Jeff Bezos–backed Slate’s $20K EV truck is the anti-Cybertruck
In a market saturated by high-tech, high-priced electric vehicles, a bold new startup called Slate Auto is flipping the script. With a minimalist, modular truck that starts under $20,000 after federal tax credits, the company is betting big on simplicity, customization, and cost-effectiveness — and making it clear they're nothing like Tesla.
The Blank Slate
Revealed at a launch event in Long Beach, California, Slate Auto’s debut vehicle — appropriately dubbed the "Blank Slate" — is as analog as it gets for an EV. Manual windows. No infotainment screen. Not even a coat of paint. Instead, it’s raw, highly adaptable, and intentionally barebones — and that’s the point.
Customers can convert the truck from a two-seater pickup to a five-seater SUV, wrap it themselves with DIY kits, and accessorize it with over 100 modular add-ons — from roof racks and light bars to full-on infotainment systems. Slate’s pitch: total personalization without the premium price tag.
Affordability Reimagined
Slate's starting price undercuts every EV on the U.S. market. The base model offers:
- 150 miles of range from a 52.7kWh battery
- 150kW motor on the rear axle
- North American Charging Standard (NACS) compatibility
- 17-inch wheels, a five-foot bed, and a frunk with 7 cu. ft. of space
Towing capacity is modest — around 1,000 pounds — and the payload maxes out at 1,400 pounds, putting it behind competitors like Ford’s Maverick. But that’s not Slate’s audience. The company isn’t chasing power users — it’s chasing everyday Americans priced out of the modern EV market.
“We’re building the affordable vehicle that has long been promised but never delivered,” said CEO Chris Barman at the event.
Customization Is the Business Model
Customization isn’t just a user benefit — it’s a core part of Slate’s business strategy. Buyers can upgrade their truck over time, piece by piece, with Slate offering:
- DIY how-to content via Slate U
- Home delivery of modular parts
- Optional installation by authorized partners
- SUV conversion kits that don't require a mechanic
And for customers who want to make the vehicle truly theirs, Slate even offers embossed tailgate wraps with custom names.
Backed by Big Money
Slate Auto isn’t just another scrappy startup — it’s already raised more than $111 million. Key investors include Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter. Manufacturing will take place in Indiana, with a goal of delivering vehicles by the end of 2026.
That launch timeline is ambitious, but the company has already hired 400 employees and is aggressively expanding its team. With a focus on domestic production, lean costs, and modular design, Slate hopes to sidestep the pitfalls that doomed other EV startups like Lordstown, Fisker, and Canoo.
The Anti-Tesla Ethos
While most EVs chase luxury and autonomy, Slate is focused on accessibility and utility. It's a return to form, rooted in American practicality — something chief commercial officer Jeremy Snyder says the industry desperately needs.
“The auto industry has been so focused on autonomy and technology in the vehicle, it’s driven prices to a place that most Americans simply can’t afford,” Snyder said.
Slate Auto is making a bet that an affordable, customizable, unpretentious EV is what the market’s been missing. If they can pull it off, the Blank Slate might just be the blueprint for a new kind of electric vehicle.
