A new kind of EV: slate auto’s $20K shape-shifting truck challenges industry norms
Pranjal Chandra | Apr 25, 2025, 22:19 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Slate Auto, backed by Jeff Bezos, introduces a minimalist electric truck challenging the EV market with its affordability and utility. The shape-shifting truck, convertible into an SUV, starts at $20,000 after incentives. Engineered in the US, it prioritizes simplicity and versatility over luxury, targeting everyday drivers with a focus on practicality and a base range of 150 miles.
In a market dominated by high-tech, high-cost electric vehicles, a new contender is flipping the script. Slate Auto, a startup with financial backing from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is making headlines with its radically minimalist approach to electric mobility. The company has just unveiled its first vehicle: a shape-shifting electric truck that can transform into an SUV all at an after-incentive starting price of just $20,000.
Where most EV manufacturers push the boundaries of luxury, performance, or digital integration, Slate is dialing things back to basics. The Slate Truck small, nimble, and free of frills focuses on utility and affordability in ways that feel almost revolutionary.
“We’re not trying to be everything to everyone,” reads Slate Auto’s homepage. “We’re making a radically simple electric pickup truck that can change into whatever you need it to be even an SUV.”
At less than 15 feet long, the Slate Truck recalls the compact pickups of the 1980s a design choice that’s both practical and symbolic. It’s about two-thirds the size of a Chevy Silverado EV and slightly smaller than a Ford Maverick, giving it a retro-utility vibe while still meeting the needs of modern drivers. Its maximum payload of 1,400 pounds rivals that of the Maverick, proving that size isn’t everything when it comes to utility.
The entry-level model strips out most non-essentials: no infotainment system, no power windows just the fundamentals. It’s a far cry from the touchscreen-filled cabins of its competitors, and Slate is proud of that. As TechCrunch aptly described it, this vehicle may just be the “anti-Tesla.”
Perhaps the most novel feature is its transformability. The base model is a two-door truck, but with modular components, it can convert into a five-seat SUV. This adaptability could attract a wide range of consumers from urban dwellers seeking weekend adventure rigs to tradespeople needing light-duty utility trucks.
This idea of flexible form factors in a single vehicle is rarely seen in the EV sector and could set a precedent for how we think about personal mobility especially in a world that increasingly values multi-use, sustainable solutions.
Designed in California and Michigan, engineered in Michigan, and assembled in the Midwest reportedly in Indiana Slate Auto is proudly American. It positions itself as a domestic challenger not only to Tesla but also to legacy automakers transitioning into the EV space.
Slate’s approach has resonated with investors. Earlier this month, the company raised $111 million from a group that includes Bezos, Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter, and entrepreneur Thomas Tull. Melinda Lewison, who oversees Bezos’ family office, is also listed as a company director.
With a base range of 150 miles (extendable to 240 miles with an optional long-range battery), the Slate Truck won’t win any distance awards. But its creators say that’s not the point. It’s meant for everyday driving, weekend hauling, and general adaptability not cross-country road trips.
Pre-orders are open now for a refundable $50, with deliveries expected to begin in late 2026.
In a world of increasingly complex cars, Slate Auto is betting on something different: simplicity, versatility, and affordability. If it succeeds, it may just redefine what an EV can and should be.
Where most EV manufacturers push the boundaries of luxury, performance, or digital integration, Slate is dialing things back to basics. The Slate Truck small, nimble, and free of frills focuses on utility and affordability in ways that feel almost revolutionary.
“We’re not trying to be everything to everyone,” reads Slate Auto’s homepage. “We’re making a radically simple electric pickup truck that can change into whatever you need it to be even an SUV.”
A throwback with a twist
The entry-level model strips out most non-essentials: no infotainment system, no power windows just the fundamentals. It’s a far cry from the touchscreen-filled cabins of its competitors, and Slate is proud of that. As TechCrunch aptly described it, this vehicle may just be the “anti-Tesla.”
Modularity meets minimalism
This idea of flexible form factors in a single vehicle is rarely seen in the EV sector and could set a precedent for how we think about personal mobility especially in a world that increasingly values multi-use, sustainable solutions.
Engineered in the heartland
Slate’s approach has resonated with investors. Earlier this month, the company raised $111 million from a group that includes Bezos, Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter, and entrepreneur Thomas Tull. Melinda Lewison, who oversees Bezos’ family office, is also listed as a company director.
EV for the everyperson
Pre-orders are open now for a refundable $50, with deliveries expected to begin in late 2026.
In a world of increasingly complex cars, Slate Auto is betting on something different: simplicity, versatility, and affordability. If it succeeds, it may just redefine what an EV can and should be.