Slate's new affordable EV truck has its newsroom divided. Jun 28, 2026, 3:37 AM PT Tiny truck takeover. Slate Auto revealed its base-model, two-seater would cost $24,950, branding it the "most affordable truck in America." It is expected to hit US roads by the end of the year. How exactly does Slate keep the price so low? By stripping away many of the features that drivers have come to expect. There's no touchscreen or built-in stereo. The windows operate with old-school manual cranks. Its estimated range tops out at just 205 miles. The truck is tiny, too. At just 14.5 feet long, the vehicle is closer in size to a Toyota Camry than a Ford F-150. The driver's seat is low to the ground, more like a sedan than an SUV. The price tag is undeniably attractive, especially at a time when new cars seem to only get more expensive. Fewer than 5% of new vehicles sold last year had starting prices under $25,000, according to car-shopping website Edmunds. But it wasn't the price that divided its newsroom; it was the design. A colleague called it "the ugliest thing I'd ever seen." Another said they'd happily buy one. Dan DeFrancesco, this newsletter's weekday writer, was also a fan: "I know this country was built on excess. (And God knows I love an all-you-can-eat sushi spot.) But less is more with pick-up trucks. Unless you have a professional need for it, owning anything bigger than a Ford F-150 just makes you a hardo." EV demand has cooled in recent years, making it a tough time for Slate to come to market. Still, one of its main selling points is its level of customization. The company says it will offer more than 200 accessories and add-ons, including vehicle wraps, seat covers, roof racks, light covers, a stereo, and interior tech. BI's Ben Shimkus offered a detailed overview of all the add-ons and their costs. My take: At first glance, I thought the truck was ugly. But after playing around on the website with accessories, colors, and designs, the concept grew on me. There is also something quaint about an old-school design without all the bells and whistles found in today's vehicles. What do you think about Slate's new EV truck? Would you buy one? Drop me your thoughts at [email protected]. Steve Russolillo is the Chief News Editor of Business Insider. He directs and drives the newsroom's coverage of business, technology, markets, finance, and innovation, overseeing reporters and editors across the U.S., London, and Singapore. Before joining BI, he spent 17 years at The Wall Street Journal in various reporting and editing roles. He helped build and then led the Journal's breaking news desk - a team of reporters, editors, and photo journalists tasked with dominating the most important stories of the day across coverage areas. Before that, he was a foreign correspondent in Hong Kong, covering markets, finance, and cryptocurrencies for the Journal from 2017 to 2020. Steve earned an MBA in finance from Baruch College and worked at Goldman Sachs in the firm's asset management division. He went to undergrad at the University of Delaware.

Slate's cheap EV pickup is surprisingly easy to make expensive. [email protected] (Rob Stumpf) Fri, June 26, 2026 at 10:17 AM PDT Slate's $25,000 electric pickup is refreshingly simple, but its endless menu of accessories can quickly add up to something else. * Slate's EV is extremely customizable. * The problem is, all of those options quickly add-up. * Can you build the truck you actually want to buy without driving the truck out of affordable territory? One of the biggest selling points of Slate's tiny electric pickup is that it doesn't try to be everything. It's small. It's simple. It has crank windows, steel wheels, and enough bare plastic to outshine a 1997 Nissan Hardbody. And at around $25,000, it's probably the most refreshingly priced new car Incited has seen since the Ford Maverick debuted - and it has a plug. Plus, and here's the other big Slate selling point, it offers a laundry list of one-off accessories you won't find anywhere else. Just beware: That also makes it incredibly easy to spend your way out of a bargain. Now that Slate has released its treasure trove of accessories and starter packs for its new EV (as well as their prices), Incited is getting a much clearer picture of how the company expects customers to buy these trucks. The base model really is cheap. But cheap like a plain hamburger where the bun, cheese, and every pickle are all optional extras. That isn't necessarily a criticism. In fact, some might argue that it's a genius business model to let people pay for exactly what they want to add on to the base package. See, Slate's entire philosophy is almost the polar opposite compared to every other brand that's out there today. No need to spend $70,000 on a top-tier trim just because that's the one with heated seats and a 360-degree camera. If you want to add something on, just buy it and install it. Whether that's when you buy the actual truck or later on. Some of the accessories feel like an absolute steal. Under $60 to personalize the look of your truck with front lamp plates, tail light plates, or a new grille? In the world of car parts, that's cheap no matter how you look at it. $150 for fender flares feels decently priced, and at a combined $1,100, chunky, upgraded front and rear bumpers also doesn't break the bank. There are some really cool ideas, too. If you do want vehicle telematics (this is probably mostly aimed at fleets) Slate will sell you a cellular bridge for $275. Likewise, Slate offers a Bluetooth module to control your phone's audio from your steering wheel. And if you decide you want a big ol' tablet on your dash, you can install one with a factory Slate-branded mount. Animated taillights are also possible, for $500. A ton of interior panels and surfaces are available in different colors (ranging from $50 to $105, depending on the part). The dash art - which Slate calls a "Slatelet" - isn't yet priced, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want a pink donut starting at me while I drive. And let's not forget that you can order a ton of different wrap or decal sets. Accents for the side mirrors or rocker panels will cost you $60 and $80, respectively. A sweet throwback decal for the truck's side - à la a vintage Toyota Land Cruiser - is a little over $300. Full wraps start at $500 and are available in a huge variety of colors and finishes. Things can also get a bit more expensive. Adding on an SUV kit - probably the Slate's standout feature - costs $5,000 for a boxy one and $7,000 for a sleeker fastback. That alone runs up the Slate's price into the $30,000s. It costs $1,200 for a roof platform, $1,400 for 17" wheels, or $2,300 for a folding solar tonneau cover. Then again, those are genuine extras you'd have to add on to any truck. There might also be some basic creature comforts that you'd never have thought would be optional. A center console is $250. If you want a lock for your glovebox, that'll cost you too. A sound system starts at $250 for a central bluetooth unit that slots into the dash, and $150 buys you a pair of additional speakers. That's not too bad, but it's also something I'd imagine most people will want. By the time I was done with my Fastback SUV build, I managed to hit a whopping $41,283.66. Admittedly, I did go a bit nuts with accessories. I upgraded pretty much any exterior light I could find (including animated headlights and tail lights, roof bar, fogs, and light pods), upgraded front and rear bumpers, spare tire carrier, full roof carrier, running boards, fender flare, and 17" wheels and tires. I also added on the lift kit to fit the larger tires, but Slate doesn't have a price announced on what that will cost just yet. Surely, there are far more modest builds that will make people happy. None of this is deceptive. In fact, Slate is incredibly transparent on its pricing. It's just revealing something that other automakers either don't offer or bake into the final price. Customization costs money. The question is whether buyers will still see value once those accessories start piling up, especially since the cheap EV landscape isn't standing still. Do you buy the delightfully weird and minimalist truck, DIY-ing it into your dream EV? Or do you buy the one that already comes that way from a more established company? Slate deserves enormous credit for trying something genuinely different. The modular approach is clever, and the level of customization offered is something that many have wished for. But there's a fine line between paying for only what you need and everything you need costing extra. Soon Incited'll see where people stand.

Slate launches its first electric pickup for under £25,000. The EV startup Slate, backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is launching its debut models: an electric pickup starting at $24,950, and an electric SUV from $29,950. This price is made possible through an explicit low-budget approach, with Slate forgoing features like touchscreens. By Cora Werwitzke 25.06.2026 - 11:28 Founded in 2022, Slate is a startup that operated in 'stealth mode' for three years before publicly unveiling its plans in April 2025. The company's core ambition is to launch a highly affordable battery-electric pickup, the Slate Truck, which can be customised through a modular concept with various add-on features. This design also allows the two-seater pickup to be converted into a five-seater SUV. Initially, Slate advertised a price tag of under $20,000, which included the US federal incentive for electric vehicles in the form of a $7,500 tax credit. However, this incentive was abolished by the Trump administration. As a result, Slate now quotes a starting price in the mid-$20,000 range. Specifically, prices start at $24,950 for the pickup and $29,950 for the SUV variant, equivalent to approximately €22,000 and €26,400, respectively. Slate markets these competitive prices with the slogan that its vehicles are "built for the millions of hardworking people looking for a vehicle that will adapt to their changing needs without breaking the bank." Up to 330km of range. Slate's flagship model is the two-seater Slate Truck, which, in its base configuration, adopts a no-frills approach: no touchscreens, no speakers, and manually operated windows. The powertrain delivers 135kW of power. The electric motor is mounted on the rear axle and produces 264Nm of torque. The battery is an LFP (lithium iron phosphate) unit with a gross capacity of 65kWh, of which 63kWh is usable. The range is rated at up to 205 miles, equivalent to 330km. The debut model can be charged at up to 11kW AC or 120kW DC, and its charging port supports the NACS plug. The manufacturer states charging times of four hours for AC (Level 2) and 30 minutes for DC fast charging. These specifications apply uniformly across all derivatives. The SUV variant will be offered in two versions: Squareback and Fastback. For pickup drivers who need to transport loads, the payload capacity of the new model is a key consideration: the pickup can carry around 700kg (original specification: 1,550 lb), while the SUV supports 573 kg (1,263 lb). The gross vehicle weight rating is 2.58 tonnes (5,689 lb) for both. Slate lists the vehicle dimensions as 4.43 x 1.79 x 1.72m, with a wheelbase of 2.77m. The height difference between the pickup and SUV is minimal. The pickup bed measures 1.54m in length. Deliveries to begin in Q4. With the full vehicle specifications now revealed, the model is available for order, requiring a $300 deposit. The first deliveries are scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. According to Slate, there are already around 180,000 reservations. However, these are non-binding expressions of interest, which can be secured for a $50 fee. It remains to be seen how many of these reservations will convert into firm orders. Peter Faricy, CEO of Slate, is keen to highlight the number of reservations to underscore the interest in the new budget-friendly model: "More than 180,000 reservation holders have told us they're ready for a vehicle that's affordable, reliable, and built around their lives," Faricy said. "Slate gives customers the freedom to buy only what they need today and personalize their vehicle as their needs change tomorrow. We're excited to start seeing Slates on roads across America later this year." Slate combines the spartan base configuration of its vehicles with a marketplace where customers can purchase accessories for customisation. "Add over 200 accessories from the Slate Marketplace, with over 80% under $500 - including roof racks, stereos, zip off seat covers, and light covers," the startup advertises. At launch, over 100 wrap colours will be available, with "full vehicle wraps [costing] under $500. Get it wrapped professionally and affordably in hours, not days." Slate partners with RepairPal workshops. Slate's target audience is also characterised by a 'do-it-yourself' mentality when it comes to repairs: "You can do most repairs yourself using Slate U as your guide," the company states. The manufacturer offers a 10-year or 110,000-mile warranty on the battery and drivetrain. For service, Slate initially relies on a network of 3,000 RepairPal workshops across the country, including 100 locations authorised to work on high-voltage components. Investors also believe this package will resonate with customers in the US. Just a few months ago, Slate secured $650 million in a Series C funding round, bringing the total capital raised since its founding to around $1.4bn. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is among the backers. With this new funding, the startup can now commence operations at a plant in Warsaw, Indiana. A total of $400 million will be invested in this facility. In addition to its budget-friendly vehicle strategy, Slate aims to achieve lower production costs than competitors by "simplifying the manufacturing process." Chris Barman, Slate's Head of Vehicle Business, recently commented: "For nearly four years, Slate has remained laser-focused on the steps needed to develop our vehicle and reindustrialize our Warsaw Factory, and we will deliver Slate Trucks at nearly half the cost of the average new vehicle - as promised." 0 comments. about "Slate launches its first electric pickup for under £25,000"