[The Guru=Reporter Moon Ga-yong] U.S. electric vehicle startup Slate Auto has released pricing details and a tentative launch timeline for its electric pickup, the Slate Truck. The DIY-focused model, which promises steep cost reductions, has generated strong interest.
On April 4, industry sources said an email sent to Slate Truck pre-order customers indicated the company will announce final pricing at the end of June and expects first customer deliveries by year-end. The message provided no specific figures; the official website still lists a mid-$20,000s starting price.
The Slate Truck debuted in April 2025. In a U.S. electric-pickup market where prices typically range from about $50,000 to $140,000, the Slate’s sub-$30,000 starting price drew immediate attention. Roughly 150,000 people paid $50 each to reserve a spot.
Slate cut costs dramatically with a DIY, modular approach. The truck will be sold as a single, basic model with no trim levels and no factory paint. Owners buy add-on kits to customize their vehicles — for example, an SUV kit installs rear seats and a roof over the bed, while a wrap kit gives the appearance of a painted body in the buyer’s chosen color. Interior components will also be available separately.
Established automakers such as Toyota and Citroën have offered modular models in the past, but those programs typically let buyers order modules in advance so the factory could install them before delivery. Slate’s approach — delivering a basic vehicle and encouraging owners to install modules themselves afterward — is rare.
The battery is modular as well. The base pack delivers about 240 km per full charge; adding capacity raises range to roughly 386 km. Those ranges lag other electric pickups, but analysts say they reflect the truck’s substantially lower price. In short, for this unconventional configuration and the trade-offs in performance to make sense, the price announced at the end of June must meet market expectations.
Slate Auto also drew attention when Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, invested in the company. In April 2025, Slate selected SK On as its battery supplier. SK On will supply a total of 20 GWh over six years starting in 2026 — enough to support roughly 300,000 entry-level electric vehicles.
