TechCrunch broke the story early and The Autopian spotted a design buck in Venice Beach, but now the Slate Truck is here. The Autopian’s David Tracy said “this vehicle is unlike any new vehicle I’ve ever seen not just in my decade as a car journalist, but in my entire lifetime” and I was (and am) skeptical. But having seen and touched the Slate Pickup… he’s making a compelling argument. This is a back-to-basics vehicle for those of us who don’t really need much, but want something truck or SUV shaped that is brand new with a warranty.
It’s Affordable
The average price of a new car is about $48,000, though pricing naturally skews different directions based on type of vehicle. While you can indeed purchase compact sedans like the Nissan Sentra and Kia K4 for under $25,000, the average new midsize pickup truck price is $42,000. Full-size trucks like the Ford F-150 average nearly $70,000.
Modern midsize trucks, like the Chevy Colorado and Ford Ranger, might even be “too much truck” for some buyers. In the words of Slate CEO Chris Barman, “the definition of what’s affordable is broken.” Including (expected) federal incentives, Slate thinks they can sell this pickup truck for less than $20,000.
Wild.
It’s Super-Simple
Slate is building one truck and only one truck. It seats two people, has manual hand-crank windows and manual knobs for the climate control. Steelies are your only wheel. There is a tiny screen in front of the steering wheel for basic vehicle information and – incredible in 2025 – absolutely no infotainment system. You get a phone mount and nearby USB port for power. I… actually love that.
Suspension is basic, with MacPherson struts up front and a DeDion beam axle out back paired to coil springs.
It’s Got (Just) Enough Power and Range
Every Slate is fully electric, with a single motor producing 201 HP and 195 lb-ft of torque to power the rear wheels. Sixty miles per hour comes in eight seconds and top speed is 90 miles per hour.
Slate uses a 52.7 kWh battery pack to achieve a claimed 150 miles of range, and a 84.3 kWh “accessory pack” will be available to provide 240 miles of range. The Tesla-style NACS plug is standard, and the Slate pickup can fast-charge at speeds up to 120 kW, good for a sub-30-minute charge time to 80 percent on a DC fast charger. Level 2 charging is supported up to 11 kW.
It’s… Ikea-Inspired?
So the Slate Truck isn’t just a two-seat pickup truck. Slate is big on customization, with over 100 accessories available. Perhaps the ultimate “accessory” is a (really) flat-packed SUV Kit. Yes, Slate will sell you all the pieces to turn your pickup into a five-seat SUV. That includes a roof, roll bar, seat, and airbags. They claim it’s easy enough to install at home, if you’re handy.
Much like Ikea’s living room sets, you don’t get a ton of color options for your Slate Truck. They’re even cheeky enough to call this a “blank Slate” – it’ll only be Slate Gray (of course), and pre-cut wraps will be offered, either for at-home installation or to be installed by a local professional. I don’t trust myself with wallpaper, let alone a car wrap, but I’m very happy for those who do.
Despite the ability to change from Slate Truck to Slate SUV with one of those little Allen keys (kidding, I’m sure you need more tools to assemble this than a Malm dresser), the vehicle is supposedly quite safe. With the SUV Kit installed, there will be eight airbags in the vehicle. Automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning are both standard.
It’s Legitimately Compact
The Slate Truck isn’t quite as big as a modern Colorado or Ranger, more akin to a short-wheelbase 1980s Toyota Pickup and the ’84 4Runner it spawned. Those were truly “compact” trucks and I’ve heard plenty of requests in recent years for another truly small truck. Slate is delivering on that request, as the Truck is actually the same length as a 1984 4Runner and rides on a wheelbase just a few inches longer.
Here’s how the Slate Pickup compares to a 2025 Colorado:
| Slate Pickup | Chevy Colorado | |
| Wheelbase | 107″ | 131″ |
| Overall Length | 174.6″ | 213.2″ |
| Overall Width (no mirrors) | 70.6″ | 74.9″ |
| Overall Height | 69.3″ | 78.8″ |
| Bed Length (Tailgate Up / Down) | 60.0″ / 81.6″ | 60.0″ / 85″ |
| Bed Width | 54.9″ | 58.8″ |
So yes, it’s smaller than a new midsizer. Given there’s no engine up front, the Slate Truck also has a front trunk. Overall payload is listed at a respectable 1,400 pounds – more than some half-tons. It’s a lightweight thing – in general and especially for an EV – with a stated curb weight of 3,602 pounds.
This isn’t a truck for people who tow much, as Slate only rates the truck to tow 1,000 pounds. Still enough for a small utility trailer or jet ski, but they’re really focused on owners who need the bed space and payload more than anything.
It’s Truly That Different
“There are other cheap cars, with more feature content!” That is absolutely the case, and if you’re willing to shop pre-owned, you can find plenty of nice older vehicles for twenty grand. But if you need a truck, miss the small trucks of decades gone by, would prefer it be electric, and only want to buy new with a warranty… this is pretty compelling.
I admire just how simple Slate is going here. Unlike so many new cars, the Slate Truck is definitively not for everyone. I’m kinda reminded of Saturn’s initial mission, which was honest yet incredibly focused on one segment. People loved their Saturns. Will enough people buy, customize, and love their Slates? I guess we’ll see.
Others have had removable roofs on their SUVs, and Chevrolet introduced the “midgate” on the Avalanche (and again now on the Silverado EV). Both concepts added flexibility, but to vehicles that were SUV-first. Slate, by comparison, is effectively building a modern version of the 1980s Toyota 4Runner, which was merely a Toyota Pickup (née Hilux) with added seats, roof, and roll bar. Those 4Runners were fun and flirty and legitimately useful… hence my excitement for a modern take.
It’s Built in America
Slate is building the Truck in the United States, at a “reindustrialized factory” in Indiana. They’re taking the modern EV approach of direct-to-consumer sales, claiming buyers can order the vehicle online, take delivery “near their home,” and rely on a nationwide service network as needed.
Given the intentionally-chaotic nature of the current administration’s tariffs (and everything else) we’ll have to wait and see just how close to that $20,000-after-incentives mark Slate can really get. They claim most materials, including the battery, are sourced in the United States. Slate is targeting deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2026, and interested buyers can place a $50 refundable reservation at starting today.
