Slate Auto, a new EV startup backed by Jeff Bezos, surpassed 100,000 reservations within two weeks of unveiling its low-cost electric pickup truck at an event in Los Angeles.
The no-frills, all-function customizable EV pickup has generated a lot of buzz from budget-conscious consumers and EV enthusiasts alike. While the refundable $50 deposit does not guarantee a sale when the vehicle officially launches, it’s a strong early signal of market interest.
The truck will be priced at $20,000 after the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. Slate’s pricing strategy directly challenges the current auto market, where the average cost of a new vehicle has ballooned to roughly $50,000. This trend will likely continue as automakers develop more expensive, feature-rich models.
To achieve such low pricing, Slate is stripping away non-essential features that typically drive up costs. The vehicle will include manual crank windows instead of power windows, no built-in radio, no infotainment system and a minimalistic interior with fewer electronic components. The automaker’s philosophy focuses on what makes a car a car–nothing more and nothing less.
Instead of dictating features, Slate invites customers to take complete control over the customization of their vehicles. A modular design system allows owners to add only the desired features and even convert the pickup into an SUV.
Slate plans to build its vehicles at a repurposed printing facility in Warsaw, Indiana, with customer deliveries beginning in early 2026. The automaker is targeting a 150,000-unit production goal by the end of 2027.
