Slate Auto, a Jeff Bezos backed startup, is set to debut a bare-bones, two-seat electric pickup truck manufactured in the U.S. for under $20,000 after federal subsidies, with customer deliveries scheduled for the end of 2026.
Revealed on Thursday night in Long Beach, California, the truck features a simple dashboard with manual climate controls, crank windows, and a phone mount; infotainment and speakers are available only as paid accessories. The unpainted body can be wrapped in various colors, and an optional kit converts the two-seat pickup into a five-seat SUV.
Demand for electric vehicles has cooled due to sticker shock. Cox Automotive reports the average EV sticker price reached $59,205 in March, 25% higher than comparable gasoline vehicles. Slate Auto aims to attract budget and patriotism conscious buyers with its minimalistic design.
Slate Auto, headquartered in Troy, Michigan, and employing approximately 400 staff members, will build its trucks in Indiana. The three-year-old company, previously named Re:Car, raised $111 million in Series A funding in 2023 and counts Amazon veteran Jeff Wilke and Melinda Lewison, manager of Bezos’s family office, among its backers.
“We are building the affordable vehicle that has long been promised but never delivered,” CEO Chris Barman said, while CCO Jeremy Snyder noted, “The industry has chased autonomy and high-tech features that most Americans simply can’t afford.”
Slate Story
Jeff Bezos had been quietly backing Slate Auto For a while, according to TechCrunch. Founded in 2022, the startup reportedly aimed at launching a $25,000 electric truck in 2026, targeting first-time car buyers. Unlike other EV companies that begin with premium vehicles, Slate Auto focuses on offering an affordable base model with customization options and upgrades. Its headquarters are located in Troy.
Slate Auto emerged from another Bezos supported startup, Re:Build Manufacturing, and has operated discreetly since its establishment in 2022. During its low-profile phase, the company recruited hundreds of employees, many of whom previously worked at Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, and Harley-Davidson.
The startup has also garnered support from several prominent investors, including Mark Walter, the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and CEO of Guggenheim Partners, as well as Thomas Tull, a key investor in Re:Build Manufacturing. This information comes from documents obtained by TechCrunch from Delaware’s Division of Corporations.
Slate Auto has quietly secured substantial financial backing, reportedly raising at least $111 million in a Series A funding round in 2023. The automaker allegedly informed its employees that it completed its Series B investments by the end of last year, though this information has not yet been submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Nevertheless, Delaware filings indicate that Slate Auto authorized approximately 500 million preferred shares for the second round, valued at $2.37 per share.
