US EV start-up Slate Auto has unveiled plans for a no-frills electric pick-up truck priced at just £20,000 after incentives.
The new brand, backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, aims to “redefine personalised transportation” with its affordable Slate Truck.
“The definition of what’s affordable is broken,” said Slate CEO Chris Barman. “Slate exists to put the power back in the hands of customers who have been ignored by the auto industry.”
The Slate Truck arrives as a compact all-electric pick-up starting under $20,000 after federal incentives.
Staying true to its affordable approach, the Truck comes in a single specification with basic features including manual windows, 17-inch steel wheels, and a smartphone mount instead of a built-in infotainment system.
Despite its simplicity, Slate offers extensive customization through exterior wraps for the single-piece composite body panels and over 100 accessories, including an optional tablet screen system.
The company claims the two-seat Truck can transform into a five-seat SUV using a flat-pack conversion kit installable at home.
Performance and Range
Two powertrain options will be available. The standard model features a 52.7kWh battery delivering approximately 150 miles of range on the EPA test cycle.
An optional 84.3kWh battery pack targets 240 miles of range.
Both versions use rear-wheel-drive with a 201bhp motor, enabling a 90mph top speed and 0-60mph in eight seconds. They support rapid charging at 120kW, allowing 10-80% charging in 30 minutes.
At 4.4m long (175 inches) and weighing around 1,600kg (3,600lb), the Slate Truck is significantly smaller than typical American pick-ups – it’s 1.5m shorter than a Ford F-150 Lightning and even smaller than European models like the Ford Ranger.
The compact dimensions and basic EV powertrain result in a 650kg (1,433lb) payload and modest 453kg (1,000lb) towing capacity.
Michigan-based Slate plans to build the Truck in a “reindustrialised factory” in America’s Mid-West, avoiding tariffs on imported vehicles introduced by President Donald Trump.
Reservations are now open with a $50 deposit. The innovative EV appears to be destined only for the US market.
