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After owning EV trucks and customized lifted pickups, Slate's latest move highlights a side of truck culture many EVs still miss. Slate's latest customization partnership may seem like simple marketing, but after owning EV trucks, modified cars, and lifted pickups, I think it highlights a challenge many automakers still face: building truck culture, not just technology. Advertising October 2, 2026 - 7:58PM EDT Slate just launched two new accessory Starter Packs that allow owners to add themed graphics, dash badges, key fob caps, and other appearance upgrades to their Slate truck. According to Slate's announcement, reservation holders can add these appearance packages through the Slate Marketplace before delivery. At first glance, this looks like a typical accessories announcement. The news includes no new battery breakthroughs, charging improvements, or capability upgrades. But after owning lifted trucks, customized cars, EVs with more than 100,000 miles on the odometer, and attending Slate's recent test drive event, I think the announcement highlights something that often gets overlooked in conversations about electric vehicles. Customization matters. My Automotive Interests Have Always Included Personalization I've never owned many completely stock vehicles. Over the years, I've owned multiple lifted Ford Rangers, each modified to match how I wanted the truck to look and drive. Later came an SVT-inspired Ford Focus that received appearance and performance-inspired upgrades. Even my Chevrolet Bolt, a vehicle most people wouldn't associate with customization, eventually received exterior enhancements that helped separate it from every other Bolt on the road. More recently, I've owned both a Ford F-150 Lightning and a Rivian R1T, while continuing to drive a Chevrolet Bolt with more than 100,000 miles on the odometer. Looking back, the vehicles I've kept the longest weren't necessarily the fastest, most expensive, or even the most capable. They were the ones I developed a connection with. Sometimes that meant installing a lift kit. Sometimes it meant adding appearance upgrades. Sometimes it simply meant making the vehicle feel different from every other example on the road. That's one reason this announcement resonated with me more than a typical accessories story. One Thing the Rivian R1T Never Quite Delivered While I genuinely enjoyed my time with the Rivian R1T, one of my recurring frustrations was that it felt difficult to personalize compared to many traditional trucks. Rivian delivered an exceptionally polished product, but it also felt largely finished from day one. There wasn't the same sense that the vehicle was inviting owners to modify it, customize it, or put their own stamp on it. That isn't necessarily a flaw, but it is a different philosophy from the one that built much of truck enthusiast culture over the past several decades. Traditional truck owners often view a truck as a starting point rather than a finished product. That's one reason Slate's approach immediately caught my attention. Advertising What Stood Out at Slate's Test Drive Event When I attended Slate's test drive event, I found myself thinking back to my old Rangers. Not because the vehicles were similar mechanically, but because Slate seemed to embrace the same owner involvement that drew me to those trucks years ago. The company spent considerable time discussing wraps, accessories, appearance packages, lift kits, lowering kits, and future personalization options. Instead of presenting the truck as a finished product that shouldn't be altered, Slate often framed it as a platform owners could adapt to their own tastes. That stood out because most EV launches focus almost exclusively on range, charging speeds, battery capacity, and acceleration. Slate spent just as much time discussing ownership. What Long-Term EV Ownership Taught Me After years of driving EVs, I've noticed that technology eventually fades into the background. My F-150 Lightning has helped haul materials, support home projects, tackle road trips, and handle everyday truck duties. Its Bolt has passed 100,000 miles. Charging has become routine. Range has become predictable. Eventually, the technology stops being the story. Once that happens, other factors begin to matter more. Owners start paying attention to how the vehicle fits into their lifestyle, hobbies, and interests. That's something truck enthusiasts have understood for decades. More Than an Accessories Announcement The newly announced Starter Packs are easy to dismiss as cosmetic upgrades. I think that misses the larger point. What's interesting isn't the individual decals or badges. It's the fact that Slate continues to build customization into its ownership experience from the beginning. Advertising The company appears to recognize that many enthusiasts enjoy modifying vehicles regardless of whether they're driving a pickup, a hatchback, a sports car, or an EV. If you've ever installed aftermarket wheels, added a lift kit, ordered a graphics package, or spent a weekend modifying a vehicle in your driveway, you'll probably understand why this strategy caught my attention. Why I Think This Matters After spending years around modified trucks, customized cars, and EVs, I've come to appreciate that the vehicles that leave the strongest impression aren't always the ones with the best specifications. They're often the vehicles owners feel connected to. My old lifted Rangers weren't the fastest vehicles I've owned. My Chevrolet Bolt certainly wasn't the most powerful. Yet those vehicles stand out in my memory because I invested time into making them my own. The process of personalizing them became part of the ownership experience. That's why I think Slate's focus on customization deserves more attention than a typical accessories announcement. As EV technology continues to mature, range, charging speeds, and battery performance will become increasingly comparable across brands. When that happens, manufacturers will need additional ways to stand out. One way is through owner engagement. Another is by giving people a vehicle they can shape, modify, and personalize over time. After attending Slate's test drive event, I came away with the impression that the company understands something many automakers overlook: for a lot of enthusiasts, ownership doesn't start when the vehicle leaves the dealership. That's when the fun begins. Whether Slate ultimately succeeds remains to be seen. But as someone who values customization, I can understand why the idea resonates. For many enthusiasts, customization isn't separate from ownership; It's part of the ownership experience itself. What do you think? Are modern EVs becoming too "finished" from the factory, or do you prefer a vehicle that can be personalized and modified over time? Have you customized any of your vehicles, whether electric or gas-powered? Let Torque News know in the comments below. Blake Lowry is a tech forward automotive enthusiast with a background in software development and animation working with clients such as Car & Driver, Hot Wheels, Google, Microsoft and the History Channel where he contributed on various interactive experiences. Blake's automotive passion is centered around electric cars and trucks, alternative/green energy and practical applications in the real world. At Torque News, Blake's articles focus on Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, Tesla Cybertruck, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Slate Truck and GMC Hummer EV Pickup coverage. You can also follow Blake here: Advertising Follow Torque News today...

Kosciusko County hosts job fair as Slate Auto builds workforce of up to 2,000 employees. Posted: Oct 1, 2026 6:46 PM EDT NOW: Kosciusko County hosts job fair as Slate Auto builds workforce of up to 2,000 employees. 'I feel powerless': How South Bend's top-ranked housing... WARSAW, Ind. - Hire Kosciusko hosted its biannual job fair on Oct. 1 in Warsaw. Over 14 employers and three career resource organizations were in attendance, where they expected to see more than 100 people apply for jobs. One company, in particular, is looking for new employees. Slate Auto, a new electric car manufacturing company, is looking to grow its workforce by adding 2,000 employees, they tell ABC57. The company offers customizable electric vehicles, with an emphasis on simplicity and affordability. "The industry has become so expensive that all the vehicles now are coming out with all the bells and whistles and extra items," Slate Auto HR Administrative Assistant Angelica Perales says. "So, the goal is to keep it as simple as possible." The company says its vehicles start at $24,950. Right now, Slate Auto is hiring for more than 100 positions, including jobs in labor, assembly, and quality engineering roles. Perales says the company posted additional jobs solely for applicants at the job fair. The manufacturing company is set up in Warsaw, and Perales says the company is growing quickly. "Don't give up. Keep looking," she says when referencing the difficulties applicants have faced when applying to any job" "I know it's a really lull time and downtime in America, but I'm excited that we're a startup, and we're eagerly hiring. We have opportunities, and the candidate pool has been really nice."

Slate Truck adds Monster Jam, Grave Digger wraps. Slate Auto is offering two Monster Jam-licensed starter packs for its $24,950 Slate Truck, pairing full vehicle wraps with wheel wraps, grille logo wraps, and decals, plus individual accessories. Slate Auto is offering two Monster Jam-licensed starter packs for its $24,950 Slate Truck, each combining a full vehicle wrap, wheel wraps, a grille logo wrap, and decals. According to the company, the packs can be added to Slate vehicle designs starting this week. One is a purple-and-green design based on the Grave Digger monster truck, and the other is a black-and-yellow Monster Jam design. Buyers who preorder a Slate for $300 can add either pack at any time and buy it on the Slate Marketplace before their delivery date. Highlights. * Two starter packs: Grave Digger and Monster Jam. Each includes a full vehicle wrap, wheel wraps, a grille logo wrap, and decals. * $24,950 base price: Slate says this makes the Slate Truck the most affordable truck in America. * $300 preorder: First deliveries are expected in Q4 2026. * Three standalone accessories: a two-piece decal set, a five-piece Slatelet set, and key fob caps. What's in the Monster Jam Starter Packs? Slate says its vehicles are the first designed to be wrapped, and the licensed packs build on that approach. The Grave Digger pack takes its purple-and-green scheme from the monster truck. The Monster Jam pack uses the event series' black-and-yellow graphics. "Slate and Monster Jam both love doing truck stuff, just at different scales," said Slate Head of Brand and Marketing Ben Whitla. "That contrast is part of what makes the partnership work: the Starter Packs and accessories take the attitude, graphics, and fandom of Monster Jam and make them available for Slate owners, whenever they want." Individual accessories. Owners who don't want a full pack can buy these items separately: * Decal set: a two-piece set. * Slatelet set: a five-piece set combining Monster Jam and Grave Digger icons. * Key fob caps: one with the Monster Jam logo and one with the Grave Digger logo. Partner perspective. Feld Entertainment produces Monster Jam. Jeff Bialosky, the company's senior vice president of global partnerships and licensing, framed the deal as a way to extend the brand into everyday driving. "Monster Jam is proud to partner with Slate on this groundbreaking collaboration, creating an entirely new way for fans to bring their passion for the brand into their everyday lives," Bialosky said. "By enabling consumers to personalize their Slate vehicles with Monster Jam-inspired designs, we're extending the excitement, individuality, and adrenaline of Monster Jam beyond the arena and onto the road." How the packs fit Slate's ordering model. Slates can be ordered as a pickup or as one of two SUVs, or converted after purchase. The wrap packs follow the same model: owners can add them at any point before delivery. * taxes, title, license, and registration * government fees and destination charges * a $1,450 documentation fee * optional equipment Slate was established in 2022. It plans to assemble its vehicles at its reindustrialized factory in Warsaw, Indiana, with first deliveries expected in Q4 2026. How this story was produced: drafted with AI assistance from company announcements and public sources, then reviewed, edited and approved by publisher Brian Hagman. Its editorial standards The EV Report staff. The EV Report is the trade publication of record for vehicle electrification. Published by Hagman Media and edited by founder Brian Hagman, it covers battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, charging infrastructure, and battery technology for an audience of automotive engineers, fleet managers, and clean-mobility investors.