Overview

• Slate Auto has secured more than 100,000 refundable reservations and $700 million in funding from investors including Jeff Bezos
• Its two-seat pickup uses a bare-bones design with composite gray panels and offers over 100 optional add-ons such as power windows, a stereo and an SUV conversion kit
• The company plans to retrofit a former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana, to open late in 2026 with capacity for up to 150,000 trucks annually and around 2,000 new jobs
• Consumers have expressed concern that losing the $7,500 credit pushes the out-of-pocket cost into the mid-$20,000s, challenging the vehicle’s value proposition
• Industry analysts warn that fading federal incentives, rising material costs and a cooling U.S. EV market could pressure Slate Auto’s bid to undercut established automakers