Summary (tl;dr)

Slate Auto, an electric vehicle (EV) startup backed by Jeff Bezos, has officially opened pre-orders for its highly anticipated electric pickup truck, the Slate Truck, priced at an exceptionally low $24,950, aiming to disrupt the EV market with an affordable and customizable option.

Essential Background

The electric vehicle market has experienced fluctuations, with demand softening after the expiration of federal tax subsidies in 2025, leading some major automakers, such as Ford, to halt production of certain electric pickup models due to profitability concerns. Against this backdrop, Slate Auto was established in 2022 with a vision to offer an affordable, no-frills electric vehicle that could appeal to a wider audience.

The Full Story

On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Slate Auto officially announced the pricing for its "Blank Slate" electric pickup truck at $24,950, excluding destination fees, and began accepting $300 pre-orders (or $250 for existing reservation holders). The two-door, two-seater truck boasts an estimated range of 205 miles from a 63 kWh LFP battery, an increase from earlier projections. Deliveries of the Slate Truck are expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026. The company emphasizes customization, offering a wide array of accessories, including wraps for its plain gray composite body panels and conversion kits to transform the pickup into a five-passenger SUV.

Why It Matters

The Slate Truck's aggressive sub-$25,000 price point makes it the most affordable new electric vehicle and pickup truck in the United States, presenting a significant test of whether affordability can drive broader EV adoption in a challenging market. Its modular design and focus on user customization and DIY repairability aim to empower consumers to tailor their vehicles to evolving needs and budgets, diverging from the feature-heavy, expensive trend in current EVs. This launch could redefine expectations for entry-level electric vehicles and potentially encourage other manufacturers to develop more accessible EV options.

Geographic Location

• Gardena, Los Angeles County, California, United States (official price announcement at design center)
• Warsaw, Kosciusko County, Indiana, United States (assembly plant for the Slate Truck)