A new modern electric car is not a cheap pleasure in any country. A weighty counterargument to this thesis promises to be the Slate Truck – an American electric pickup truck that will go into production next year and will have a price tag of less than $20,000.
Image source: slate.auto
The Slate Truck is very different from most modern electric vehicles. Its cabin has only two seats, and there are no usual large screens, as well as audio systems – to listen to music in it, you will have to take a smartphone and a Bluetooth speaker. The body is large enough to fit a sheet of plywood. The range with a full charge of the battery is 150 miles (241.4 km), the only color is gray. The car has a minimal configuration, and it took three years to design it.
Slate positions the truck as a minimalist, do-it-yourselfer’s vehicle—not just an inexpensive electric car, but an attempt to create a new category of highly customizable vehicles. That approach is being applied to manufacturing, which has attracted the attention of major investors, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
The Slate Truck’s body panels aren’t made of steel or aluminum, but rather of plastic — “injection molded polypropylene composite,” which is theoretically more durable and scratch-resistant. The seats are upholstered in a melange fabric that will only look better as it wears. The car is designed to suit the current trend of wrapping vehicles with vinyl film — the simple body shape and minimal trim elements mean that even an amateur can handle the job. The manufacturer offers do-it-yourself kits that can be applied in a day and replaced just as quickly depending on your mood.
This philosophy is reflected in the manufacturing process. Painting cars is a complex and expensive task that only gets more complex over time. Mercedes-Benz recently announced plans to build a “next-generation paint shop” in Germany that will cost nearly $1 billion. The Slate does not require any paint or paint shop, making the company’s job much easier and helping to dramatically reduce the price of the car.
Traditional car factories typically have high ceilings to accommodate multi-story stamping machines. Plastic injection molding is much simpler, cheaper, and can be done in a confined space. The company produces just one model in one trim and one color, with additional components, including larger batteries and SUV conversion kits, shipped separately. The manufacturer’s business model is to be cash-flow positive soon after production begins.
The Slate Truck conversion kit for an SUV, as the manufacturer promises, is not a makeshift hobby, but a responsible task, but any car owner can handle it. The rear seats will face forward, they will have seat belts, and the entire structure promises to be strong enough to meet crash test standards – the company expects the maximum rating. A comprehensive active safety system is also provided, which includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and automatic high beams.
There’s a digital rear-view camera. Usually, the image from it is sent to the infotainment system, but here there’s none, so the image from the camera is shown on a small screen behind the steering wheel. There are physical knobs for controlling the cabin temperature, a lever for the turning lights, and a few other traditional switches – nothing superfluous. And, of course, there’s rear-wheel drive with a power of 201 hp. This isn’t so much minimalism for the sake of economy, but the ability to independently install anything from a simple soundbar to a full-fledged sound system.
The manufacturer has not forgotten about the right to repair – this is a very important issue in the USA now. The maintenance schedule of the Slate Truck promises to be minimal and in most cases will be limited to changing tires once a year. The company will encourage independent repairs even if warranty obligations arise, for which detailed video instructions and a hotline are provided – the project was called Slate University. In addition, the manufacturer has secured the support of the largest service centers in the USA, where it will be possible to perform modifications, for example, install a battery that will provide a power reserve of up to 240 miles (286.24 km).
Slate, like Tesla, is not going to work with dealers, but will offer buyers a direct sales scheme – based on the volume of pre-orders, a network of pick-up points will be formed, and for an additional fee, you can get a car delivered to your home. When placing a pre-order, you will have to make an advance payment of $ 50; deliveries are promised in the second half of 2026. The exact cost of the Slate Truck is not specified, but the manufacturer assures that it will be less than $ 20,000 taking into account federal subsidies – if they are still in effect in the United States in a year and a half.