A sub-$30,000 EV truck war is taking shape as Slate and Ford race to put a new electric pickup within reach of buyers priced out of the segment. On today’s episode of CBT Live, CBT News Correspondent Jason Becknell updates the head-to-head matchup between the Slate Truck, backed by Jeff Bezos, and Ford’s upcoming Fathom.
“Affordability is a big issue we’ve been tracking. You know, the average cost of a new car now tops $50,000,” Becknell said. “I feel like some of the automakers are paying attention to that with some new electric trucks under $30,000.”
With the Slate arriving first, landing in the fourth quarter of 2026 at a starting price of $24,950, it was originally pitched at under $20,000 before the federal tax credit went away. The truck comes in one color, slate gray, and skips an infotainment system, radio, speakers, and power windows in favor of hand-crank windows. Slate plans to sell roughly 200 aftermarket accessories so buyers can customize the truck after delivery, and the company is selling direct-to-consumer rather than through a dealer network.
Meanwhile, Ford’s Fathom won’t arrive until 2027 at the earliest, starting at $28,350, roughly $3,400 more than the Slate. The automaker is calling it its “Model T moment” because it rides on Ford’s new Universal EV Platform, built to lower manufacturing costs after Ford struggled to turn a profit on the F-150 Lightning, which was built on the existing F-150 platform. Specs on range, charging time and horsepower have yet to be released, but the Fathom will be sold through Ford’s existing dealer network, giving buyers access to service and support that the direct-to-consumer Slate won’t offer.
Although Slate has been upfront that its truck is intentionally minimalist, Ford has not yet disclosed the details of the Fathom’s base trim, leaving uncertainty about how much of the affordability gap will be narrowed once specifications are revealed.
