Michigan-based carmaker Slate Auto shook the electric vehicle market with its bare-bones $25,000 pickup truck, supported by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Rolled out on April 25, 2025, the Slate Truck trumps rivals such as Tesla and Rivian by as much as 80%, wooing price-sensitive buyers with skin-and-bones design and modular personalization. It retails for $20,000 after federal tax credits, the lowest priced new EV sold in America, filling a pivotal gap in a segment where electric pickups average over $100,000.
Design philosophy: Minimalism meets modularity
The Slate Truck takes a “blank slate” tack, ditching power windows, radios, and infotainment systems in favor of savings. Its steel-cab frame has hand-cranked windows, a minimal HVAC system, and a dashboard optimized for aftermarket phone or tablet installation. The truck’s 6-foot bed and 174.6-inch total length make it 21 inches shorter than a Hyundai Santa Cruz, giving up heavy-duty capability for urban drivability.
One notable exception is its modularity, where owners can transform the pickup into an SUV with an add-on $3,000 do-it-yourself package. It features interchangeable rear panels, roof extension, and third-row seat-all without needing specific tools. Slate CEO Chris Barman highlights customization as the antidote against cost inflation: “You have to try really hard to double the truck’s $20,000 price tag”.
Technical specifications: Balancing range and affordability
Base model comes with a 52.7 kWh pack driving an electric motor at the back generating 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft torque. 0–60 mph is 8 seconds and top speed 90 mph with a 150-mile range-a fair bet for city driving but far behind competitors like the Rivian R2 (300+ miles). Installing an 84.3 kWh battery boosts range to 230 miles but adds to cost to around $30,000.
Charging figures are not available, but Slate verifies CCS and NACS standard compatibility. The skateboard chassis of the truck stores the battery below the cab, reducing the center of gravity for improved stability. The safety equipment also includes eight airbags, collision warning ahead with pedestrian and low-speed warnings, and automatic emergency braking, though without yet-released crash test ratings.
A daring challenge to traditional automakers
Slate jumps into a category of luxury EVs, supported by Bezos’s wallet and Rivian’s early agonies. Tesla has put production of its $25,000 model on hold for now and Rivian’s R2 ranges for $45,000, but Slate’s value focus rides the wave of pent-up demand. More than 60% of American buyers name high prices as the largest impediment to EV adoption, and the new car average price is just shy of $50,000.
The startup playbook is a nod to early Tesla and Rivian playbooks in reverse, abandoning the traditional luxury-first strategy. With 90% of the components made in the US, Slate hopes to sidestep tariffs and supply chain risk for competitors. It will be produced in a refurbished Midwest factory before being delivered by late 2026.
Navigating production and policy risks
Slate has serious hurdles to overcome, such as mass-producing and gaining regulatory approvals. Earlier EV startups Lordstown and Fisker had gone bust for not living up to promise, and Slate’s dependency on federal tax credits adds an element of risk. The future governments’ eventual revocation of the $7,500 EV tax credit would make the base price shoot up to $27,500, dissipating its price advantage.
Moreover, the truck’s limited range and Spartan amenities might scare off conventional pickup buyers who expect more capability. Rivian’s R2, for all its $45,000 price, has dual motors, 300+ miles of range, and high-end driver-assistance systems-features that are not part of Slate’s package.
A high-stakes bid for EV democratization
Slate Auto’s truck is an unprecedented gamble on affordability over luxury, contrary to conventional industry practice and a test of consumer tolerance for sacrificing range and features. If it succeeds, it might pressure incumbent automakers to rush development of low-cost EVs and compel policymakers to rethink subsidy policies. But the fate of the company rests on perfect execution in an industry full of flops. As CEO Barman said, “There’s a huge population in need of safe, reliable, affordable transportation-they just don’t have choices”. The destiny of the Slate Truck will determine whether modularity and simplicity are possible in a time of rising EV complexity.
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