Slate Auto unveils minimalist electric pickup truck priced from $24,950

Slate Auto, the electric vehicle startup backed by billionaire Jeff Bezos, has officially announced the starting price for its long-awaited electric pickup truck: $24,950.

The listed price excludes taxes, title, licensing, registration, government fees, destination charges, documentation costs, and any optional accessories, according to the company. Slate also began accepting customer preorders for the vehicle on Wednesday.

Alongside the pricing announcement, Slate confirmed that it has increased the estimated driving range of the standard model from 150 miles to approximately 205 miles. However, the earlier plan was to offer a larger battery pack capable of delivering around 240 miles of range.

With a starting price roughly half the average cost of a new vehicle in the United States, Slate is positioning itself to compete at the most affordable end of the new car market, where buyers currently have relatively few gasoline or electric options. Among electric competitors, the Chevrolet Bolt starts at roughly $29,000, while the Nissan Leaf starts at around $32,000. Ford has also hinted at launching a $30,000 electric pickup expected to arrive in 2027.

The pricing announcement comes more than a year after Slate Auto emerged from stealth mode. Since then, the company has gradually shared details about its highly simplified and adaptable electric vehicle, which begins as a two-seat pickup truck but can later be converted into a five-seat SUV. Slate confirmed on Wednesday that the SUV version will start at $29,950.

According to the company, the conversion can be completed either by professional installers or by the owners themselves. Slate also introduced some of the first instructional videos from its new “Slate University” series, demonstrating how customers can perform modifications ranging from an SUV conversion to installing accessories, such as headlight covers.

The vehicle’s conversions are intentionally basic while offering extensive customisation options. It features manual crank windows, does not include a built-in infotainment system, and every model comes finished in the same grey composite material rather than traditional paint. Instead of factory paint colours, Slate plans to offer custom vehicle wraps. This strategy could significantly reduce manufacturing costs since automotive paint facilities often require investments worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The company did not provide additional details regarding its purchasing process. Slate has previously said it does not intend to operate traditional dealerships and instead plans to sell directly to consumers, following a business model similar to Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid Motors.

Earlier this month, Slate Auto granted online used-car retailer Carvana a warrant allowing it to purchase shares in the company, suggesting the two businesses could potentially collaborate on sales of the affordable electric truck. Carvana recently announced plans to enter the new vehicle market, marking a significant expansion beyond its traditional used-car business. One of Slate’s principal investors, Guggenheim Partners CEO Mark Walter, is also a major shareholder in Carvana.

Before emerging from stealth, Slate consistently indicated that its vehicle would be priced in the mid-$20,000 range. The startup has frequently said its ambition is to build an affordable vehicle comparable to what Ford’s Model T and Volkswagen’s Beetle represented for earlier generations of drivers, making a starting price near $25,000 a long-standing objective.

Achieving that goal has become more complicated following policy changes introduced under the second Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress. New policies have relaxed emissions standards and eliminated the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles, prompting several major automakers to delay or cancel future EV programmes in the United States.

Despite those challenges, Slate Auto has secured substantial financial backing to pursue its plans. The company has raised approximately $1.4 billion across three major funding rounds. While Slate has disclosed little about its investor base, known backers include TWG Global, led by Mark Walter; General Catalyst; Jeff Bezos’ family office; venture capital firm Slauson & Co.; and former Amazon executive Diego Piacentini.