It sure seems like pretty much all the exciting electric vehicle startups in America are focused on trucks. Rivian was the blueprint, but now Slate and Telo have each shown off radically different takes on the truck of the future. America’s car dad Jay Leno has driven the Telo MT1 prototype on a new episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, and the video’s given us some interesting extra tidbits of information about this Mini Cooper-sized crew cab pickup.
To start, the truck uses off-the-shelf 2170 cells, the same size found in the Tesla Model 3, but Telo plans on building the 106 kWh battery packs in-house. It all should add up to a targeted curb weight of 4,400 pounds, which is pretty light for any crew cab truck. That’s less than what a Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road weighs, and that thing’s still powered by combustion. Interestingly, Telo claims to have taken advice from the first Tesla-certified body shop in America on ways to reduce collision repair costs, such as tie rod placement.
Moving to the body, Telo claims the production model will feature mechanical door handles, and the steering column will change for production as the makers of the truck aren’t quite happy with the tilt range. Interestingly, the Telo is homologated as an MPV, opening the door for future body styles, but a crew cab truck is it for now. It’s very cab-forward but it isn’t cab-over, as a look inside with the door open reveals that the driver sort-of goes around the wheel well. Speaking of construction, Telo claims that production body panels for the first 5,000 vehicles will be stamped using low-cost Kirksite tooling, a cast aluminum and zinc alloy that requires very little finishing to create an accurate die, but is mainly geared toward small-batch production.
As for the bed, it measures 62 inches long with the divider up, 48 inches wide between the wheel wells, “about 60 inches” above the wheel wells. However, drop the rear seats, fold down the partition between the bed and the cab, and Telo claims you’ll be able to load a sheet of plywood flat with the tailgate up. While we’re back there, the Telo features a NACS port behind the tail light, and the release to access the charging port seems like it’s going to be mechanical, with a latch replacing the magnets holding the flap closed on the prototype. Oh, and we need to talk about the Rivian-style tunnel under the bed, because Telo has big plans for it. The company eventually wants to build a three-row SUV-style configuration on this platform, and use the tunnel as the footwell for third-row occupants.
Leno’s actually taken the Telo MT1 prototype out for a spin, which is a pretty good basis on whether a vehicle from a new firm is real or not—if someone not employed by the company has driven the vehicle on public roads, there’s a good chance there’s something behind the effort that’s more than hype.This is a pre-production model built by Aria Group in California so it’s definitely not a finished product, but this early glimpse seems a bit noisy on the public roads. There’s plenty of motor noise audible in the video, and you can hear a few rattles, although those vibrations will probably be sorted by production.
Speaking of production, it seems that Telo has modest plans for its sub-$50k truck. As Chief Technology Officer Forrest North told Leno, “We’re not trying to have aspirations of going high-volume manufacturing out of the gates. We want to build small-batch vehicles, small numbers, get them in customers’ hands, scale from there.” Perhaps that modest goal is why, unlike many EV startups, the production timeline for the first customer Telo MT1s has shifted up from 2026 to late 2025. The plan is to build these trucks in America, likely in California to start, so we’ll be watching closely to see where this goes.
Top graphic credit: YouTube/Jay Leno’s Garage
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They have contract manufacturing in California with a company that mainly does carbon fiber and manufacturing for airplanes. It sounds like that will be the first 5000 after that it sounds like they will be working in the Midwest I wonder if Foxconn? They haven’t really said if they will build their own factory all they said is they will always build their own packs. I think they are on the right track. Just moving to a real series production outside of California will reduce the cost a lot. They look like they want to exist around where Toyota does not cheap but not luxury or super premium. The one guy always talks about his Tacoma and kei trucks is where they got inspiration but they also talked to just about everyone they could on how to make something useable and fixable. Very smart and something you don’t see anymore. I think they have a winner and they aren’t in a rush which means they can probably make it.
Agreed on all points M SV. 🙂 Plus, he has a giant dog, which always makes a person seem more sincere (in my foolish mind). 😉
And apparently just had a kid. They both seem like engineers in the bay area prison soon to escape to a better life after they can get free of the VCs. I’m not sure why so many people think they are a scam. They have a contract manufacturer and are on their way.
Though I agree with a lot of people that the exterior styling of the slate is better, this is still the vehicle that suits my lifestyle and what I’m looking for in a truck. The longer bed, the mid-gate, the better range, towing and payload specs–it’s just actually what I want. Whereas with the Slate, I’d have to be compromising on all of those. I put a deposit down on the Telo truck last year and the Slate hasn’t convinced me to ask for it back. Now if Toyota were to release an EREV truck…..
Biggest plus for me is it fits in the garage
They’ve got to rush this thing to market before slate eats the entirety of their lunch. I like the midgate and number of doors, but otherwise this just doesn’t compete. Nevermind that it looks too cute for most of the truck crowd.
I wonder if the Slate launch prompted the Telo founders to say “ahhhh we gotta get on Leno right now!” Or was this planned months in advance?
I had the same thought while reading.
I’d strongly suspect this was months out, JerryRigEverything had a video on the Telo a month or two ago, well before the Slate launch, and from what I understand, Jay Leno’s garage has a long lead time for production by youtube standards. It is awfully funny timing, but I do also thing the pricing between the two trucks has a wide enough delta as to not completely conflict, although there will be some overlap. I see the Slate as a cheap EV workhorse while the Telo can be more of a do-everything vehicle with more seats, flexibility, and range, but that comes at do-everything pricing.
Eh this would be much more useful for non-fleet use. The cost is the question.
“Sub-50k” isn’t that compelling.
I’ve emailed with Jason (the Telo CEO) and when I put down my deposit, I mentioned that I’d be looking for the cheaper, work-truck version rather than the 500 horsepower, four wheel drive version that’s been making the rounds on Youtube (complete with a glass roof I also don’t want or need). He gave me the impression that a work truck version would be available eventually, and based on what he said to Leno, I think it’ll be in the area of $40K (or hopefully, a bit less).
But like most automakers, they’ll probably release the full-zoot, higher-margin version(s) first.
If we’re talking work or barebones versions I don’t see the value of a Telo if Slate can meet their target price.
Well, even w/a smaller battery and only two wheel drive, the Slate will likely have a longer range, more powerful motor, higher payload/towing capacities than a Slate would, plus the ability to carry 4’x8′ sheets of building material with the bed door up.
Whether that will be worth the extra $10-12.5K that a base Telo will probably cost above a Slate would be up to the individual buyer I guess. I’m not sure what decision I’d make when the time comes… I’d want to drive both and see how they feel in day-to-day use, because that’ll be more of a deciding factor (to me) than any single specific feature.
PS: at it’s likely MSRP of $27,500., the Slate is maybe a little too basic for the price. The (theoretical, hasn’t been specified/priced yet) base Telo might be about $41,500, so about $14K more. No point in including tax credits that not all buyers can qualify for, plus they might not even exist by the time these EVs are for sale.
The numbers you point out are very important. At 27k the slate isn’t all that impressive. Their battery is probably about $17k that’s their biggest issue in think. And it’s shorts sighted. The telo on the other hand isn’t designed to be a bottom feeder. The one guy is always talking about his Tacoma and kei trucks I think that’s where they designed it to live as a cross between being an American kei and a Tacoma. They talked to everyone they could too and came up with the design plus besides medium duty trucks their hasn’t been a cab over pickup in the us in decades I think they are different enough to live together. The old ranger and the Tacoma /t100 lived together with slightly different buyers these two could attract even more diverse buyers.
I love that we live in a world where there are new car companies popping up, and the execs are reachable by random people!
Sorry, but they should have looked at what Slate did. Nobody wants a truck that looks like its got a damned jumping spider face. Its simply a FUGLY looking design and to try and sell that to truck buyers who are if anything, seeking a return to more honest, utilitarian design, this ain’t it at all.
The jacked-up tech bro talking about the car really turned me off. Especially when he tried to dismiss Jay’s point about distracted drivers killing more pedestrians than ever by blaming it on phones instead of the terrible touchscreens that keep your eyes off the road.
That interior is just garbage. I don’t see why they have to charge $50,000 for an uglier electric Subaru Brat, especially when they cheaped out on the dash and just stuck a bunch of glowing phones where real controls should go.
You are aware that the truck Leno drove is a prototype, right? I mean, they said so f few times. Lots of details, including the interior bits, are still being ironed out.
I don’t find it ugly at all, but would have preferred simple, round headlights, and have to imagine fitting some off-the-shelf LED round lamps would shave more than just a few dollars off of the cost.
This looks like something you’d drive on Mars.
Since I’ll never get to Mars myself, that can be a plus as far as I’m concerned! 😀
As an American, the frontal proportions of my BroDozer act as a representation of my manly parts.
This vehicle too closely resembles my ACTUAL manly parts and makes me feel inadequate.
Ugly is in the eye of the beholder. Example: I’m ugly and my wife loves me anyway. Same for vehicles IMHO. It’s quirky enough that it could easily find a niche. Kind of reminds me of vans that had a bed. Have to say I like it.
Same
Yes, it’s got bit of an oddball, VW T1 (air cooled) Transporter vibe to it, even though the Telo driver sits behind the front wheels, and not on top of them. I like it! 🙂
It’s ugly but I kind of like it I guess? That under bed tunnel could also be used to put a slide in generator of some fashion as a potential charging setup for, say, camping etc. Just a thought.
Or magic fuel-cell rig for recharging off the grid maybe?
Those headlights look unnervingly close to Mustang taillights.
I like the overall shape, but headlights that look like “this is the front of the car, and I am pointed at you not away from you” might be an improvement.
I’m not buying his explanation of how this is going to pass safety tests. “we’re optimizing this for how the human responds to the crash and not the vehicle.” will be fascinating to see what he means. Depending on which class this car is compared with, it may have OK safety ratings, but no way is it going to be safe in the real world.
Wow that is ugly.
Eye of the beholder and all that. 🙂
Would you like it better if the added four feet of hood and a flat, cliff-like nose complete with a giant grill and angry-looking headlights?
If so, you can already buy something like that at any Jeep or GM dealership. 😉
Well it looks vastly better than anything else for sale in the USA, and obviously has better visibility and safety in term of seeing what’s in front of you.
But “A Mini Cooper-Sized Electric Truck” ?? What Mini cooper are we talking about here?
The current one – a 2025 MINI Cooper 2-door Hatch/Hardtop is 152.6 inches long, the Telo is 152 inches even, so it is a half inch shorter than the smallest current MINI.
Geez
Yeah, they’ve developed a bit of an eating disorder
right?
I just watched an episode of Revolutions and Jason was comparing the XJ Cherokee to the Mk8 Golf and the XJ was smaller..
I think that speaks more to how bloated the current minis are than how small a small truck is. Fun idea though.
It’s also 20 inches shorter than a 1972 Ford Courier/Mazda B-Series, but has a bed that’s 1.8 feet longer with the rear seats folded, and 1.2 ft shorter with them in place
This isn’t selling mainstream. I can design something better drunk. Sorry J
I’m not really a truck person to begin with, but Telo pretty much ruins all other trucks for me, the packaging just seems so perfect and fit for purpose that everything else seems like a compromise (other than if you need to tow, of course, but you could do a lot of the same basic ideas with an ICE also, if you wanted to)
Thank you.
The Telo resembles a futuristic Jeep FC, which is probably why I like it so much. Its compact size, range, and impressive utility features just add to the allure. Assuming Telo can deliver on their goals for this truck, it will be hard to resist. The Slate might make it easier, though – for now – it’s a lot less truck. A lot less money, too. Nice to have two potential choices, anyway.
Give me the Slate or give me Death! F this canoo wanna be!
Agreed, especially given that you could buy 2 Slates for the price of this, but I do love that it can fit a 4×8 between the wheel wells and with the tailgate up. Having done more than my fair share of home projects, 4×8 carrying capability is highly important
I plan on using the slate as my “around town” car. I drive a full size truck mostly and have been searching for a vehicle like this.
Yeah I’m with you, I snagged a reservation for the slate and have no actual desire to own this, but I’m still very happy it exists and see why one would want this and not the slate
Yeah, the Slate is more cool, the Telo is more useful. Really depends if you go with your brain or your heart lol
Well I have a full sized truck that’s more useful than the Telo, so Im going with my brain and my heart! Some other people might be making concessions though.
Sweet! I like the Slate too! Didn’t mean to bash it. It looks like an XJ Cherokee 2dr for our era.
I love the quirky styling and hope these make it to production because they’d be cool as hell to see rolling around in traffic. At $50K they’ll probably live in somebody else’s garage though. This one looks cooler but that Slate might be more in my price range.
I like funky-looking vehicles, so the styling doesn’t bother me, but the fully exposed front wheels are a bit odd. As someone who lives where it can be quite cold often, I find the idea of opening up the cabin to the outside to use the bed capacity a no-go.
Thanks for the news Thomas! I’ve been following Telo for a couple years now via their Youtube content, and put down a deposit on an MT1 maybe almost two years now. I like it a LOT (yes, even more than the Slate EV minitruck, but to be fair, the Telo will probably cost at least 50% more than the Slate) especially the unusual snub-nosed design (if it passes crash testing, I won’t worry). The Telo is a lot more powerful/capable than the Slate but again, it costs quite a bit more.
Jay’s looking thinner and older than usual, which of course is not a sin. I’m looking older at a faster rate than he is, so I’ll probably catch up to him soon, and (if I live long enough) even pass him in that regard. 😉 Years ago, I was sitting outside of a Quiznos in Burbank eating a sandwich with my (prior) dog Bela, and Jay comes walking along Magnolia with a posse, and he stopped to play with Bela. I’ve also seen him at multiple annual car shows at Woodley Park in Van Nuys: The Queens English show and The Best of France & Italy show (both highly recommended, and not just because they’re free to attend). From what I’ve seen, Jay is always extremely gracious and friendly, talking with folks and answering questions about whatever amazing esoteric machine that he drove to the show.
I hope both Telo and Slate make it to market and prosper, inspiring others brave enough to found automotive startups. 🙂
IMHO 99 percent of people that stop to pet dogs are genuinely good people.
If the dogs like them back it reaffirms my belief .
Dogs are good judges of character.
Agreed, definitely. 🙂
PS: I don’t know him personally of course, but Jason (the CEO of Telo, the guy with the short hair who drives a Tacoma and has a big dog) has always struck me as a nice, decent fellow too. I’ve emailed Telo a few times over the past couple years and he always replies personally, and seems genuine and blissfully normal.
Proof that not all CEOs are reprehensible egoists. 😉
I put down a deposit pretty early. I didn’t really know if they’d come to market. Guess I need to prepare myself for them asking me to follow through with the purchase sooner than I expected. Pretty cool that they are coming out sooner instead of pushing the timeline later. Always good to see a company that (hopefully) underpromises and (even more hopefully) overdelivers.