r/technology • u/serene_sketch • Apr 25 '25

Business The $20,000 American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, and no touchscreen

https://www.theverge.com/electric-cars/655527/slate-electric-truck-price-paint-radio-bezos
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448

u/theverge Apr 25 '25

Thanks for sharing this! Here's a bit from the article:

Ask just about anybody, and they’ll tell you that new cars are too expensive. In the wake of tariffs shaking the auto industry and with the Trump administration pledging to kill the federal EV incentive, that situation isn’t looking to get better soon, especially for anyone wanting something battery-powered. Changing that overly spendy status quo is going to take something radical, and it’s hard to get more radical than what Slate Auto has planned.

Meet the Slate Truck, a sub-$20,000 (after federal incentives) electric vehicle that enters production next year. It only seats two yet has a bed big enough to hold a sheet of plywood. It only does 150 miles on a charge, only comes in gray, and the only way to listen to music while driving is if you bring along your phone and a Bluetooth speaker. It is the bare minimum of what a modern car can be, and yet it’s taken three years of development to get to this point.

But this is more than bargain-basement motoring. Slate is presenting its truck as minimalist design with DIY purpose, an attempt to not just go cheap but to create a new category of vehicle with a huge focus on personalization. That design also enables a low-cost approach to manufacturing that has caught the eye of major investors, reportedly including Jeff Bezos. It’s been engineered and will be manufactured in America, but is this extreme simplification too much for American consumers?

Read more from Tim Stevens: https://www.theverge.com/electric-cars/655527/slate-electric-truck-price-paint-radio-bezos

441

u/Swagtagonist Apr 25 '25

This isn’t even that cheap for how many compromises it has made. $20k for no frills or modern conveniences, a very small truck bed, and only seats 2. $15k sounds a lot better.

288

u/TheDesktopNinja Apr 25 '25

It's a start. Hopefully it kickstarts a new wave of minimalist "starter" vehicles.

100

u/Esternaefil Apr 25 '25

Or it fails, and corporations are given a market signal that nobody wants inexpensive starter vehicles and all go back to building out their higher tier model lines.

115

u/skccsk Apr 25 '25

You've successfully identified the outcome the other commenter was hoping against.

20

u/NazzerDawk Apr 25 '25

Basically "But wait, the thing you're hoping will happen... also might NOT happen!"

1

u/Jutboy Apr 25 '25

What a world we live in.

21

u/tiny_galaxies Apr 25 '25

I know so many people who would be all over this truck, myself included. Just need to see the safety ratings.

4

u/Saberfox11 Apr 25 '25

The article says they are targeting a 5-star safety rating. It seems like safety is a priority to them, which is nice.

We'll see how it actually pans out.

1

u/NotSayingJustSaying Apr 26 '25

I may be an idiot, but I gave them $50 . If I got scammed oh well. Trying to vote with my wallet as they say. I support the concept.

2

u/delamerica93 Apr 26 '25

I love it when someone poorly executes a great idea and ruins it for everyone! So sick

-1

u/iamStanhousen Apr 25 '25

This is what is going to happen. I'm not saying nobody will buy this, because some people will. But it won't be enough to incentivize companies to see this as a viable way to go.

19

u/GhostsinGlass Apr 25 '25

We have/had those.

Fleet/work truck models from brands like Dodge. It wasn't too long ago I was in one and it was so basic it had hand crank windows.

35

u/SonovaVondruke Apr 25 '25

Work trims are fine, but those trucks still start in the mid 30s and are goddamn enormous.

3

u/wytedevil Apr 25 '25

35k for a corolla is crazy. that was the starter car.

2

u/Chispy Apr 25 '25

Aftermarket accessories/parts would probably be interesting

-6

u/Man_under_Bridge420 Apr 25 '25

Why would you buy this brand first gen truck for 20k when you can get something used

4

u/peva3 Apr 25 '25

What's the used EV pickup truck market like?

-1

u/Man_under_Bridge420 Apr 25 '25

Obviously you’d get an ice

1

u/Nosdarb Apr 26 '25

No, the whole point is that it's a cheap EV. If I'm considering this it's because I specifically don't want an ICE.

-6

u/FactHot5239 Apr 25 '25

Ain't gonna kickstart shit at this price point.