TL;DRSlate Auto priced its EV pickup at $24,950, opened preorders Wednesday, and says every truck will be profitable from day one.
Slate Auto revealed Wednesday that its electric pickup truck will start at $24,950, making it the cheapest new truck available in the United States. The Bezos-backed startup simultaneously opened preorders, converting more than 180,000 existing reservations into $300 nonrefundable deposits. Deliveries are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
The price is higher than the “under $20,000” figure the company promoted when it emerged from stealth in April 2025. That original number included the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, which has since been eliminated along with more than a dozen EV models pulled from the US market. Without the credit, Slate raised the sticker price but kept the truck below the threshold where most buyers make purchase decisions.
The vehicle itself is deliberately stripped down. It comes with crank windows, no built-in connectivity or modem, and speakers are optional. The two-seat pickup uses injection-molded composite body panels wrapped in vinyl instead of paint, with more than 100 standard wrap colours available for under $500 each.
