Bezos Backed Slate Launches Cheapest EV Pickup Yet

The Slate Truck is a fascinatingly simple pickup that justify its very Liteweight specs like with a quite affordable price tag At its heart, the Slate is conceived as a radically simple, highly affordable, and exceptionally customizable electric platform, aiming to recapture a sense of basic utility often lost in modern automotive design.

Very Little Car For A Very Little Money

The main reason behind the truck's simple design is to keep costs low and hit a target price of under $28,000 – or possibly even below $20,000 with federal incentives. This is achieved by cutting out expensive manufacturing steps and parts. The truck skips a traditional paint shop, using tough, unpainted polypropylene composite body panels instead with an option of DIY or factory fitted wraps starting at around $500( they are quite funky , I checked them out on the builder tool). Inside, it doesn’t have costly features like touchscreens, built-in infotainment systems, or power accessories such as windows or seats.

 The company also simplifies production by offering just one basic factory setup, avoiding the costs of multiple trim levels.

The goal of this simplicity is to appeal to a group of buyers who feel overlooked or priced out by the current market. These buyers are more interested in affordability, basic utility, and reliability than extra features. 

The minimalist design also aims to improve long-term reliability by reducing the number of complex electronic systems that often cause issues and lead to warranty claims. 

The durable composite panels are better at withstanding minor impacts and scratches than painted metal. Most importantly, this simple approach gives owners a “blank slate,” encouraging them to personalize and modify the truck as they see fit.

Every Slate Truck rolls out of the factory in this identical base form: a compact 2-door, 2-seat pickup with a functional 5-foot bed, clad in utilitarian Slate Gray panels, and equipped with basic 17-inch steel wheels and manual window cranks. 

The interior reflects this ethos, featuring durable, easy-to-clean materials, physical knobs for climate control, a simple digital gauge cluster for essential driving information, and notably, no central infotainment screen or audio system.

Instead, Slate embraces a "Bring Your Own Device" strategy, providing a standard universal phone mount and USB power, allowing the driver's smartphone to handle navigation, communication, and entertainment duties, potentially supplemented by an optional tablet mount.

Endless Customizations

Well the Slate EV is only available in 1 color, 1 body style, 1 battery pack as standard. The trick lies in their immensely vast pool of accessories ranging from fastback SUV style body to something as tiny as an armrest. The build tool is vast and has enough combinations to make the truck truly one of a kind.
 

The Slate vehicle is built with customization at its core, offering a wide array of over 100 accessories that allow owners to personalize the truck to their specific needs. Key options include modular body conversion kits, such as a "flat-pack" SUV kit, which can transform the 2-seat pickup into a 5-seat SUV with choices for either a traditional roofline or a sportier fastback style. These kits come with essential upgrades, including a roll cage, extra airbags, and a rear bench seat.

Beyond structural changes, customization also extends to aesthetics, where owners can choose vinyl wraps, swap out steel wheels for alloy designs, and add various bumpers, grilles, or fender flares. For functional upgrades, there's room for roof racks, lighting options, and suspension adjustments. The interior can be personalized with accessories such as power windows, Bluetooth speakers, upgraded upholstery, and more.

What makes this truly flexible is the ability to make changes over time, whether at the point of purchase or incrementally later. The Slate ecosystem ensures the vehicle adapts with its owner's lifestyle, whether they need more utility or simply a new look. For a hands-on experience, DIY tutorials through Slate U guide customers in personalizing their vehicles.

Powertrain and Performance

While the focus is on simplicity and affordability, the Slate Truck still delivers functional EV performance tailored for light-duty use. It features a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. Buyers can choose between a standard 52.7 kWh battery pack, offering around 150 miles of range, or an optional 84.3 kWh battery pack, which provides approximately 240 miles of range.

 Charging is convenient via the NACS (Tesla-style) charging port, supporting up to 120 kW DC fast charging, which can charge the battery from 20-80% in under 30 minutes. 

It also offers 11 kW onboard AC charging for overnight home charging. The Slate Truck has a payload capacity of 1,400 lbs, although towing is limited to 1,000 lbs, clearly positioning it for basic, light-duty tasks. Slate is currently accepting refundable $50 deposits, with initial deliveries expected by the fourth quarter of 2026, and manufacturing planned for a facility in Indiana.

Get Lectured At “Slate University”

The philosophy of simplicity and modularity fundamentally shapes the Slate Truck’s approach to maintenance and repairability. They want you to fit the accessories yourself, if you can't there will be factory authorised dealers that are ready to help you out. 

With fewer complex electronics and moving parts compared to conventional vehicles or feature-rich EVs, the Slate reduces potential failure points dramatically. Standard EV benefits like no oil changes, no exhaust issues, and no traditional transmission maintenance apply.

The durable composite panels resist damage and are easier and cheaper to replace than repairing and repainting metal ones. Crucially, Slate intends to empower owners to handle many tasks themselves through "Slate University."

Slate University is envisioned as a comprehensive online resource featuring instructional videos and detailed guides hosted on Slate's website, YouTube channel, and mobile app. It will teach owners how to perform tasks such as:

• Applying vinyl wraps
   
• Installing accessories (e.g., power windows, SUV conversion kits)
   
• Performing basic maintenance and even some warranty-approved repairs on non-critical systems
   

Recognizing not all owners may want DIY repairs, Slate also plans to partner with a national auto repair chain for professional installation, servicing, and warranty handling, particularly for high-voltage battery and drivetrain work.

Cheapest Electric Pickup vs Cheapest Pickup

The Slate Truck and Ford Maverick target similar buyers with their affordable pricing but differ significantly in capabilities. The Slate Truck, priced around $27,500 (potentially below $20,000 with federal incentives), is an electric pickup designed for those seeking an affordable, no-frills vehicle. It features a 201-horsepower electric motor and a 52.7 kWh battery offering a range of up to 150 miles, with an optional 84.3 kWh battery extending the range to 240 miles. However, its towing capacity is limited to just 1,000 lbs, and it’s designed more for light-duty urban use rather than heavy hauling.

In contrast, the Ford Maverick, starting at about $22,000, is a gasoline-powered compact pickup that offers significantly higher towing capacities—2,000 lbs standard, up to 4,000 lbs with the optional towing package. The Maverick also offers more conventional features, such as an infotainment system, power accessories, and a more finished interior. It’s available with both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options, making it a more versatile choice for those needing a more traditional, capable pickup for various tasks.

While the Maverick excels in utility and features, the Slate Truck competes by offering an electric powertrain, lower long-term costs, and extensive customization options, all at a more affordable price.
 

Source- Slate