Jeff Bezos-backed startup unveils barebones electric truck with crank windows and a throwback price
Jeff Bezos-backed startup Slate Auto is launching a barebones electric truck for just $20,000 as it calls for a return to affordability after years of stubborn inflation drove everyday prices up.Simply called the Truck, it comes in just one spec, a two-door, two-seater in slate gray.With crank windows and no entertainment system, it’s a blast to the past – and so is its price.“The definition of what’s affordable is broken,” Slate CEO Chris Barman said in a statement.
“Slate exists to put the power back in the hands of customers who have been ignored by the auto industry.”That $20,000 starting price, however, includes a federal EV tax incentive that President Trump has rallied against.The Truck’s two-door structure can be changed into a 5-seat SUV.The truck itself is fairly small – less than 15 feet long, comparable to a 1985 Toyota pickup.Instead of a modern entertainment system, the Truck has a smartphone mount for phones and tablets, and optional add-on speakers.The vehicle also comes with simple HVAC controls and crank windows.Though it’s a plain design, Slate is planning to offer a massive line of accessories to make the truck customizable, including wraps and a bed cap.Slate’s new truck has a maximum range of 150 miles on a single charge, with the option for a longer-range battery pack that offers up to 240 miles.It boasts a zero to 60 miles per hour time of eight seconds, able to reach a top speed of 90 miles per hour.
The truck produces 201 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.Slate said it plans to build the truck in the US, but has not yet announced a factory location.TechCrunch reported the plant is in Indiana.Bezos, along with Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter and billionaire investor Thomas Tull, helped Slate raise $111 million for the project, according to TechCrunch.The trucks are not expected to be delivered to customers until late 2026, but they can be reserved for a refundable $50 fee....