Slate Auto has revealed that its much-discussed electric pickup truck will start at $24,950, putting it among the most affordable new electric vehicles expected to enter the US market.
The startup, backed by investors including Jeff Bezos’ family office, has opened preorders for the vehicle while confirming a higher-than-expected driving range for its entry-level model. The move gives Slate a sharper position in a market where affordable EV options remain limited despite years of promises from established automakers.
A Low-Cost EV With a Bigger Range
Slate said its base truck will now offer an estimated range of around 205 miles, up from an earlier target of 150 miles. However, the company has dropped plans for a larger battery pack that was expected to provide roughly 240 miles of range.
For buyers focused on daily commuting, local deliveries or city driving, 205 miles could be enough to make the truck practical without pushing the price into premium territory.
The $24,950 starting point does not include taxes, registration, destination fees or optional equipment. Even so, it puts the truck below several mainstream EV rivals. The Chevrolet Bolt starts closer to $29,000, while the Nissan Leaf is priced around $32,000. Ford is also working on a lower-cost electric truck, though that model is not expected before 2027.
Built to Be Simple, Not Luxurious
Slate’s truck is intentionally stripped down. It comes with hand-crank windows, no built-in infotainment system and a standard gray composite exterior instead of conventional paint options.
That simplicity is not accidental. By avoiding expensive features and infrastructure, including a factory paint shop, Slate is trying to keep production costs under control. Buyers will be able to customise the vehicle with wraps and add-on accessories rather than choosing from a long list of factory-installed options.
The truck starts as a two-seat pickup but can be converted into a five-seat SUV. Slate has priced the SUV version at $29,950.
The company says customers can choose to have the conversion done professionally or tackle it themselves. To support that DIY approach, Slate has introduced “Slate University,” a collection of instructional videos showing owners how to make upgrades, install accessories and complete the SUV conversion.
Direct Sales Could Change the Buying Experience
Slate has also confirmed it will not rely on traditional dealerships. Instead, it plans to sell directly to customers, following the model used by Tesla, Rivian and Lucid.
The company has not yet shared detailed information about deliveries, financing or service arrangements. However, its reported relationship with online used-car retailer Carvana has added another layer of interest.
Earlier reports suggested that Carvana received a warrant to buy shares in Slate Auto, raising the possibility that the companies could work together on vehicle sales. Carvana has recently started moving into new-car retail, making the partnership a potentially useful route for Slate as it looks to reach buyers without a dealer network.
A Tough Moment for Affordable EVs
Slate’s launch comes at a complicated time for the electric vehicle market in the US. Federal EV incentives have been removed, emissions standards have been loosened and several major automakers have slowed or delayed new EV plans.
That creates risk, but it also opens space for a company willing to focus on affordability rather than luxury features.
Slate has raised around $1.4 billion across major funding rounds and is aiming to create a modern equivalent of the Ford Model T or Volkswagen Beetle: simple, useful and within reach for more buyers.
Whether the truck can deliver on that ambition will depend on production, quality and customer confidence. But at under $25,000, Slate has already made one thing clear: it wants to bring electric vehicles back into the budget conversation.
