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
Tell him that I basically fell in love with the Slate immediately when I saw the exposed fasteners on the body panels because of how that represents a priority of function over from and repair-friendliness in the minds of the design team. Ask if he can share all the characteristics of the Slate that make it easy to repair and maintain, and cheap to insure.
Also, ask what the ride will be like. Will it feel more like a work truck or a crossover? I’m curious because I’m very tempted to get one (with SUV body kit) to use as a commuter vehicle.
What I really want is a detailed explanation of why not a 6ft bed. I have a hard time believing the extra foot of material and structural reinforcement would be obscenely expensive and result in a much larger Truck as described in the reply I got below
Ah yes, the complexities of a 6-foot bed that haven’t been mastered since about 90 years ago.
It’s there in the response you got. It would cost more, and keeping the price low was more important than 1 more foot.
Yep bed only slightly bigger than a Maverick, and it remains to be seen if it will even be any cheaper.
Pricing for the SUV kits.
I realize this may not be up to the designer, but has a huge impact on whether or not these things sell (including to me since I have a reservation).
The base price jumped by $7500 with the end of the EV credit. If this is a $40k+ proposition with a covered cargo are and rear seats it becomes more difficult to overlook the lack of features.
I am overall optimistic for their project, and excited to see these on the road.
Same. I have a reservation and desperately want to follow through on it, but I was planning on it being under $30k all in with my backseat, I know that’s not happening now, but yeah it’s really hard to justify without that tax credit.
They’ve said about 5k in previous, somewhat recent interviews and videos.
That sounds reasonable, but vague.
I am fine with installing the top / seats, but not sure how they would get to me.
I’m also not pulling the trigger on the truck unless the top is ready and available. I remember waiting for TRD supercharger kits, and that was from an established manufacturer.
I would like to state again that I remain optimistic. I can’t help but also be realistic.
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.
No expert here, but the biggest difference I have seen is that most of the boutique brands try to raise funding while working towards production, and they just can’t raise enough money for it. This one claimed they had all the money needed before even unveiling it last year. That doesn’t mean they will last long term necessarily, but they should at least make it to production.
True. Also if Blue Origin is any indication, it seems Bezos is willing to blow money for an extended period of time without immediate results. I know he’s not the owner of Slate, just an investor, but maybe that still bodes well for them.
Exactly. Get some deep pocketed funding up front and you’re in better shape than most would be.
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?
I look forward to the “Toecutter Special” with aero bed cover, moon discs, and 175 section tires
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.
If Slate doesn’t make it, the aftermarket certainly will on that one.
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.
It’ll be interesting
Even though it’s technically a pick up, is it really a pick up? I mean, isn’t it just kind of a vehicle that happens to have a small pick up bed in the back. I don’t think they’re looking for something that’s gonna replace an F150. I’ve bet a lot of people put the cap on the back and turn it into an SUV since that’s what everybody wants these days anyway.
Short bed trucks are the most popular combination by far. I don’t doubt these will end up being used as trucks a lot.
A truck doesn’t need to be a 1/2 ton to be classified as such, North America is basically the only place full sized trucks are the standard.
I would imagine that in order to keep the price down they’re not having a bunch of different versions of it. One color. One size. Everything is exactly the same to keep it cheap.
We’ll see how it goes.
Out of curiosity, what sales numbers would you call it a success?
I don’t know, but I don’t think they’re gonna sell that many of them. I read someplace that they have 150,000 orders for the first year. I don’t think that really means much because I’d imagine you can still get out of that and get your money back. So far success I’m gonna say 100,000. And what they actually sell I’m gonna say 30,000.
That’s my assessment too.
Wow, didn’t realize the bed was so short. For common pickup uses, a six foot bed is about the minimum for safely hauling lumber, appliances, furniture or motorcycles, and is a convenient length for car-camping. (Yes, I know I’m yelling at clouds here.)
That said, it looks like they designed it with a longer bed and then chopped a foot off, so hope springs eternal.
I’ll hope for future versions.
My 1995 F-150 has a 6.5′ bed, after all it has hauled I wouldn’t want anything shorter. Especially for chucking things like kayaks in the bed. Disappointing, of all the things to compromise on a pickup truck that you actually want to use as a pickup truck, the bed is the dumbest IMO.
Will heat be resistance or heat pump? Makes a big difference for winter range.
Still looking at 3600 lbs for the basic truck?
It’s resistance which is one of the big reasons I probably won’t follow through with my reservation.
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 might actually consider one if they made the battery or maybe a bunch of batteries swappable like a cordless drill. Can we get say 2 or three E-Bike batteries from the start, maybe get 50 miles with two and then have room for up to 6 more? That you can just plug into 110 in your house? Do they really have to be synced as far as output at that point?
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.)
What is the possibility of shoehorning Brian Shaw into the driver’s seat for a proper demonstration of how much (or little) room there is behind the wheel?
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.
Jay Leno drove it on his You Tube show. He’s not a small guy but to me the driver and passenger looked a little cramped. How wide is the interior and how much space is there in between the seats? (Is there a console?)
Are they still offering a range extender?
Yeah I’m not worried about the front seats, I’m small enough that I have never been cramped in a car, but I need to know if I can get the whole family in with the backseat or not.
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!
You need those to drive on the parkway or 5th avenue in nyc.
Actually, parkway windows would be a nice option if you don’t actually want commercial plates.
Good aftermarket item.
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?
A panel van SUV top would be sick!
They show a panel version on the fleet sales section of their web site
https://www.slate.auto/en/fleet/
SWEET! Now to find an artist who can do classic Frank Frazetta art.