Delivery Risk: Medium - Production targeted end of 2026, deliveries in 2027

Prototype Status: Drivable prototypes, Jay Leno test drive completed

Funding: $650M+ raised from Bezos, Mark Walter, General Catalyst, TWG Global

⚠️ Timeline Alert: Preorders open June 24, 2026 — reservation holders can configure and order their trucks. Final MSRP pricing to be announced alongside preorder launch. Factory body shop 100% complete, trim line underway. 160,000+ reservations. $650M+ raised. Production and deliveries targeted for end of 2026.

Key Specifications

Price

Under $28,000

Range

150 / 240 miles

Horsepower

201 hp

Torque

195 lb-ft

Length

174.6 inches

Bed Length

60 inches

Weight

~3,600 lbs

Payload

1,433 lbs

Towing

1,000 lbs

Seating

2 (5 w/ SUV kit)

Perfect For / Not Great For

Ideal Use Cases

Affordable Daily Driver

★★★★★ The most affordable EV truck announced - under $28K with no gimmicks

Work Truck / Light Hauling

★★★★☆ 1,433 lb payload and 5-foot bed for real work use

Customization Enthusiasts

★★★★★ 100+ accessories, removable body panels, vinyl wraps, SUV conversion kit

Not Recommended For

Towing

★★☆☆☆ Only 1,000 lb towing capacity

Family Vehicle (without SUV kit)

★★☆☆☆ Base truck is 2-seat only. SUV conversion adds rear seats for 5.

Long Road Trips

★★☆☆☆ Base battery only gets 150 miles. Extended range (240 mi) helps but still modest.

Company Health & Production Status

Production Progress: Preorders open June 24, 2026. Factory body shop 100% complete — all robots installed and operational. Trim line installation underway. Vehicle parts already being produced for final testing. Production and first deliveries targeted end of 2026.

Overall Progress: 75% - Preorders opening Jun 24, factory body shop complete, parts in production

Metric	Status	Risk Level
Prototype Status	✅ Drivable, press test drives completed	🟢 Low
Manufacturing	✅ Body shop 100% complete, trim line underway, parts in production	🟢 Low
Funding Status	✅ $650M+ raised (Bezos, Walter, General Catalyst, TWG Global)	🟢 Low
Crash / Safety Testing	⏳ Targeting 5-star NHTSA, early tests meeting goals	🟢 Low
Pre-orders	✅ 160,000+ reservations, paid preorders open Jun 24	🟢 Low

Manufacturer Website

Visit Official Website

Pricing Breakdown

Trim	Price
Blank Slate (52.7 kWh, 150 mi)	Under $28,000
Extended Range (84.3 kWh, 240 mi)	TBD
SUV Conversion Kit	TBD

Note: Federal EV tax credits were eliminated in Sep 2025 via the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Slate had originally advertised a sub-$20K price after credits. Current starting price is mid-$20Ks before any incentives.

The Reality Check

What's Going Right:

Most affordable EV truck announced - mid-$20Ks
Massive funding: $650M+ from Bezos, Mark Walter, General Catalyst, TWG Global
160,000+ reservations, paid preorders opening June 24, 2026
$383.5M factory investment in Warsaw, Indiana (2,100 jobs)
Jay Leno drove it and praised its honest, practical design
Modular with 100+ accessories and SUV conversion
Targeting 5-star NHTSA crash rating
NACS charging port standard
Refreshingly simple - no screens, no subscriptions

Red Flags:

No customer deliveries yet - targeting end of 2026
Only 2 seats in base truck config (SUV kit adds more)
Modest range: 150 mi base / 240 mi extended
Low towing capacity (1,000 lbs)
Single motor, rear-wheel drive only - no AWD option announced
Brand new company with no production track record yet
Loss of EV tax credits hurt the sub-$20K value proposition

Timeline & Milestones

2026-05

Preorders Open June 24
Slate announces paid preorders open June 24, 2026. Reservation holders will configure trucks (battery size, accessories, wraps) and get final MSRP pricing. 160,000+ reservations to date.

2026-05

Factory Body Shop Complete
100% of body shop robots installed and operational. Trim line installation underway. Quality inspection equipment (four-post shaker) online. Vehicle parts already being produced for final testing.

2026-04

$650M Series C Completed
Slate completes $650M funding round with new investment from TWG Global, alongside existing backers Bezos, Mark Walter, and General Catalyst.

2026-01

Factory Progress Update
Slate shares video update on Warsaw factory: assembly robots installed, floors poured, facility taking shape. On track for end-of-2026 production start.

2025-09

EV Tax Credits Eliminated
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminates federal EV tax credits as of Sep 30, 2025. Slate drops its sub-$20K marketing and pivots to mid-$20K messaging.

2025-08

Factory Renovation Begins
Slate begins transforming the former RR Donnelley / LSC Communications printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana into an EV factory. $383.5M investment, 2,100 planned jobs.

2025-07

Warsaw Factory Announced
Slate announces plans to build trucks at a repurposed plant in Warsaw, Indiana. Capacity target: 150,000 vehicles per year.

2025-05

100,000 Reservations in 3 Weeks
Just three weeks after the public reveal, Slate announces 100,000 refundable $50 reservations. Number later surpasses 150,000.

2025-04

Public Reveal
After 3 years in stealth, Slate publicly unveils the Slate Truck at an event in Long Beach, CA. Specs, pricing (under $28K), and modular design revealed. Backed by Jeff Bezos, Mark Walter, and General Catalyst.

2024

$600M Funding Round
Slate raises $600M from Mark Walter (LA Dodgers / Guggenheim Partners), Jeff Bezos, and General Catalyst venture capital.

2022

Company Founded (Stealth Mode)
Slate founded inside Re:Build Manufacturing by Miles Arnone, William Barker, and Jeff Wilke. Operates in stealth in Troy, Michigan for three years.

🔮 Bottom Line

Slate is the most credible new entry in the tiny truck space. It has $650M+ from Bezos and friends, a factory in Indiana with body shop robots fully installed, 160,000+ reservations, and paid preorders opening June 24, 2026. The no-nonsense philosophy — affordable electric work truck, mid-$20Ks, no gimmicks — is resonating.

The minimalist approach (no touchscreen, no stereo, 2 seats) won't be for everyone, but it's a deliberate strategy to hit an aggressive price point. The modular design with 100+ accessories and an SUV conversion kit gives buyers a path to customize. Jay Leno compared it to honest trucks of the '60s and '70s.

Our Recommendation: With preorders about to open and the factory visibly nearing completion, Slate has moved from 'promising startup' to 'almost there.' The big question is whether they can hit end-of-2026 deliveries. The funding, factory progress, and preorder launch all point in the right direction — but we've seen well-funded EV startups stumble before. The most exciting truck on this tracker right now.

📰 Related News

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Published on May 27, 2026

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Slate Emerges From Stealth With Bezos Backing and 100K Reservations in 3 Weeks

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Published on May 14, 2025