The company, which is partly funded by Jeff Bezos, has unveiled its first electric pickup truck. The first vehicles will be available to customers for less than $20,000 by the end of 2026.
The company, which is partly funded by Jeff Bezos, has unveiled its first electric pickup truck. The first vehicles will be available to customers for less than $20,000 by the end of 2026.
Slate Auto is an automotive startup founded three years ago. The company's executives plan to move away from over-integrating technology into their cars in order to make them more accessible. The cars will appeal to those who appreciate a tactile experience, as most of the controls in electric cars are handled using knobs and buttons, rather than touch panels.
"The auto industry has been so focused on autonomy and technology in vehicles that it has led to the fact that most Americans simply cannot afford it. But we are going to change that," said Chief Commercial Officer Jeremy Snyder.
The base Slate truck has a range of 150 miles (240 km) from a 52.7 kWh battery pack that powers a single 150 kW motor on the rear axle. Slate is offering a version with a larger battery pack that will provide a range of about 240 miles (386 km). The car will charge via the North American Charging Standard port, which Tesla invented and is now used by almost all major automakers.
The vehicle is equipped with 17-inch wheels and a 1.5-meter body, and its payload capacity is 635 kg with a towing capacity of 453 kg. Up front is a 7 cubic foot trunk that has a drain in case the owner wants to fill it with ice.
Slate is betting on vehicle customization, which sets the company apart from its competitors. The Slate pickup truck will have 100 different accessories that buyers can use to personalize the car to their liking.
"Buy accessories, get them delivered quickly, and install them yourself with easy-to-follow instructional videos on Slate U, our content hub," the website says. "Don't want to go the self-installation route? An authorized Slate partner can come and do it for you."
Slate's website allows you to try out various cosmetic options online. Buyers can add infotainment screens, speakers, roof racks, headlight covers and more.
The most important are options that allow buyers to “transform” the pickup into a more spacious SUV. But these aren’t the end-all be-alls. Slate says people will be able to convert their vehicle into an SUV and back again if they want — “no mechanic certification required.”
As a reminder, we previously did a big article about the stunning history of Tesla Motors, which went from being a public favorite to a laughing stock.
