Slate Auto, a brand new EV startup backed by Jeff Bezos, emerged from the shadows a few weeks in the past. A Reddit consumer noticed its stripped-down, $25,000 electrical truck a couple of days later. Slate then teased two new physique model variants. And now, we have had the total reveal of the truck, which ought to launch in late 2026. This is what you must learn about Slate’s new, critically reasonably priced electrical pickup truck.
Key Takeaways
- Slate’s new electrical pickup may begin beneath $20,000 with tax credit
- It may be a two-seater pickup or five-seater SUV with a conversion equipment
- The bottom mannequin provides no radio and hand crank home windows
- Slate will provide customizable wraps for the car moderately than paint from the manufacturing facility
- However is “radical simplicity” what consumers need?
Associated
Confirmed: Kia Will Carry An Electrical Truck To America
This truck may very well be Kia’s subsequent large hit.
The Slate Is A Truck…And An SUV
Slate is constructing a fundamental, two-seat pickup from the manufacturing facility. It may be “remodeled” into two SUV variants, a boxy one that appears like a Land Rover Defender and a extra fastback-style one which bears some resemblance to the Rivian R3. The transformation occurs with a flatpack conversion equipment containing a second row of seats, a roll cage, and facet airbags. Slate says customers will be capable to set up that on their very own, however Slate also can do this.
How A lot Does The Slate Truck Price?
Slate has not but introduced a agency beginning MSRP for its truck. The model states that it’s going to begin beneath $20,000, factoring within the $7,500 federal tax incentive for EVs. That might suggest a beginning worth of $27,499 or decrease — so, within the ballpark of the initially reported $25,000. Slate’s truck will presumably supplant the Nissan Leaf as America’s most reasonably priced EV. Slate will provide equipment as packages and à la carte. Slate has not offered pricing on these but. Patrons can reserve a truck now with a $50 deposit.
What Do You Get For That Value? A Clean Slate
Slate Auto describes its philosophy as “radical simplicity.” That primarily means stripping again something from the car that isn’t mandatory for its operation or security, then permitting the customer to determine what they want to pay for. And Slate takes that to an excessive. This truck has no infotainment system or display; there is a mounting bracket for a telephone or a pill. There is not any sound system; consumers can add audio system as an aftermarket accent. It is available in one coloration from the manufacturing facility: grey (Slate will provide all kinds of wraps). Slate would not even embrace energy home windows; you get a hand crank.
What Are The Slate Truck Specs?
Slate’s pickup comes with one motor possibility, a single-motor RWD system with 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Slate is providing two battery variants: a 52.7-kWh unit providing 150 miles of vary and a bigger 84.3-kWh pack providing as much as 240 miles of vary. Slate’s truck comes with a local NACS port — Tesla supercharging entry could also be out there finally — and 120-kW DC quick charging that may ship a 20- to 80-percent cost in lower than half-hour. The truck has a most tow ranking of 1,000 kilos and a 1,433-pound payload ranking.
The Slate truck is, by trendy truck requirements, tiny. The truck is 174.6 inches lengthy, which is 25.1 inches shorter than the Ford Maverick. It is 70.6 inches large, two inches narrower than the Maverick, and 69.3 inches tall, about 0.6 inches taller than a Maverick. Not like the Maverick, the Slate truck incorporates a full five-foot mattress with a 42.9-inch width between the wheels. The curb weight is 3,602 kilos, which is mild for an EV and roughly 70 kilos lighter than the Maverick Hybrid.
TopSpeed’s Take
Slate’s truck is among the most intriguing EV ideas shortly. It is refreshing to see an EV startup concentrate on the reasonably priced market and the car itself moderately than the know-how. This appears properly thought out on the manufacturing facet. Radically simplifying manufacturing ought to ease the manufacturing ramp-up and scale back prices. Diversifying the autos with equipment (which presumably have built-in revenue margins) ought to assist offset prices even additional.
The query is whether or not consumers will really need this truck. The worth level is one a part of the equation. However consumers can even need worth for that worth level. Reducing out a function like energy home windows feels extra performative than one thing that may present precise price financial savings. What number of clients are searching for a two-seater electrical pickup and not using a radio that gives a variety on par with a Fiat 500e or a Mini Cooper? There are not any new EVs on sale for $25,000. However used EVs depreciate closely. These additionally get a tax credit score. A $20,000 outlay may carry you this bare-bones Ikea truck … or a gently used Jaguar I-Tempo.