Even with the demand for electric cars flattening in America and the disappearance of the federal tax credit, the Slate pickup remains the most hotly anticipated new vehicle of 2026. Pickups are the lifeblood of America, and the affordability crisis is at the top of everyone’s mind. Plus, with gas prices soaring, Slate could be in a unique position to capitalize on a sea of customers who don’t want to drop $120 every time they need to top off their truck.
Slate is set to start limited production later this summer, with first deliveries happening before the end of the year. The company is in town for the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), and it’s invited me to take a closer look at the vehicle to poke around. What do you want to know?
What I’m most curious to find out is just how everything feels. You can get a pretty good sense of a car’s design from pictures and video, but my opinion on many cars has changed once I’ve actually touched its surfaces and sat inside.
The Slate truck is very much a budget automobile, with an estimated starting price under $30,000. So it’s not like I’m expecting quilted leather seats and soft-close doors here. But rough surfaces and hard plastics might turn some people off, even if they know they’ll be saving money. How will designers balance their budget limitations to create something inviting?
Sure, stuff like standard manual crank windows will win people like me over, but what about normal folks just looking for a cheap, useful pickup? Most buyers are used to having a bunch of standard equipment, like a stereo, in their vehicles. So it’s up to the design team to find that equilibrium.
That question extends to the exterior. In addition to poking around the Slate truck itself, I’ll also be speaking with Gus Bizyk, the head of Slate’s exterior design. Remember, the Slate truck is so bare-bones that it doesn’t even have paint—those grey surfaces are unpainted plastic body panels. Coming off the line, every truck will look the same, with Slate leaning on exterior wraps and a swath of factory-designed accessories for customization. You can even use those accessories to turn it from a truck into a two-door SUV, which is pretty cool.
No matter how it’s customized, the Slate still has to make a good first impression. And that falls on the designers. So I’d like to know how Bizyk thinks he and his team have pulled it off despite all of the limitations put on by the team’s budget. The Slate truck might look painfully simple, but that’s likely just a result of a bunch of hard work to ensure it’s appealing to a wide audience.
Enough about what I want to find out. I want to know what you’re curious about. It sounds like there won’t be any engineers or technical representatives on site, so my questions on the battery, motor, and range might have to wait. But I’m going to be getting up close with this car, so if you want to know how adjustable the seats are, or what size tire it’s wearing, or how many of me can fit in the bed, let me know in the comments.
Top graphic image: Slate; DepositPhotos.com
Oh, and how long will the wraps last?
I saw one of the early protos of this in Monterey and it was promising. Of course, it was a work in progress. Questions – is there room for a full-size spare under the bed or do you have to use their swing-away tire rack accessory? Will there be an option to turn it into a 2-seat cargo van instead of an SUV? (Kind of the SUV accessory but without seats.). Bonus points if that option has a high roofline for more capacity. And will the regen be configurable for one-pedal driving? To me that’s essential for dealing with the horrible traffic we have in the Bay Area.
So, if this comes in close to the 30k price they’re talking, I’m quite interested. Rubber mats & crank window type.
BUT : in the event that my daughter will allow her precious darlings in such a vehicle, what is the projected insulation for the suv-topper? Related: what is the sizing on the heater: how many watts?
Why do they think the concept will work where so many have failed? There’s a reason so few play in the extreme budget space. Usually for the same price you can get a nicer used vehicle. So I’m wondering if they actually believe this budget brand will be different.
How realistic is the price?
1) Are there any plans to implement AWD and if so how much will the upgrade cost?
2) Any plans to make an aerodynamic bed cover?
Also, is there any plans for the Canadian market?
Is there a plan for a fabric top accessory when using the 4-seater rollbar setup?
I’m envisioning this thing as an Electric Geo Tracker.
Why didn’t they give it a six foot bed as a standard feature with an option for an eight foot bed?
Everyone has been screaming for a compact, single cab pickup with these bed size options and they didn’t do that.
Why?
My guess is they figured out what size is the most urban friendly, and then worked within that envelope.
Will heat be resistance or heat pump? Makes a big difference for winter range.
Still looking at 3600 lbs for the basic truck?
The Slate is clearly a huge departure for vehicle design and the truck has a lot of new and interesting ideas put into it. I’m very curious what the designers couldn’t get implemented, what got cut and why?
how hard will it be to change the battery? I could see myself investing in one of these for a few grand once they are double digit age as a runabout for errands but only if it doesn’t cost 15K to change the battery
I wonder about the proportions. Functionally, the hood could be shorter if the crash design could allow it. The rear overhang could be longer (as an option?) to create a bigger bed. (I get that they’re trying to cover a lot of bases, but as a working pickup, there seem to be a few too many compromises.)
How’s he doing?
How spacious is the backseat? And is it a 4 or 5 passenger with one? Meaning, can I get my family of 5 in it and go to dinner?
Any intention of having some sort of removable sunroof over the front seats? I love how open the back can be, but would like some of that for up front too.
They’ve talked about removable doors, but the images shared then lose the side mirrors, will there be a way to mount mirrors if you’re driving without doors? What about like a half door or crash bar style set up with that?
I have similar rear seat questions as well. How easy is it for people to get in and out? As much as I love the 2 seat pickup setup, my life requires more than 2 seats like 80% of the time.
What were the items that they decided were worth spending more on, versus what could safely be “cost engineered” to death?
How is the headroom/legroom for tall folks with high BMIs like me?
When will an AWD version become available? Snowbelt citizens want to know.
What range of heights is the truck designed for? The previous gen Tacomas are famously bad for fall people, and I hope the slate is better designed for anyone tall.
What options does he think will be most popular? What does he think people will be surprised to find they can live without?
Will there be a panel version to allow for kickass murals on the side?
With a moon/star/round bubble window?
Don’t forget the side pipes with a Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust and mag wheels.
These are the important questions!
I wonder how much they’re working with the aftermarket, giving them critical dimensions to design to? Or, if they’re thrying to keep everything in-house and proprietery?