A stealthy EV startup with financial backing from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly building a $25,000 electric truck.
According to TechCrunch, Slate has been up and running since 2022 and quietly assembling a team of automotive experts from companies like Ford, General Motors, Stellantis and Harley-Davidson. Drawing inspiration from the Model T Ford and Volkswagen Beetle, the company hopes to introduce a two-seat EV pickup with a significantly lower price point than many of its competitors.
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In a market filled with the Ford F-150 Lightning, Tesla Cybertruck, Chevy Silverado EV and Rivian R1T, with costs ranging between $50,000 and $90,000, a capable pickup at about half the price would likely be a welcome addition.
But Slate’s truck, which could enter production as soon as next year, sounds like it will be a base model with plenty of room for owners to sink more money into their vehicles for upgrades and customization. The report unearthed a trademark application from Slate for the tagline “We Built It. You Make It.” Underneath that is a massive list of goods and services that could apply including underseat subwoofers, cup holder accent lights, frunk floor organizers, roof racks and installation of decorative wraps.
Slate’s ideas have drawn several backers besides Bezos, including Dodgers owner Mark Walter and Thomas Tull, who is the lead investor of the Re:Build Manufacturing incubator. The company also has experienced leadership. Christine Barman, who spent years in several different jobs at Chrysler, is Slate’s CEO.
The idea of a $25,000 EV has been kicked around by others in the industry. Back in 2020, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said an EV at that price point could be compelling. But late last year he changed his tune, telling investors and analysts that building an electric vehicle and selling it for $25,000 would be “silly” and “pointless.”
But as Tesla’s sales continue to slide and China-based EV makers like BYD claim larger shares of the market, U.S. automakers including Slate are probably seeing the value in building more affordable models.
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X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
00:00.009 --> 00:05.519
A stealthy EV startup with financial backing
from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly
00:05.519 --> 00:08.210
building a $25,000 electric truck.
00:08.489 --> 00:14.279
According to TechCrunch, Slate has been up and
running since 2022 and quietly assembling a
00:14.279 --> 00:18.229
team of automotive experts from companies like
Ford, General Motors,
00:18.399 --> 00:22.840
Stalantti, and Harley Davidson.
Drawing inspiration from the Model T Ford and
00:22.840 --> 00:26.239
the Volkswagen Beetle, the company hopes to
introduce a two-seat.
00:26.606 --> 00:31.785
Pickup with a significantly lower price point
than many of its competitors in a market filled
00:31.785 --> 00:38.785
with the Ford F-150 Lightning, Tesla Cybertruck,
Chevy Silverado EV and Rivian R1T,
00:39.076 --> 00:45.776
with costs ranging between $50,000 and $90,000
a capable pickup at about half the price would
00:45.776 --> 00:47.655
likely be a welcome addition.
00:47.866 --> 00:51.576
But Slate's truck, which could enter production
as soon as next year,
00:51.956 --> 00:56.571
sounds like it will be A base model with plenty
of room for owners to sink more money into
00:56.571 --> 00:59.321
their vehicles for upgrades and customization.
00:59.532 --> 01:03.161
The report unearthed a trademark application
from Slate for the tagline,
01:03.321 --> 01:05.082
We built it, you make it.
01:05.412 --> 01:09.291
Underneath that is a massive list of goods and
services that could apply,
01:09.531 --> 01:13.611
including underseat subwoofers, cup holder
accent lights,
01:13.772 --> 01:18.692
front floor organizers, roof racks, and
installation of decorative wraps.
01:18.811 --> 01:21.877
Slate.
Ideas have drawn several backers besides Bezos,
01:22.078 --> 01:27.038
including Dodgers owner Mark Walter and Thomas
Tull, who is the lead investor of the rebuild
01:27.038 --> 01:30.767
manufacturing incubator.
The company also has experienced leadership.
01:30.958 --> 01:34.068
Christine Barman, who spent years in several
different jobs at Chrysler,
01:34.117 --> 01:38.587
is Slate's CEO.
The idea of a $25,000 EV has been kicked around
01:38.587 --> 01:43.837
by others in the industry.
Back in 2020, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said an EV at
01:43.837 --> 01:45.477
that price point could be compelling.
01:45.944 --> 01:50.823
But late last year, he changed his tune,
telling investors and analysts that building an
01:50.823 --> 01:56.613
electric vehicle and selling it for $25,000
would be silly and pointless.
01:56.783 --> 02:02.263
But as Tesla's sales continue to slide and
China-based EV makers like BYD claim larger
02:02.263 --> 02:07.524
shares of the market, US automakers, including
Slate, are probably seeing the value in
02:07.524 --> 02:10.233
building more affordable models.
I'm Ben Munson,
02:10.343 --> 02:11.744
and this is manufacturing now.
