Slate Auto, the electric vehicle startup supported by billionaire Jeff Bezos, has announced the starting price for its electric truck: $24,950.
This price does not include associated costs such as taxes, title, license, registration, government fees, destination charges, documentation fees, or optional enhancements, as stated by the company. Slate began accepting pre-orders for the truck recently.
Significantly, Slate has increased the estimated range for its base model from 150 miles to approximately 205 miles.
This competitively low price point—about half the average cost of a new automobile in the U.S.—positions Slate to capture a segment of the market that currently offers limited choices for both gas-powered and electric vehicles. The Chevrolet Bolt is one of Slate’s closest competitors, starting at approximately $29,000, while the Nissan Leaf begins around $32,000. Ford has plans for a $30,000 electric truck set to launch in 2027.
The announcement follows over a year since Slate Auto emerged from secrecy, during which the company has been unveiling details about their very basic yet transforming electric vehicle. It originates as a two-seater pickup but can be upgraded to a five-seater SUV, with the SUV variant starting at $29,950.
Slate has indicated that the modification can be performed either by professionals or by the owners themselves. Recently, it unveiled the first of a series of instructional videos titled “Slate University,” designed to assist users with processes from the SUV conversion to adding headlight covers.
However, the truck itself is quite basic and customizable. It features hand-crank windows, lacks an infotainment system, and all orders initially come in a standard gray composite material without paint options, allowing buyers to order personalized wraps for customization. This strategy likely helps eliminate high costs associated with traditional paint production lines.
The company did not elaborate on the purchasing procedure. Slate announced it would not utilize conventional dealerships, opting instead for a direct-to-consumer sales model, similar to other electric vehicle manufacturers such as Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid Motors.
Recently, it was reported that Slate Auto has granted online used car retailer Carvana an option to acquire shares, indicating a potential collaboration for selling the affordable truck. Carvana has also revealed intentions to venture into selling new vehicles, pivoting from its original business model. One of Slate’s leading investors, Mark Walter, who heads Guggenheim Partners, is also a significant shareholder in Carvana.
Slate had previously indicated that the vehicle would be priced in the mid-$20,000 range before it emerged from secrecy, with a target price around $25,000 for an offering comparable to Ford’s Model T or Volkswagen’s Beetle.
However, the journey toward this ambition has been complicated by the political landscape, particularly during the second Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress. Changes in policy have relaxed emissions regulations and eliminated a $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles, leading many major manufacturers to postpone or abandon new EV projects in the U.S.
The startup has managed to secure substantial funding while pursuing these bold objectives. To date, investors have contributed about $1.4 billion to Slate through three significant funding rounds. Although the identities of many backers remain undisclosed, it is known that the funding includes contributions from Walter’s firm TWG Global, along with General Catalyst, Bezos’ family office, VC firm Slauson & Co., and former Amazon executive Diego Piacentini.
