Bezos-Backed Slate Auto Unveils Affordable EV Truck: Can It Succeed in a Shaky U.S. Economy?

It's a bit hard to see; the concept is great, but I'm not sure how Americans will react, especially because of its size. I mean, the Slate Truck is basically a small car, and I'm not sure Americans are going to love that, especially when it comes to pickups. It could end up being a niche vehicle, like the Kei cars in Japan, but how's that going to play out in the U.S.? I really don't know.

Anyway, the 2027 Slate Truck is a brand-new small pickup from an all-new automaker hoping to catch the eye of buyers looking for no-frills electric transportation with a built-in quirky vibe — all at a super low price. It's powered by a single electric motor, and it's a two-seater by default, but you can convert it into a five-passenger, kind of SUV thing with a kit from Slate's huge accessory catalog (over 100 items). They're also offering a bunch of ready-made vinyl wraps to spice up the plain, unpainted gray composite body panels. Other throwback touches include a digital gauge cluster that doubles as the rearview camera display, steel wheels, hand-crank windows (remember those?), and old-school physical HVAC controls — all to keep things simple and costs down. Honestly, this whole idea isn't totally new. There have been a few companies in the past that tried similar things, with mixed success — some made it work, and some didn't.

The biggest thing I'm worried about is the range. There hasn't been an official number yet, but they're saying it'll have about 150 miles of range for the standard version and 240 miles for the extended. So, basically, it's a pickup you'll use around the city, not for long trips. There might be some kind of add-on for longer range, but honestly, for a small pickup like this, that's probably about the max anyway.

I'm a little unsure about the price, though. Slate says the base price is $27K without discounts or incentives, but there's a chance it could get pushed down to around $20K with discounts and whatnot. The problem is, in that price range, there are other cars that offer way more features for the same money. I'm not even talking about Chinese brands — especially since it's still unclear if they'll hit the US market anytime soon — but other manufacturers are definitely lurking. Honestly, even Tesla might start paying attention if Slate actually pulls this off. But if they do, I doubt Slate's success would last very long.

The Slate Truck and SUV kind of feel like Gen Z’s take on cars. Like, Gen Z is the most open-minded generation, right? And they might be cool with the idea that the way to make a cheap car is basically to strip out all the comfort features and make you pay extra if you want them back. I mean, how loaded is a Slate Truck with all the options? It's pushing $30K or more. And if that's the case, a lot of people are just going to pick something else — there are a ton of EVs at that price point that offer way better features. Also, if I'm being negative, the finish kind of worries me: Slate doesn’t even bother with paint. Everything's just gray plastic panels. It's a bold move, and it could either really work or totally flop, depending on how people feel about it.

Will Slate be a success? Maybe — but probably not with everyday consumers. I think at a $20K base price, it’s going to grab a lot of interest from businesses. Honestly, I wouldn’t be shocked if Amazon got involved. I mean, Bezos owns it, and it kind of fits their vibe. Plus, since the cars aren't painted, throwing a company livery on would be super easy — just slap on some vinyl and call it a day. At least the company saves money by not paying for paint.

Most likely, Slate will end up like another LLV — people probably won't be interested (especially with how things are right now), but companies will find it useful. I can see delivery companies liking it for city deliveries, and 150 miles of range is plenty; package guys and all that don't usually drive that far anyway. And if they do, they'll just use bigger vehicles. Since Slate is an EV, it might also push companies to "go green," which is pretty interesting.

That said, I’m not sure regular people are going to love the idea of Slate. In today's economy, most consumers probably aren't looking to pay more for a car that's basically bare-bones. They’d rather spend a little more and get something better equipped. My guess is that the Slate SUV will be more loaded since it's aimed at regular buyers. But for the pickups, I don't think that'll change—they'll stay basic, and companies will like that since they don't always need to spend extra on bells and whistles.

But honestly, who knows? These days, most of us aren't thinking about buying a new car anyway —we're all just trying to survive.