US start-up Slate Auto has launched an electric pickup truck designed around affordability and user-driven customisation.
The base model, dubbed the Blank Slate, arrives from the factory as a two-seat pickup with steel wheels, manual crank windows, basic HVAC controls and an unpainted polypropylene body.
It carries a 52.7 kWh battery pack driving a rear-wheel-drive electric motor rated at roughly 150 kW (200 hp), with an optional 84.3 kWh pack extending range to about 386km.
Using a standard household outlet, the vehicle can cover a daily commute on overnight charge; a 120 kW fast-charger restores 80 per cent capacity in under 30 minutes.
Slate’s business model strips out factory-fitted infotainment, speakers and power accessories to reduce cost and complexity, placing emphasis on a modular accessory ecosystem.
Customers can choose from over 100 add-ons — ranging from canopy kits to second-row seating, roll cages and airbags — to convert the two-seat pickup into a five-seat SUV.
Vinyl wrapping is offered at three price tiers to alter exterior colour, and all body panels are designed for easy removal and re-wrapping by owners or professionals. A universal phone mount and USB power supply enable users to integrate their own tech interfaces.
The company’s direct-to-consumer sales channel allows online ordering, refundable US$50 (RM216) reservations and delivery through a nationwide service network.
Slate plans US sales in late 2026 with an expected after-incentive price below US$20,000 (RM87,000), positioning the truck among the most affordable new electric vehicles. Production will take place at a reindustrialised US factory in Indiana that also houses a customer experience centre.
Slate CEO Chris Barman has described the platform as radically simple and intended to restore choice to buyers overlooked by traditional automakers. Backing from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos underscores confidence in the concept’s potential to disrupt the light-truck segment by shifting customisation from the factory to the owner’s hands.
Safety features include active emergency braking, forward-collision warning and up to eight airbags, enabling the vehicle to meet top regulatory ratings despite its pared-down specification.
With its blend of minimalism, modularity and low entry price, the Slate Truck aims to broaden EV access and redefine how consumers tailor their vehicles over time.
