A new start of American electric vehicles called Slate Auto has made its debut, and is almost as anti-tesla as it receives.
It is affordable, deeply personal and very analogous. There are manual windows and does not come with a main infotainment screen. Heck, nor is it painted. It can also be transformed from a two -seat truck in a five -seat SUV.
Three -year -old start discovered his vehicle during a Long Beach, California Long Beach event on Thursday evening, and promised the first trucks would be available to customers for under $ 20,000 ABOUT Federal tax loan EV by the end of 2026.
The event has come just a few weeks since Techcrunch revealed details of Slate Auto plans to enter the US market EV to build its trucks in Indiana and that the company was financially supported by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
The vehicle industry “has been so focused on autonomy and technology in the vehicle, is pushed prices in a country that most Americans simply cannot afford,” said trade chief Jeremy Snyder during the event, which within EVS live. “But we’re here to change it.”
“We are building the affordable vehicle that has long been promised, but never surrendered,” Ceo Chris Barman added.
Specs
Slate is not saying exactly how much her truck will cost – numerous sources have told Techcrunch over the past few weeks the company has gone back and forth in number. And so much can change from now and a date of the last 2026 release.
The company is saying it will start below $ 20,000 after the federal tax loan (provided it still exists next year). Interested buyers can set a $ 50 reimburseable reservation on the company’s website.
The base version of the Slate truck will squeeze 150 miles from a 52.7kwh battery pack, which will strengthen a only 150kw engine on the back axle. For people who are slightly sprinkled to that number, Slate is offering a larger battery pack that says there will be about 240 miles of range. It will charge using a standard North American loading port, the Tesla standard set that almost all leading automobiles now use.
The truck comes with 17 -inch wheels and a five -foot bed, and has a predicted 1,400 pound load capacity with a 1,000 -pound traction capacity. Since it is an EV, there is no engine ahead. Instead there is an front (or frunk) baggage with 7 cubic meters of storage space, which happens to have a drain if the owner wants to fill it with ice for that Tailgate party.
This attractive capacity is lower than a Ford F-150 more capable, and is even less than the smaller Ford Maverick, which can attract about 1,500 pounds.
Speaking of Ford Maverick, the Slate truck is smaller. Slate EV has a wheel base of 108.9 inches, and a total length of 174.6 inches. Maverick has a wheelchair 121.1 inches and total length of 199.7 inches
Everything else about the basic version of the truck is very cheap – and that is the point. Slate is really maximizing the idea of a basic model, and setting clients for paying personalization of EV to their liking.
Ordering… everything
Slate is deeply committed to the idea of personalization, which separates it from any other EV (or traditional motorist).
The company said on Thursday that it will launch with more than 100 different devices that buyers can use to personalize the truck at your liking. If this is overwhelming, Slate has curated a number of different “packages” from which interested buyers can choose.
The truck does not even come painted. Instead, Slate is playing the idea of wrapping her vehicles, something that drivers said they will sell in sets. Buyers can either have Slate to do that job for them, or set the conclusions themselves.
This not only adds to the idea of a buyer who is able to personalize their vehicle, but also cuts a large cost center for the company. It means that Slate will not need a paint shop in its factory, allowing it to spend less to reach the market, also avoiding one of the most regulated parts of vehicle production.
Slate is telling customers that they can name the car everything they want, offering the opportunity to buy an embedded wrap for the door bar. Otherwise, the truck is simply called “empty list”.
As Techcrunch previously reported, the personalization part is essential to how the company hopes to make a difference over what is a relatively free vehicle.
But it is also part of Slate Friendly Pitch is doing to customers.
Barman said on Thursday that people can “make your blank plaque at the time of purchase, or while your needs and finances change over time.” It is the billing of supplements as “light diy” that “non-dresses” can be taken, and says it will start a source suite under the billing of Slate University.
“Buy your accessories, get them quickly delivered and install them with light videos how you have in Slate U, our content center,” the website reads. “You don’t want to go to DIY road? An authorized Slate partner can come and do it for you.”
The early library of personalizations on the Slate website varies from functional to cosmetics. Buyers can add infotainment screens, speakers, roof shelves, light covers and much more.
The most important are options that leave buyers to “turn” the truck into wider SUV -shaped factors. But these are not permanent decisions. Slate says people will be able to change their vehicle and return from an SUV if they want – “no mechanics certification” is required.
All that said, the Slate truck comes standard with some federal security security features, such as automatic emergency braking, airbags and a spare camera.
hook
The way to making a successful start of the American automobile is full of failures. In recent years, Canoo, Fisher and Lordstown Motors have all presented for bankruptcy. And that’s just to mention some. Those companies that are still around, such as Rivian and Lucid Motors, are hemorrhage in front of high volume, more affordable models in the market.
Slate is a total overturn of that approach. It is going after one at low costs first and foremost, and hopes to make that business applicable by completing it with money from this deep display of personalization.
But just like Rivian and Lucid Motors, it also has deep supporters. It raised has raised more than $ 111 million so far (the correct figure is not public yet). And, besides Bezos, he received money from Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners and La Dodgers control owner, as Techcrunch reported this month.
The company has employed nearly 400 employees in the service of achieving all its ambitious goals, and is currently trying to hire more. Slate could not have questioned a more volatile time to make its debut, but it is also focused on domestic production, and can be isolated from some of the riots facing other beginnings and located automobiles.
“We believe the vehicles must be affordable and desirable,” Barman said on Thursday, adding that Slate truck is a vehicle that people will actually love and be proud to own. “
