Full-Time
Buyer 2 Manufacturing
Slate Auto
501-1,000 employees
Produces low-cost modular electric pickup trucks
No salary listed
Columbia City, IN, USA
In Person
 Operations & Logistics (1) |
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People at Slate Auto
People at Slate Auto who can refer or advise you
- Bachelor’s degree.
- 8-10 years of experience in Procurement/Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing, or Engineering.
- Proven experience sourcing Automotive Manufacturing Facilities’ requests in support of Facilities team, EH&S team, Quality team.
- Sourcing Construction projects; general contractor and various trades.
- Sourcing Maintenance equipment and services.
- Sourcing MRO (a bonus).
- Contracting for Construction services, and Maintenance agreements.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to identify process issues and drive improvements to improve operational efficiency.
- Knowledge and experience with ERP systems and implementation – i.e. NetSuite, Zip
- Strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills
- High level of integrity
- Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced start-up environment, with strong follow-through to complete projects on time
- Develop a strategic supply base, lead supplier negotiations, and manage RFIs, RFQs, Master Services Agreements and commercial agreements in accordance with Slate’s Factory Facilities’ requirements.
- Source facilities’ goods and services, materials and equipment while addressing best cost, quality, and delivery.
- Take ownership of Automotive Manufacturing Facilities sourcing ensuring precision fit, supplier readiness, risk mitigation, and launch timing.
- Collaborate cross-functionally to implement cost reductions, drive supplier quality, and ensure adherence to Slate General Terms and Conditions.
Slate Auto designs and sells affordable, modular electric pickup trucks with a single base model that customers customize over time with removable accessories and upgrades. The core product, the Slate Truck, is a compact battery-powered pickup built around simplicity and low cost, with a base price targeted at $25,000–$28,000. The base model is intentionally stripped of features, allowing buyers to tailor the vehicle to work, personal use, or SUV conversions through modular add-ons. The company aims to simplify manufacturing, reduce upfront costs, and offer a “blank slate” vehicle that can evolve after purchase. Production is planned in the Midwest, with capacity up to 150,000 vehicles annually and first deliveries targeted for 2026. Slate Auto differentiates itself from competitors by focusing on cost reduction, a modular, customizable design, and a direct-to-consumer approach instead of competing on premium features or performance.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
Series C
Total Funding
$1.4B
Headquarters
Troy, Michigan
Founded
2022
People at Slate Auto
People at Slate Auto who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- 180,000 non-binding reservations signal strong pre-market demand despite price increase
- 205-mile range with 65kWh LFP battery from Gotion improves competitiveness
- Carvana option to invest expands sales channels beyond direct-to-consumer model
What critics are saying
- Ford's $30,000 Universal EV pickup erodes Slate's price advantage within 6–12 months
- Q4 2026 delivery target likely missed due to Warsaw factory startup delays
- Non-binding reservations may convert below 10%, failing 80,000-unit break-even threshold
What makes Slate Auto unique
- Bare-bones base truck at $24,950 with manual windows and no touchscreen
- Modular design allows pickup-to-SUV conversion via $5,000–$7,000 aftermarket kits
- Over 200 accessories sold through Slate Marketplace, 80% under $500
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Benefits
Professional Development Budget
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -2%1 year growth
↑ 2%2 year growth
↑ 14%Slate begins taking preorders for electric truck made in Warsaw. By: Charlotte Burke - June 25, 2026 - Warsaw, IN (WARSAW) - Slate Auto has started taking preorders for its customizable electric truck being made in Warsaw. The electric vehicle has a base price of $24,950. Buyers can claim a delivery window with a $300 non-refundable deposit. Accessory choices can be made later. The standard projected battery range for the Slate EV is 205 miles. Slate is marketing the truck as a "blank slate" vehicle, with a bare-bones design that allows buyers to add features based on their budget and needs. The company plans to sell the vehicles directly to consumers, instead of through traditional dealerships. Slate is also launching "Slate University," an online instructional series designed to show owners how to make upgrades, including installing power windows or adding rear seats and airbags for an SUV conversion. For buyers who do not want to make upgrades themselves, Slate plans to partner with local facilities that can perform the work professionally. Deliveries are expected to start later this year. The trucks will be built at the former R.R. Donnelley printing plant on West Old Road 30, just west of downtown Warsaw. The facility has been vacant for several years and is expected to employ 2,000 people once fully operational.
Slate Auto, . Here you'll find information about their funding, investors and team.
Slate Auto's latest funding round was led by existing investor TWG Global, a firm run by LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter.
Slate Auto, an electric vehicle startup backed by Jeff Bezos, has raised $650 million in Series C funding led by TWG Global to develop an affordable electric pickup truck targeting a mid-$20,000 price point. The company aims to begin US deliveries by year-end. The Troy, Michigan-based startup plans a stripped-down, two-seater pickup with 150 or 240 miles of range. Over 160,000 people have placed $50 refundable deposits. Online orders will open in June, when exact pricing will be announced. Slate is investing $400 million to convert an idled Indiana printing plant for vehicle production. In March, the company appointed Peter Faricy, an Amazon veteran and former SunPower CEO, as chief executive. Other investors include General Catalyst Partners and Slauson & Co.
Jeff Bezos-backed Slate Auto plans national customization hub. Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal Thu, March 26, 2026 at 1:53 PM PDT A new auto manufacturer is setting up shop in Louisville, Kentucky. Slate Auto, the Jeff Bezos-backed electric vehicle startup, plans to put its roughly $7.8 million vinyl wrap kit manufacturing fulfillment facility in the Bluegrass State's Jefferson County. The auto startup will produce low cost, modular, fully customizable EV two-door, two-passenger pickup trucks with hopes to start producing and selling the vehicles in 2026. The vehicles made by Slate Auto at its Warsaw, Indiana plant are expected to be priced in the mid-$20,000 range, Will Nicholas, head of business development and government affairs at Slate Auto, said during the March 26 meeting of the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority. Since announcing the vehicle's launch just over a year ago, Nicholas said the company has received more than 160,000 reservations for the EV from across the country. The vehicles are built completely "stripped of everything that isn't an essential so customers can decide how they'd like to customize with accessories and personalization," a state official said during the KEDFA meeting. The vehicles are so customizable that Nicholas said the truck can even be crafted into a five passenger SUV. The vinyl wrapping facility in Louisville will be "central" to Slate Auto's "customization ecosystem," officials said and serve as the automakers sole national production center for its vinyl wrap kit program. At this facility, rather than painting vehicles in a factory like most automakers do, Slate Auto will wrap its vehicles in the custom colors and finishes chosen by the customer. The company offers more than 100 colors and finishes from which customers can choose. The project, out of the Troy, Michigan-headquartered company, was approved by KEDFA for $1 million in state tax incentives over the course of the 10-year agreement. Additionally, state officials said Louisville Metro Government is also helping to support the project. Slate Auto is expected to create 51 jobs with an hourly wage target of $39.09 and a minimum wage requirement of $10.88 for the base hourly wage and $12.51 for the total hourly compensation. Contact Business Reporter Olivia Evans at [email protected] or on X at @oliviamevans_.