/family SUV, but stripped down to the essentials.

Almost no comfort features

The name comes from the philosophy behind the model: you start from a blank ‘Slate’, which is as basic as it gets. The body is made from plastic, the wheels are basic ‘steelies’, and the interior is devoid of any infotainment system – not even a radio – with just a phone or tablet holder to work with. Even the windows are manual, like in the olden days.

But ‘basic’ doesn’t mean ‘unsafe’ in this case. Slate promises top-notch USNCAP safety scores thanks to up to 8 airbags and features like Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking.

Of course, not everyone (especially younger customers) wants to drive exactly the same car. Slate has anticipated this demand by not offering a long list of options, but a wide range of accessories that can be purchased separately and mounted at any time.

Wide range of personalization options

The personalization options begin at the exterior, where three levels of vehicle wrapping are offered. Customers can choose to wrap their vehicles themselves or have a pro handle it. But there are more radical options, too, like the flat-pack SUV kit, which transforms the truck into a 5-seat SUV (including extra airbags and a roll cage for safety). Slate is opening the door for 3D printing so customers can design their own solutions, like fitting Bluetooth speakers.

Modest battery and payload

However, an electric car is nothing if it isn’t practical for daily use. The Slate has a standard 52.7 kWh battery pack, which powers a 150 kW (204 hp) rear motor for around 150 miles (241 km). An optional 84.3 kWh battery pack will also be available, increasing the range to around 240 miles (386 km) according to US standards.

While practical for daily use, the Slate isn’t really a ‘working truck’. The 5-foot bed can hold up to 1,400 lb (around 600 kg), while the towing capacity is limited to 1,000 lb (450 kg). However, it should suffice for private and recreational use. There’s also a 200-liter frunk in the nose to keep your cargo dry.

From around $20,000 after incentives

If you live in the United States, you can buy all of this for around $28,000 (€24,700) before incentives or from $20,500 (€18,100) after federal incentives. Final pricing has not yet been announced, however, and Slate says that deliveries will commence in Q4 2026.

So, should we believe in Slate? The barebones construction does promise low manufacturing costs, but the multitude of accessories seems tricky for a new manufacturer to deliver on logistics. However, with over $100 million reportedly already raised, including backing from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, and a decommissioned auto plant in Indiana in hand, the potential is certainly there.