Affordable Upcoming Slate EV Truck Passes 150,000 Orders, Will Not Include AV Features

Slate Auto is preparing to launch its low-cost electric pickup next year, and early demand suggests the company could effectively have a full year of production spoken for before the first truck reaches customers. The company says its roughly $25,000 Slate Truck has already attracted more than 150,000 orders, matching its planned annual production capacity once the factory reaches full output.

Production is expected to begin late next year, with volumes ramping through 2027. Slate aims to reach its target of 150,000 vehicles per year by the end of that period, although it remains uncertain how many early reservations will ultimately convert into finalized purchases. In a recently released video, CEO Chris Barman addressed selected questions from prospective buyers, drawing from more than 4,000 submissions. The tone was notably confident, even as EV sales in the U.S. have softened following the reduction and expiration of incentives.

One of the most direct questions concerned autonomous driving features. Barman’s response was unequivocal: the Slate Truck will not include self-driving technology. The decision aligns with the vehicle’s core value proposition, which has always centered on affordability. Originally envisioned as a $20,000 pickup when the $7,500 federal EV tax credit was still in place, the Slate Truck is now expected to launch in the mid-$20,000 range, likely between $26,000 and $27,000. Adding advanced driver assistance or autonomous vehicle (AV) features would significantly increase costs and undermine that pricing goal.

Despite the end of the federal tax credit, Slate reports that demand remains strong. Still, the broader EV market in the U.S. has cooled, with higher-priced segments such as electric pickups facing particular pressure. Whether Slate’s early momentum translates into sustained sales will become clearer as production ramps and deliveries begin.

Slate Auto Bets on Simplicity With an Affordable Electric Pickup

Slate Auto is a U.S.-based startup focused on developing electric vehicles. Founded in 2022 within Re:Build Manufacturing by Miles Arnone, William Barker, and Jeff Wilke, the company is headquartered in Troy, Michigan. Its investor group includes Jeff Bezos, Mark Walter, and Re:Build Manufacturing. Slate’s first vehicle will be the Slate Truck, an electric pickup designed with a modular configuration that allows it to be converted into an SUV.

The company operated in stealth mode following its founding and publicly unveiled the Slate Truck on April 24, 2025. Initially known as “Re:Car,” the effort began as an internal project at Re:Build Manufacturing, a domestic manufacturing platform. All three co-founders also serve as co-founders and leaders at Re:Build Manufacturing. Slate’s early workforce includes several hundred employees with prior experience at major automotive and powersports manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, and Harley-Davidson.

Slate is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, with a design studio in Long Beach, California. Vehicle production is planned at a former printing facility in Warsaw, Indiana, where the company expects annual capacity to reach up to 150,000 vehicles.

From a financing perspective, Slate raised at least $111 million in Series A funding, including an undisclosed investment from Jeff Bezos. In 2024, the company secured an additional $600 million from Mark Walter, Jeff Bezos, and venture capital firm General Catalyst.