Slate Auto Taking Aim to be the Go-To Affordable EV
Consumers are looking for answers as they try to avoid high-priced electric vehicles.
DETROIT — Jeff Bezos-backed start-up, Slate Auto, is aiming at consumers seeking EV trucks at an affordable price who want to avoid paying for undesired extra features and incurring high car payments.
The Troy, Michigan-based start-up automotive company was founded in 2022 by Miles Arnone, William Barker, and Jeff Wilke. It’s backed by Bezos and Los Angeles Dodgers majority-owner Mark Walter, the top investors for the company.
For a low-cost EV pick-up to make it in the market, “you got to trade off stuff, for example, Slate doesn’t have the telematic stack, you have to pay extra to get the modem in it, it doesn’t have the giant touchscreen on the dashboard. If you want to equip the truck to do job site work, there’s other stuff you’ve got to buy,” said Rob Pegoraro, technology journalist.
Slate offers one basic design that can be transformed to up to five models: The Blank Slate, Squareback SUV, Fastback SUV, Open Air Kit, Cargo Kit. The company’s goal is to have the most affordable truck in America, offering less tech at a lower price.
The Blank Slate is a regular two-seater cab pickup truck starting at $24,000; the company will not offer a four-door option as other automotive companies do for their trucks.
The Squareback SUV is a two-door vehicle that can be configured to seat five by adding rear seats and where the back top can be removed for recreational purposes.
The Fastback SUV is another version of a two-door SUV that converts to a five-seater but with a sportier slanted rear-shield.
The Open Air Kit seats five, but with no rear hardtop or windows, allowing for open-air driving.
The Cargo Kit also seats five and features a truck bed storage for work, fleets, or hauling gear.
“In the current market, there is certainly a place for simplified vehicles—for instance, service vehicles in large cities used by water utilities, postal services, municipal departments, or local businesses that operate primarily within the urban area,” said Mario Gualco, owne r of the company Officina Meccanica Gualco, a mechanical engineer who has worked with automotive companies.
Slate uses a direct-to-consumer (D2C) business model where customers can purchase and customize their vehicle, choosing from over 200 options, directly from the manufacturer. This allows customers to place a deposit prior to working out financing, leasing, and full cash deals. Slate aims to put customization, and ultimately, pricing control, back into the hands of consumers.
Currently, the only EV trucks in the market are the Rivian R1T, the Tesla Cybertruck, the Chevrolet Silverado, the GMC Sierra, and the GMC Hummer. The price range for these trucks stands well above $70,000, a price tag well out of reach for the average consumer looking for affordability below the $30,000 range.
The Ford Maverick, which sells as both a hybrid and internal combustion engine, stands as the most affordable compact pickup truck in the market with a starting price above $28,000. In a pivot to affordability, Ford, in the fourth quarter of 2025, discontinued its F-150 Lightning, with a starting price of $52,000, and is now focusing on developing an EV truck starting at the $30,000 range.
Affordability and electric-seeking buyers are the main target for Slate where the gas-powered engine is not a choice and a Rivian R1T is beyond the reach of many.
Slate is expected to roll out vehicle deliveries to their customers in the fourth quarter of 2026.