Slate Auto, a company supported by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has revealed a groundbreaking electric pickup truck that can transform into an SUV. The vehicle’s starting price is $20,000 after federal electric vehicle incentives, making it an attractive option in the emerging EV market.
Vehicle Features and Specifications
The two-door version of the truck can be converted into a 5-seat SUV, offering versatility for various needs. The baseline truck is compact, measuring about two-thirds the size of a Chevy Silverado EV and approximately seven-eighths the size of a Ford Maverick. It boasts a payload capacity of 1,400 pounds, slightly less than the Maverick’s 1,500 pounds. At under 15 feet in length, Slate describes it as similar to a 1985 Toyota pickup.
The truck’s design is intentionally minimalist and compact. TechCrunch refers to the Slate as an “anti-Tesla,” highlighting its stripped-down approach. The base model lacks features like power windows and an infotainment screen, focusing on essential elements. The vehicle offers a maximum range of 150 miles on a single charge, with an optional longer-range battery pack that could extend this to 240 miles.
Development and Production
Slate Auto’s vehicles are designed in California and Michigan, engineered in Michigan, and assembled in the Midwest. According to TechCrunch, the assembly plant is located in Indiana. The company has secured significant backing from investors, including Bezos, Mark Walter (controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers), and Thomas Tull, who helped raise $111 million for the project earlier this month. A document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission listed Melinda Lewison, head of Bezos’ family office, as a Slate Auto director.
Availability and Reservations
While deliveries aren’t expected until late 2026, customers can reserve the vehicle for a refundable $50 fee. This approach allows potential buyers to secure their place in line while giving them flexibility.
Slate Auto’s innovative approach to electric vehicle design and production, combined with its focus on affordability, positions the company as a potentially significant player in the evolving EV market.
