A new US electric vehicle startup called Slate Auto debuted, which is as anti Tesla as Antesla.
Inexpensive and deeply customized and very analog. There is a manual window and does not contain the default infotainment screen. On the hell, it was not even painted. You can also convert to a five -seater SUV in a two -seater pickup.
A three -year -old new company unveiled a car at an event held in Long Beach, California, and promised that the first truck would be offered to customers at less than $ 20,000. With ~ At the end of 2026, Federal EV tax deduction.
This event has been in just a few weeks since Techcrunch has released details about Slate Otto’s plan to enter the US EV market and build a truck in Indiana, and the company is financially supported by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
The automotive industry said, “We focused on autonomy and technology of the vehicle, and we have set prices to places that most Americans cannot afford.” But we are here to change it. “
Chris Barman CEO said, “We are constructing a cheap vehicle that has been promised for a long time but never delivered.
specification
The slate does not say exactly how much the truck costs. In the last few weeks, several sources have said that the company has moved back and forth. And there may be many changes between now and in late 2026.
The company is It says that it will start less than $ 20,000 after the federal tax deduction (still exists next year). Interested buyers can make a $ 50 refundable reservation for the company website.
The default version of the slate truck is squeezed from the 52.7kWh battery pack and supplies power to a single 150kW motor of the rear axle. For those who are slightly annoyed by that number, slate will have a larger battery pack that it will have a range of about 240 miles. It will be charged using the North American charging standard port, and Standard Tesla has established that almost all major automakers are currently used.
The truck is provided with a 17 -inch wheel and a 5 -foot bed, with a 1,000 -pound towing capacity of 1,400 pound payloads. Since it is EV, the engine has no front. There is a front trunk (or fronk) with 7 cubic feet storage space, which occurs when the owner wants to fill it with ice for that tailgate party.
The towing capacity is lower than the Ford F-150, which is more capable than the Ford F-150, much less than the small Ford Maverick, which is about 1,500 pounds.
Speaking of Ford Maverick, the slate truck is smaller. The wheelbase of the slate EV is 108.9 inches and the total length is 174.6 inches. Maverick is 121.1 -inch wheelbase and full length 199.7 inches.
Everything else about the basic version of the truck is terribly afforded. This is the point. SLATE is actually setting customers to maximize the idea of the default model and pay for the cost of EV.
Custom… all
Slate is deeply devoted to custom ideas that are distinguished from other EV startups (or traditional automakers).
The company said it will be released on Thursday as more than 100 accessories that can be used to personalize trucks as desired. If that’s overwhelming, Slate has planned a variety of “starter packs” that interest buyers can choose.
There is no truck. Slate instead plays the idea of covering the car, and said that the management will sell it as a kit. Buyers can work for themselves or put their wraps for themselves.
This not only adds the idea that the buyer can personalize the vehicle, but also blocks the company’s huge cost center. This means that the slate does not require a paint shop, so you can spend less costs for launching the market and avoid one of the most regulated areas of vehicle manufacturing.
Slate tells the customer that he can specify the name of the car as he wants, providing the ability to buy embossing rap for Tailgate. Otherwise, the truck is just called “empty slate”.
As TechCrunch reported earlier, the custom work is the key to how the company wants to create a margin for a vehicle with a relatively dust.
But it is also part of a friendly pitch slate.
Barman said on Thursday that he could make an empty slate as demand and finances changed over time or time, and that he would be claiming “Easy DIY” that could handle Add-ons as “Non-Gearheads” and how to start a resource suit under the claim of Slate University.
The website said, “Buy accessories, deliver quickly, and install it directly on the slate u of the content hub.” Do you not want to go to the DIY path? Slate official partner comes and can do it for you. “
The initial custom libraries of the SLATE website range from functional to beauty. Buyers can add infotainment screens, speakers, loop racks, and light covers.
The most important thing is that the buyer can “convert” a truck to a wider SUV form. But these are not permanent decisions. Slate said people could change their cars to SUVs if they wanted their car.
However, the slate truck provides a mandatory safety feature for federal governments such as automatic emergency braking, airbags and backup cameras.
Buckle above
The way to create a successful American automotive startup is full of failure. Over the past few years, Canoo, Fisker and Lordstown Motors have applied for bankruptcy. And it is just a few names. Like Rivian and Lucid Motors, the neighboring companies still bleed to the market by attempting to launch a large amount of inexpensive markets.
Slate is the total reversal of the approach. It is the first to follow the inexpensive EV first, and I hope to make the business run by supplementing money in this deep customization play.
But like Rivian and Lucid Motors, there are also deep pocket patrons. It has argued that it has raised more than $ 110 million so far (exact figures have not been disclosed). And as shown by TechCrunch, except for Bezos, we brought money from the CEO of the Guggenheim Partners and the Guggenheim Partners CEO of La Dodgers.
The company has hired about 400 employees to achieve all ambitious goals and is currently trying to hire more. Slate could not choose a more fluctuating time for debut, but focuses on domestic manufacturing and can be insulated from the confusion faced by other new companies and existing automakers.
Barman said on Thursday, “We believe that the car should be cheap and desirable.
