While the average new car price in the US is going up to almost $50,000 and electric vehicles usually cost even more, a large number of people in the US cannot afford to follow the EV trend. A certain startup from Michigan is betting that it will be able to deliver a better outcome than that. Slate Auto aims to manufacture a cheap, basic, and clean electric pickup vehicle that could be easily upgraded and customized at any time.
A Back-to-Basics Approach
While other car manufacturers are going for the latest technology and high-end models, Slate is taking the older models, such as the Ford Model T and VW Beetle- cars that made it possible for the average person to own a vehicle- as their source of inspiration. They are starting with a simple, two-seat electric pickup for $25,000, or probably less than $20,000 after the federal tax credits. The base model is purposely basic: hand-cranked windows, no factory radio, and a plain interior. CEO Chris Barman, a Fiat Chrysler veteran, refers to it as a “blank slate” for the owner’s imagination to run free.
Buyers can first use the bare minimum and add the necessary details at the right time – be that power windows, a modern infotainment system, or even an SUV conversion kit that will turn the two-seater car into a five-passenger one.
Practical Specs for Everyday Use
The base model is a two-door, rear-wheel-drive vehicle that seats two, but optional upgrades add a five-passenger cab. A standard battery has a 150-mile range and is supplemented by an available 240-mile pack. Charging is easy—Slate employs the North American Charging Standard—and half-hour fast-charging from 20 to 80 percent.
Even though it’s budget-oriented in its approach, the truck still has a complete list of safety features: traction control, emergency braking, airbags, backup camera, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and forward collision warning. Payload weight is 1,400 pounds, and it can tow 1,000 pounds—figures that make it a viable compact work truck.
Customization as a Core Feature
Where Slate cuts itself loose from the pack is in customization. There are more than 100 accessories, ranging from lift kits and body wraps to high-end sound systems. To make more substantial changes, owners can install a second row of seats, a roll cage, and extra airbags to convert it into a five-seat SUV.
Body panels are made to be wrapped or replaced easily—something Slate suggests owners do for themselves. The company even offers 3D printing files so that customers can craft their accessories. The whole design is open to creativity, putting a personal mark on each truck.
Building in America, Selling Direct
Slate’s production harks back to the Midwest, with an aim to give new life to shuttered plants and revitalize local economies. Slate is cutting out middlemen altogether, selling directly to customers and sidestepping costly service networks that inflate prices.
For do-it-yourself owners, “Slate University” provides step-by-step video instructions for everything from window replacement to a complete SUV conversion. For those who are less handy, Slate is teaming up with independent repair shops nationwide.
A Leadership Team with Muscle
Barman is accompanied by a seasoned team with industry experience at Harley-Davidson, Stellantis, Rivian, and Amazon. Supporting the firm are top-shelf investors, such as Jeff Bezos’ family office, LA Dodgers principal owner Mark Walter, and Re: Build Manufacturing lead investor Thomas Tull. Slate has raised hundreds of millions of dollars—more than enough to ride out the uncertainty that has brought down so many other EV prospects.
The Roadblocks Ahead
There are challenges still. The two-door pickup market is a niche, and EV uptake has slowed in recent times. If tax credit regulations change, affordability will suffer. Some also question if a DIY-friendly model will appeal to mainstream buyers, and if the low base price will be sustainable when best-selling add-ons are added.
Nevertheless, Slate’s strategy—matching an entry-level electric truck with a lineup of high-margin accessories—is a fresh twist on the EV segment. If it succeeds, the company may make electric trucks accessible to millions and revive something that’s disappeared from the automotive industry: the notion that vehicle ownership should be within reach for the typical American.
