Slate makes a bold statement with a sub-$20k transforming truck EV

Slate Auto, a company that lists Amazon founder Jeff Bezos under its investors, has officially unveiled its first production vehicle – and it’s quite a looker.

By default, it is 4,435 mm (173.3 inches) long and has two doors. It can be optioned with either a pickup truck body (single cab plus bed) or an SUV cabin (five seats, same two doors). Further options allow buyers to personalize it to their specific needs and tastes – check out the video, it’s quite interesting.

In its most basic form, the Slate EV will ship with a 52.7-kWh battery pack rated up to 241 km (150 miles) of range in North America. Going with a larger 84.3-kWh pack will let you cover up to 386 km (240 miles) per charge.

All versions rely on a single rear-mounted electric motor with 204 PS (201 hp / 150 kW) for propulsion. AWD is not on the list, and the carrying capacity doesn’t exceed 650 kilos (1,433 pounds). Towing is also capped at a low 453 kg (1,000 lbs).

Slate Auto plans to start production in Indiana in Q4 2026. It says it will be able to deliver up to 150,000 examples per year based on the demand. Interested customers are invited to leave a $50 deposit right now. With the current federal incentives factored in, the company hopes to keep the base price just under $20,000.