A lot has changed since electric vehicle startup Slate Auto unveiled the prototype of its first vehicle just over a year ago. But despite volatile gas prices and the rising cost of new cars, the Slate Truck is now official—and it has landed within the company’s targeted price range. As much attention as Jeff Bezos’s backing of Slate Auto has received, the truck’s electric powertrain and value proposition may be what really resonated with potential buyers. Slate says more than 180,000 people have decided that the promise of an affordable, reliable, and customizable vehicle was worth a $50 reservation. “Slate gives customers the freedom to buy only what they need today and personalize their vehicle as their needs change tomorrow,” Slate CEO Peter Faricy said in today’s announcement.
Now the Slate Truck is available for preorder, with the first Indiana-built vehicles expected to reach customers by the end of the year. New buyers can secure a spot with a $300 deposit and wait for an invitation to configure their truck, while existing reservation holders can preorder for an additional $250.
As the initial reactions to the new EV settle, its specifications offer a clearer picture of where it fits into the broader new-car market. © Slate Auto The Slate Truck is small by pickup standards, but it’s also compact compared with what passes for a compact car in the U.S. in 2026. At roughly 14.5 feet long, it’s about six inches shorter than a Honda Civic hatchback and 9.5 inches shorter than the sedan. Compared with another pickup, the difference is even more striking: the Slate is more than two feet shorter than the Ford Maverick.
