Electric vehicle startup Slate has opened preorders for its long-awaited electric pickup, confirming a starting price of $24,950 before destination charges, taxes and local incentives.
Backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Slate is positioning its debut model as the most affordable new pickup truck in the United States. The company will also offer two SUV versions, called the Squareback and Fastback, from $29,950.
The move marks a major milestone for the startup, which emerged from stealth mode in 2025 with a promise to build a highly affordable, customizable electric vehicle for mainstream buyers.
A Bare-Bones Electric Pickup With a Focus on Price
Slate’s strategy is straightforward: reduce complexity and let customers add only the features they want.
The base Slate Truck is a two-seat electric pickup with no touchscreen, no built-in speakers and manually operated windows. Instead of loading the vehicle with standard equipment, Slate plans to offer a large range of optional accessories through its Marketplace.
The company says more than 175 accessories will be available, including roof racks, stereo systems, seat covers, light covers and cargo-related upgrades. More than 80 accessories are expected to cost less than $500.
Buyers will also be able to choose from more than 100 wrap colors, with professionally applied full vehicle wraps priced below $500. Slate says the wrap process can be completed in hours rather than days.
205 Miles of Range From a 65 kWh LFP Battery
Slate has revised the truck’s original battery plans and will now offer one 65 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, with 63 kWh usable capacity.
The battery delivers an estimated range of up to 205 miles (330 km), a significant increase over the 150-mile base range previously announced.
Power comes from a rear-mounted electric motor producing 181 hp (135 kW) and 264 Nm of torque. Slate estimates a 0-60 mph time of around eight seconds and a top speed of 90 mph.
Charging is supported at up to 11 kW AC and 120 kW DC fast charging through a NACS connector. Slate says the truck can recharge in around four hours on Level 2 AC charging or reach a fast-charge stop in approximately 30 minutes.
Payload, Towing and Modular SUV Conversion
Despite its low price, Slate says the pickup will offer useful work capability.
The Slate Truck has a payload rating of 1,550 lbs (around 700 kg) and can tow up to 2,000 lbs. Its cargo bed measures 1.54 meters long, while the vehicle has an overall length of 4.43 meters.
One of Slate’s most unusual features is its modular design. Customers can convert the two-seat pickup into a five-seat SUV after purchase using Slate’s accessory system.
The company will also sell factory-configured SUV models in Squareback and Fastback body styles. Both start at $29,950.
Preorders Open as Slate Targets Q4 2026 Deliveries
Slate says it has received more than 180,000 refundable reservations, each secured with a $50 deposit. Customers can now convert those reservations into preorders for $250, while new customers must place a $300 preorder deposit.
The company expects first deliveries to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, although full production is expected to ramp up during 2027.
Slate will build the vehicles at its Warsaw, Indiana factory, where it plans to invest nearly $400 million. The startup says the project could create more than 2,000 jobs.
Slate has raised roughly $1.3 billion to date, with Bezos among its investors.
Warranty, Repairs and Lower Ownership Costs
Slate is also emphasizing low ownership costs.
The startup will offer a 10-year or 110,000-mile battery and powertrain warranty. For servicing, Slate plans to use a network of more than 3,000 RepairPal repair shops, including around 100 locations qualified to handle high-voltage EV work.
Owners who prefer to work on their own vehicles will have access to Slate U, a DIY repair guidance platform designed to support basic maintenance and repairs.
Can Slate Make Affordable EVs Work?
At $24,950, the Slate Truck is priced below the Ford Maverick XL, which starts at $27,145 before destination charges. However, Slate’s price does not include destination fees, which could add roughly $1,200 to $1,500 to the final cost.
Even so, the truck could remain one of the least expensive new EVs available in the US market.
Its closest electric rival may be the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt, which is expected to start just below $30,000. Ford is also developing a lower-cost electric pickup expected to arrive around 2027.
Slate’s formula is unconventional: a basic electric pickup with modest range, limited standard equipment and an extensive accessories business. But with average new vehicle prices remaining above $50,000 in the US, the company is betting that affordability and flexibility will matter more than luxury features.
If Slate can meet its production targets, its electric pickup could become one of the most important tests yet for demand for truly affordable EVs in America.
