Automotive
Slate Auto plans late 2026 launch for sub-$25,000 electric pickup
The startup has raised nearly $1.4 billion to produce a minimalist, short-range electric truck aimed at U.S. buyers facing vehicle affordability concerns.
The short version
- Slate Auto is planning to begin deliveries in late 2026 for a minimalist, two-door electric pickup truck priced under $25,000.
- The vehicle relies on a 65 kWh battery with an estimated 205-mile range and features basic manual hardware to keep manufacturing costs low.
- Backed by nearly $1.4 billion in funding from investors including Jeff Bezos, Slate seeks to enter the market following Ford's December 2025 discontinuation of the F-150 Lightning.
Key facts
- Slate Auto's electric pickup is designed with a base price under $25,000 and a 65 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery offering a reported range of 205 miles.[MIT Technology Review]
- The company has raised nearly $1.4 billion across three main funding rounds, with investors including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.[MIT Technology Review]
- Slate plans to commence preorder deliveries in late 2026, projecting a first-year factory capacity of 100,000 units before scaling to 150,000.[MIT Technology Review]
- Ford ended production of its F-150 Lightning in December 2025 after rising production prices and reductions in federal EV tax credits.[MIT Technology Review]
What remains uncertain
- It is unproven whether U.S. consumers, who traditionally favor longer-range and larger vehicles, will adopt a compact, stripped-down electric vehicle.[MIT Technology Review]
Sources
- Is Slate Auto’s new electric truck the EV Americans need?MIT Technology Review metered