Slate Auto's affordable electric pick-up truck is everything the Tesla Cybertruck isn't – and could be a big hit

Retro style, compact size and under $20k — where do we sign?

· TechRadar

News By Leon Poultney published 25 April 2025

(Image credit: Slate Auto)

  • Amazon-backed Slate Auto arrives out of the blue with tantalizing product
  • Ultra-simple pick-up truck is designed for everyday use
  • Expected EV range is up to 240 miles

Seemingly out of the blue, an Amazon-backed EV start-up has arrived on the scene, offering an ultra-simple, low-price electric pick-up truck for the North American market.

With funding from Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Slate Auto is proposing a basic, highly configurable pick-up truck that bucks the trend of a gargantuan footprint and masses of wasted space, for a compact and highly configurable shell that is built for hard work.

Sizing up more like a classic Toyota or Nissan truck from the early 1980s, the Slate pick-up features easily-wrapped composite panels that are refreshingly free of chrome and other decorative touches.

Instead, Slate says it has made the panels as easy to wrap as possible and will sell custom decal and wrap kits for as little as $500 – no expensive metallic paint options here.

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(Image credit: Slate Auto)
(Image credit: Slate Auto)
(Image credit: Slate Auto)
(Image credit: Slate Auto)
(Image credit: Slate Auto)

In addition to this, Slate is aiming for a base price of $27,000 (around £20,000 / AU$42,000), which could see some trucks sold for as little as $20,000 or less, depending on local incentives and tax breaks.

The retro-styled two-seat pick-up truck comes with as 1047-liter load bay that is an easy height for both loading and hauling equipment, while the rear can be converted to a five-seat SUV with the appropriate kit and and rear tonneau cover, sold by Slate.

In terms of power, this is handled by a single motor that is mounted on the rear axle. So far, Slate has said that the option of a 52.7kWh or a larger 84.3kWh battery will be on the table – both of which are mounted under the floor for maximum load space and interior roominess.

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