Slate Auto, a Michigan-based electric vehicle startup backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, unveiled its debut model, the “Blank Slate” truck, in Long Beach, California.
Priced at under $20,000 with federal EV tax credits, this no-frills, customizable pickup is a ballsy counterpoint to Tesla’s high-tech Cybertruck.
With production slated for late 2026 in Indiana, Slate aims to make EVs affordable and practical for everyday Americans.
The Blank Slate is deliberately analog, featuring crank windows, no infotainment screen, and an unpainted body buyers can wrap themselves. Its 52.7kWh battery offers 150 miles of range, with an optional 84.3kWh pack extending to 240 miles.
Powered by a 150kW rear-axle motor, it boasts a 1,400-pound payload and 1,000-pound towing capacity. A front trunk with a drain doubles as a cooler, and over 100 accessories allow personalization, from power windows to an SUV conversion kit for five passengers.
Slate’s “We Built It. You Make It” ethos, backed by instructional “Slate University” videos, encourages owners to upgrade their trucks DIY-style.
Founded in 2022 as a spinout of Bezos-connected Re:Build Manufacturing, Slate raised $111 million in a 2023 Series A round, with additional Series B funding last year. Investors include Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners and LA Dodgers owner.
The company, employing nearly 400, plans to repurpose a shuttered Warsaw, Indiana, printing plant, creating over 2,000 jobs. CEO Chris Barman, a former Chrysler executive, told Business Insider the focus on basics keeps costs low, offering “freedom of choice” for buyers to add features as budgets allow.
Slate’s affordability and emphasis on customization echo the practical, hands-on spirit of Filipino jeepney culture, where vehicles are both functional and personalized.
