A secretive startup with massive names behind it
A mysterious two-seat electrical pickup truck noticed in Los Angeles might supply a glimpse at one of the vital audacious EV initiatives in years — a $25,000 compact truck being developed by Slate Auto, a secretive Michigan startup with deep Amazon ties and backing from Jeff Bezos himself.
Whereas most electrical automobile firms purpose excessive with luxurious sedans and six-figure SUVs, Slate is flipping the script. Its first automobile — confirmed by sources aware of the corporate’s design — is meant to be a no-frills, reasonably priced EV, designed extra just like the Ford Mannequin T than a Tesla. The boxy, upright prototype seen lately in Los Angeles may very well be the primary public sighting of that idea, which has been proven to traders at a design studio in Lengthy Seashore.
A $25,000 pickup aiming to disrupt the market
Slate Auto emerged from stealth in 2022, incubated inside Re:Construct Manufacturing, a agency co-founded by ex-Amazon Client CEO Jeff Wilke. Since then, the startup has quietly raised over $100 million, assembled a management crew filled with veterans from Harley-Davidson, Stellantis, and GM, and reportedly closed a Sequence B spherical backed by billionaires Mark Walter and Thomas Tull.
The undertaking is backed not simply by Bezos’s capital but in addition by a roster of former Amazon executives. Slate’s digital and e-commerce leads have roots within the retail big, and the startup’s general branding — together with its unique “Re:Automobile” moniker — echoes Amazon’s naming conventions.
Past the truck: equipment and a DIY tradition
However past its secretive funding and company lineage, Slate’s method stands out for its departure from the everyday EV playbook. As an alternative of beginning with a high-end mannequin to construct buzz and financial institution margins, Slate is gunning for a automobile that may very well be somebody’s “first automobile.” Its projected $25,000 price ticket places it far beneath most EVs available on the market — and that’s by design.
To make the numbers work, Slate plans to emulate the accessory-driven mannequin utilized by Harley-Davidson and Stellantis’s Mopar division. Homeowners shall be inspired to customise and personalize their vehicles, turning to a catalog of equipment, components, and even attire. Job listings counsel the corporate may also supply open-source restore and improve tutorials by one thing referred to as “Slate College.”
Manufacturing might start as early as late 2026 at a facility close to Indianapolis, although it’s nonetheless unclear if Slate plans to construct a brand new manufacturing facility or repurpose an present one. The corporate has instructed staff it would outsource its high-voltage methods and motors, doubtlessly dashing up growth and decreasing prices.
Ultimate ideas
On the helm is CEO Christine Barman, a Chrysler veteran who as soon as oversaw packages for the Dodge Charger and Jeep Cherokee. In contrast to the brash, tweet-happy founders who often lead EV startups, Barman has flown underneath the radar, quietly constructing out Slate’s operations since 2022.
With the EV market cooling and lots of startups both folding or flailing, Slate Auto’s gamble on an reasonably priced, customizable truck feels dangerous however crucial. If profitable, it might sign a shift towards a extra accessible EV future — one the place vehicles aren’t luxurious toys however instruments anybody can personal and personalize.
