Slate Auto Launches Affordable Modular Pickup EV Under $20K

Key Takeaways

1. Slate Auto’s first electric pickup truck, ‘The Blank Slate,’ is designed for customization and affordability, priced under $20,000 after federal EV tax credits.
2. The truck features a basic design with a 108.9-inch wheelbase, a five-foot bed, and a 52.7kWh battery offering a range of 150 miles, with an option for 240 miles with an extended battery.
3. The Blank Slate lacks standard features like an infotainment system and automatic windows, but includes a charging mount for a phone.
4. Buyers can personalize their vehicle with over 45 accessories and multiple color options, and it can be converted into different SUV styles.
5. Slate Auto’s vehicles are designed in California and Michigan, with assembly happening in the Midwest.


Slate Auto, a new electric vehicle company supported by Jeff Bezos, has launched its first pickup truck named ‘The Blank Slate.’ This name fits well for a simple EV that can be adjusted and converted into an SUV. According to the company’s statement, the pickup’s price will be under $20,000 in the US after applying the federal EV tax credit when it becomes available by late 2026. This price point makes it more affordable than any Tesla and offers much more customization.

Showcase Event

The truck was presented on April 24 in Long Beach, California, with the company indicating that the initial models will be available by the end of next year. Slate Auto’s concept for The Blank Slate is to provide buyers with just the basics while keeping the vehicle’s price low, but also enabling them to personalize it later on. The Blank Slate serves as a starting point, featuring a pickup truck design with a wheelbase of 108.9 inches, a five-foot bed that holds 35.1 cubic feet, a front trunk with 7 cubic feet, and a 52.7kWh battery that powers a single motor. It offers around 150 miles of driving range, although there is an optional extended-range battery that increases this to about 240 miles.

Basic Features

What it lacks are standard features like an infotainment system, automatic windows, speakers, and other elements usually seen as ‘basic’ in conventional vehicles. However, it does include a charging mount for a phone as a standard feature.

This is where customization plays a role. Slate Auto provides over 45 accessories, with more to come in the future. There are numerous color choices available, which will be wraps instead of traditional paint jobs. Notably, The Blank Slate can be converted into a regular SUV, an open-air SUV, or a five-seat fastback SUV. While it remains a two-door model, there’s also an option to take off the doors. Buyers can add an infotainment screen, speakers, decals, a spare tire, tower racks, and more.

Design and Assembly

Vehicles from Slate Auto are created in California and Michigan, and they are assembled in the Midwest.

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