Slate Auto Unveils $25,000 Electric Truck Backed by Jeff Bezos to Challenge EV Market Giants
In a move set to shake up the electric vehicle (EV) landscape, Michigan-based startup Slate Auto has revealed its debut model: a rugged, highly customizable electric pickup truck priced at just $25,000. Backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Slate is aiming to undercut market leaders like Tesla by delivering a no-frills, modular platform that balances affordability, utility, and consumer empowerment.
A Bare-Bones Electric Truck for the Masses
The Slate Truck’s standout feature isn’t its sleek design or futuristic technology—it’s the lack of both. Deliberately minimalist, the vehicle includes hand-cranked windows, a basic digital instrument cluster, and physical HVAC knobs. There are no massive infotainment screens or advanced driver-assist features standard. Instead, Slate provides a universal smartphone mount and USB power, encouraging customers to use their own devices for navigation and media.
The simplicity serves a larger goal: to create a “blank slate” that reduces manufacturing costs while inviting personalization. Customers can gradually upgrade the truck over time, choosing only the features they want and can afford. Steel wheels, exposed hardware, and minimal electronic components not only cut costs but also improve long-term reliability and repairability.
Modular Design: From Truck to SUV
Slate’s innovative approach doesn’t stop at interior design. One of the truck’s headline features is a DIY SUV conversion kit priced at approximately $5,000. The flat-packed kit includes a roll cage, rear seats, and airbags, allowing owners to convert the two-seat pickup into a five-passenger SUV. The transformation can be done at home via video tutorials provided by the company or completed by professionals at a Slate service center.
This flexibility helps customers avoid the costly decision between purchasing a pickup for utility or an SUV for family needs—Slate’s platform offers both, on demand.
Slate University: Empowering DIY Enthusiasts
Supporting its modular vision, the company has launched “Slate University”, a program designed to teach owners how to maintain and upgrade their vehicles. From installing accessories to performing repairs, customers receive video guidance and warranty parts directly from the manufacturer. This initiative not only keeps maintenance costs low but is also intended to rejuvenate local repair shops by involving them in the Slate ecosystem.
At launch, more than 100 accessories will be available, including speaker systems, power window kits, seat warmers, battery upgrades, and full aesthetic wrap kits. The truck’s body panels are designed for easy customization, offering a practical alternative to traditional automotive ownership models that lock customers into static configurations.
EV Performance and Custom Options
The base model of the Slate Truck comes with a 150-mile battery range, with the option to upgrade to 240 miles. While those figures fall short of high-end EVs, they align with Slate’s goal of delivering a practical, budget-conscious vehicle for daily use and weekend work.
Customization also extends to performance-related components. Buyers will be able to choose different tires, roof racks, lighting kits, and even off-road enhancements—all as modular add-ons, making the Slate Truck one of the most versatile EVs in its price bracket.
Jeff Bezos’ Second Major EV Bet
Jeff Bezos’ involvement in Slate Auto signals a growing interest in the EV sector beyond his Amazon investment in Rivian. Unlike Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s high-profile persona, Bezos has opted for a quieter role, backing Slate through his family office managed by Melinda Lewison. Slate Auto reportedly raised $111 million in Series A funding in 2023 and is preparing for a Series B round targeting $1.2 billion, further underlining the scale of its ambitions.
The startup’s executive connections offer additional insight: Slate is closely linked to Re:Build Manufacturing, led by former Amazon Consumer CEO Jeff Wilke. These ties suggest that Slate is being built not just as a product but as a long-term platform with the operational rigor and strategic foresight often found in Bezos-backed ventures.
Disruptive Potential
Slate’s approach stands in stark contrast to the increasingly feature-rich (and expensive) EVs from legacy automakers and startups alike. By rejecting luxury add-ons and focusing on essential utility, the $25,000 Slate Truck targets a previously underserved segment of practical, cost-conscious buyers. Its do-it-yourself ethos, affordable entry price, and customizable platform could appeal to a broad demographic—from rural users and gig workers to urban DIYers.
If Slate can meet its 2026 delivery timeline and maintain quality at scale, it may well disrupt the EV market in the same way that Ford’s Model T revolutionized gasoline-powered vehicles a century ago. And with Jeff Bezos quietly pulling the strings, the startup is already one to watch.