Slate (vehicle)
Battery electric pickup truck
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Slate is an upcoming battery-electric vehicle available as either a 2-door compact pickup truck or a 3-door SUV to be manufactured by Slate Auto. The model was revealed on April 24, 2025.[2]
| Slate | |
|---|---|
Prototype Slate pickup truck on display in July 2025 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Slate Auto |
| Production | Expected in Q4 2026 |
| Assembly | United States: Warsaw, Indiana[1] |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact pickup truck/SUV |
| Body style | 2-door pickup truck 3-door SUV |
| Layout | Rear-motor, rear-wheel-drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Electric motor | Permanent magnet synchronous |
| Power output | 135 kW (181 hp; 184 PS) |
| Transmission | Single-speed gear reduction |
| Battery | 65 kWh LFP |
| Range | 205 miles (330 km) manufacturer est. based on EPA |
| Plug-in charging |
|
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 108.9 in (2,770 mm) |
| Length | 174.6 in (4,430 mm) |
| Width | 70.6 in (1,790 mm) |
| Height | 68.0 in (1,730 mm) |
| Curb weight | 4,048 lb (1,836 kg) |
Overview
The Slate is an electric vehicle made to be bare-bones and is designed to be customizable by the owner. The starting price is US$24,950,[3] and was advertised as being under $20,000 after electric vehicle purchase incentives, which would have made it one of the cheapest EVs in the United States when sales commence in 2026.[4] After the One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminated federal subsidies for EVs, Slate Auto stopped advertising that its truck would have a net price of under $20,000.[5]
Powertrain
The Slate uses a single rear-mounted motor producing 135 kilowatts (181 hp; 184 PS) and 195 pound-feet (264 N⋅m) of torque. It will have a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds (910 kg).[6] It will have a 65 kWh battery, providing an estimated 205 miles (330 km) of range, built by Gotion and using a LFP chemistry.[7]
A simple MacPherson strut suspension is used in the front and a de Dion (non-independent) axle with coil springs in the rear to keep costs low.[8]
Features
The Slate's base configuration, called the "Blank Slate", does not include an infotainment system, speakers, or power windows. All units are produced with the same unpainted gray polypropylene exterior, with vinyl wraps as the only offered way to change the exterior color.[9] A smartphone mount is standard, and a tablet mount is optional. The Blank Slate configuration has fabric armrests and physical climate control knobs. The company plans to offer a large number of accessories for professional or DIY installation.[10]
Unlike most vehicles sold in the United States, the Slate is not expected to have any in-car entertainment system; instead, customers are expected to use their own mobile device for audio streaming, navigation, and over-the-air updates for their trucks.[11] The vehicle will have a small driver information screen.[9]
Bodystyles
The base Slate model is a pickup truck, but can be configured as a 5-seat SUV with a traditional squared-off roof or a fastback roof. While customers will be able to purchase the parts to complete the conversions (roll cage, rear bench seat, and exterior shell with two additional side curtain airbags), in June 2026 the company announced it would offer the two SUV designs from the factory.[6][12]
Partnerships
Reactions
In May 2025, Slate said that it had accepted 100,000 refundable reservations for its truck in the three weeks since it was unveiled, compared with 250,000 reservations for the Tesla Cybertruck in its first week, and 68,000 reservations for the Rivian R2 within 24 hours of its announcement.[14] A reservation required a $50 deposit.[9]
Tim Stevens of The Verge noted that other EV startups, including Fisker Automotive, Vinfast, and Faraday Future, had struggled financially or failed; Jeremy Snyder, Slate's chief commercial officer, said that the company expects to reach cash flow positivity "very shortly after the start of production."[10] A Yahoo! Autos article stated that, for buyers who want an EV truck without the luxury price tag, the Bezos-backed Slate could be a game-changer vs. the Cybertruck.[15]
In February of 2026, Jay Leno drove the Slate on Jay Leno's Garage, stating that the Slate "is able to do what a lot of electric vehicles can do, just for half the price."[16]
