Slate Reveals Manufacturing Plans for Electric Vehicles
Slate, a new electric vehicle manufacturer, has emerged from stealth mode with ambitious plans to produce upward of 150,000 vehicles per year. The company has chosen to manufacture its vehicles in a former printing building in Warsaw, Indiana, a facility that was previously occupied by LSC Communications until its closure in 2023. The 1.4 million-square-foot facility will be leased by Slate for an undisclosed sum, and the company is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs in the local economy as part of an incentive package agreed upon with the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO).
Slate’s manufacturing approach focuses on a modular design, offering a base model vehicle that can be customized with over 100 options. The base model truck, priced under $20,000 after federal tax rebates, is a single-cab pickup with a projected range of 240 miles. This strategy follows the lead of other automakers like Hyundai and Rivian, who have adopted modular manufacturing facilities to accommodate the evolving needs of electric vehicle production.
The decision to utilize an existing facility is part of a broader trend in the automotive industry, where manufacturers are repurposing former plants to meet the demands of electric vehicle production. Rivian, for example, took over a former Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Illinois, while Tesla operates a facility in Fremont, California, that was originally a joint venture between Toyota and GM.
While Slate’s production plans are ambitious, the company faces the challenge of ramping up to its projected annual output of 150,000 vehicles. If successful, Slate may need to consider expanding to a second facility in the future, as the current leased facility in Warsaw, Indiana, may have limited room for expansion. Nonetheless, Slate’s low-cost electric vehicle with a decent range is likely to appeal to many car buyers, positioning the company for potential success in the evolving electric vehicle market.
