- Slate Auto’s Truck model is a highly customisable and surprisingly affordable ute-style entrant to the increasingly competitive EV market.
- Bankrolled by Amazon’s billionaire founder Jeff Bezos and led by Chrysler veteran Chris Barman, Slate Auto has revealed three different versions of its maiden vehicle.
- While pricing has yet to be confirmed, the entry-level Slate Truck is projected to fall under the US$20,000 (AU$31,300) benchmark after the American federal EV tax rebate.
Just when you thought the world had run out of billionaire-backed electric trucks, another contender rolls into view – this time from a low-profile outfit called Slate Auto, based in Troy, Michigan.
Forget bulletproof windows or beating a Porche in a drag-race. The Slate Auto Truck champions a philosophy of “radical simplicity” and takes things back to basics: a no-nonsense, two-seater electric ute with a single rear-mounted motor.
With a standard 52.7kWh battery offering 241 kilometres of range – or 386 kilometres with an optional 84.3kWh pack – the performance specs are refreshingly modest. You’re looking at 148kW and 195lb-ft of torque, 0-100km/h in eight seconds, as well as a top speed of around 145km/h.
Inside, it’s the same minimalist story: manually wound windows, basic climate control, and no infotainment system or built-in screens (bring your phone or tablet if you want navigation), not even a sound system. Safety, however, isn’t an afterthought. There are up to eight airbags, forward collision warning, and emergency braking on board.
As you can imagine, where Slate Auto’s Truck really shines is pricing. For this stripped-back whip, the upstart automaker is targeting a sub-US$20,000 (AU$31,500) price tag after American federal tax incentives – a figure almost unheard of in today’s EV market.
The other major plus is it’s highly modifiable. With three configurations, including the ute or a five-seater SUV (hard or soft top), not to mention the hundreds of different add-ons (i.e. a sound system) and custom wraps… you can essentially build the rig of your dreams.
Slate Auto will assemble its cars at its Indianapolis factories, with the first American deliveries expected towards the end of 2026. Currently, there’s zero word on availability in Australia. But here’s hoping it washes up onto our shores eventually.
In a landscape crowded with overpromised concepts, the Slate Truck feels compellingly plausible. Affordable, simple, and just the right amount of ambitious – it’s one to watch.
