Slate Auto, the startup backed by Jeff Bezos, has revealed its first vehicle, and it is a deliberate rejection of where electric trucks have been heading. The Slate Truck is an ultra-affordable two-seat electric pickup that starts at $24,950, and it is built to be transformed: a set of bolt-on kits turns it into a five-seat SUV. The pitch is simplicity over screens, and ownership over subscriptions.
A truck with no paint shop
The body panels are molded from unpainted grey composite, so Slate skips the paint shop entirely - one of the most expensive parts of any car factory. The wheels are plain steel, and the whole exterior is designed as a canvas for vinyl wraps and body graphics. It measures 4435 mm long, 1793 mm wide and 1760 mm tall on a 2767 mm wheelbase, with a 1633 kg kerb weight.
Powertrain and range
A single rear motor makes 150 kW (201 hp) and 264 Nm, driving the rear wheels for a 0 to 100 km/h time of 8.0 seconds. Power comes from a 65 kWh LFP battery (63 kWh usable), a switch from the NMC chemistry Slate originally planned. EPA range is 330 km (205 miles), up 37% from the 150-mile figure floated early on. On a NACS DC fast charger it goes from 20 to 80% in 30 minutes at up to 120 kW; a Level 2 home charger covers 20 to 100% in four hours. Because the pack is LFP, it can be charged to 100% routinely without accelerating degradation. Payload is rated at 703 kg (1550 lb) and towing at 907 kg (2000 lb).
A cabin stripped to the essentials
Inside, the Slate Truck is austere by design. There is no central touchscreen and no audio system as standard. Windows are hand-cranked, the climate controls are physical knobs, and a small 4-inch display handles the rear camera. Navigation runs off your own phone or tablet, held by an integrated mount, and the materials are chosen to be hard-wearing rather than plush.
Built to be customized
Slate is launching with more than 175 accessories, over 80 of them priced under $500. The headline option is the SUV conversion kit at roughly $5000, which adds a roof, rear seats and a five-seat layout. Partners include Yakima and Thule for racks, Flated for an inflatable topper made from paddleboard material, and Sonos for a $250 add-on audio system.
Safety, price and timing
Safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking, at least four airbags, traction and stability control and forward collision warning, with Slate targeting a five-star US NCAP rating. Pricing starts at $24,950 for the pickup and $29,950 for the SUV conversion, with reservations open for a $300 deposit. Production is set for the United States, split between Indiana and Michigan, with deliveries beginning in Q4 2026 and sold directly to customers without a dealer network.
