A Michigan-based electric vehicle start-up is set to kick off production of its ultra-functional, 240-mile range truck next year. Slate, a new American EV manufacturer backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has unveiled a no-frills compact electric pickup truck with a starting price around just £20,000.
Without any fanfare leading up to its reveal, the stealthy start-up has finally pulled the wraps off its debut model—simply named Truck. Now open for reservations, the company aims to start deliveries by the end of next year, targeting a base price of $27,000 before local incentives.
Designed with simplicity and affordability at its core, the no-nonsense two-seat electric pickup is confirmed for a US launch only, aiming to carve out a space in a market still dominated by gas-powered vehicles.
The truck’s blocky, composite-paneled exterior embraces a minimalist aesthetic, free of chrome accents or superfluous trim. Inside, the back-to-basics theme continues with manual window cranks and a smartphone mount in lieu of a central touchscreen—reminiscent of the Citroën Ami’s spartan setup. Optional speakers are available, but standard features include a USB port, central locking, and cruise control.
The Truck is impressively adaptable, with a wide selection of colours, accessories, and upgrade kits available. Thanks to modular bolt-on conversions from Slate, it can even morph into a five-seat compact SUV or a sleek fastback crossover, cleverly making use of its 1047-litre load bay.
Under the floor sits either a 52.7kWh battery or a larger 84.3kWh unit, offering an estimated range of 150 or 240 miles respectively. Both power packs support rapid charging, capable of topping up from 20% to 100% in under 30 minutes.
A single rear-mounted motor delivers 201bhp and 195lb ft of torque, propelling the Truck from 0 to 60mph in 8.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 90mph.
Production is set to take place somewhere in the US Midwest, shielding the Truck from President Donald Trump’s recently introduced 25% import tariff on foreign-built vehicles. However, Slate has yet to disclose the exact manufacturing site or confirm whether it will assemble the EV in-house.
Headquartered in Michigan, Slate is bringing its Truck to life with the help of funding from Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. Notably, Amazon already has a commercial vehicle supply deal with Rivian in the US, though it remains uncertain whether a similar partnership could be forged with Slate.