Slate Auto's simple electric truck starts at $24,950
8 hours ago
- #Affordable EV Truck
- #Electric Vehicle Startup
- #Auto Industry Innovation
- Slate Auto revealed its electric truck's starting price: $24,950, excluding fees and optional equipment.
- The base model range increased to ~205 miles, dropping plans for a 240-mile battery pack.
- Priced half the U.S. new car average, it targets the low-end market with few gas or electric rivals like Chevrolet Bolt (~$29,000).
- Preorders opened, with an SUV version starting at $29,950 and customizable from a two-seater pickup.
- Features are basic: hand-crank windows, no infotainment, gray composite body, no paint, but customizable wraps to cut costs.
- Direct sales via Tesla-like model, no traditional dealerships; potential collaboration with Carvana for distribution.
- Aiming for a $25,000 starting price, Slate seeks to create an affordable EV akin to Ford's Model T or Volkswagen Beetle.
- Policy changes under Trump/GOP, like loosened emissions and loss of federal EV tax credits, have delayed competitors' EV plans.
- Slate raised ~$1.4 billion from investors including Jeff Bezos, Guggenheim Partners, and General Catalyst.