News Summary

Slate Auto, a new electric vehicle (EV) startup backed by Jeff Bezos and LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter, has emerged from stealth mode, aiming to disrupt the EV sector with its ultra-affordable, customizable electric pickup truck. Founded in Troy, Michigan, Slate Auto has been operating secretly for three years, focusing on developing a low-cost electric pickup truck priced around $25,000. The truck is highly customizable, leveraging the expertise of former Harley-Davidson and Chrysler employees. In April 2025, Slate officially launched, revealing its innovative truck with ‘Transformer-like’ modular capabilities at a debut event in Long Beach, California. The truck’s base model is priced under $20,000 after a federal EV tax credit, offering a bare-bones yet customizable vehicle with a range of 150 miles. Slate has secured a production facility in Warsaw, Indiana, and has already received over 100,000 refundable reservations. However, changes in federal policy may affect pricing, as the Trump administration’s new tax bill will end the EV tax credit in September 2025.