Home » The Slate EV Pickup Truck’s Chance At Success Just Took A Huge Hit

The Slate EV Pickup Truck’s Chance At Success Just Took A Huge Hit

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The uphill climb for Slate Auto, the newest kid on the EV block, just became a little steeper. At least $7,500 steeper due to the elimination of federal EV credits this week. With the promise of an affordable, sub-$20,000 electric truck, all mention of that important offer has disappeared from the company’s website.

From the outset, Slate has been rightly positioned as a David in an automotive world full of Goliaths, even among other EV automakers and startups. For one thing, its vehicle is small and only offers two doors. The base truck’s overall footprint is comparable to that of a 1985 Toyota SR85 pickup rather than a modern compact truck like the Ford Maverick. However, its key selling point is that the Blank Slate truck is just that: a dirt-cheap vehicle you can customize as much or as little as you like. 

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And by dirt-cheap, I mean less than $20,000. That originally-advertised price carried an asterisk, of course, which in a tiny-font footnote read “after federal incentives.” At least before today. Below is a screenshot of the Slate homepage from July 1, courtesy of the Wayback Machine:

Slate July 1 Screenshot
Screen capture of Slate Auto website on July 1, 2025, via Wayback Machine.

That changed when Capitol Hill passed the “big, beautiful bill,” which features, among its spending and tax cuts, the discontinuation of incentives toward new and used EV purchases. EV buyers have until the end of September to take advantage of the rebates ($7,500 for new EVs and $4,000 for used). H/T to TechCrunch for being the first to call out the website pricing change.

The EV credits were never meant to be a forever freebie. Although they help in bringing EV prices down, affordability is not exactly synonymous with electric. It’s an even wider gap to bridge if trying to appeal as a vehicle for the masses. But with the coupon crutch gone, a “cheap” but no-frills EV truck might be a tougher sell. As Autopian Editor-in-Chief David Tracy pointed out in April:

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To be sure, EV incentives would bring the Slate’s price down below $20,000, which is cheap for any new car, but given the precarious nature of the $7,500 new clean-vehicle incentive, it’s possible this new Slate will cost consumers over $27 big ones when it launches in late 2026. And $27+ grand for a car with no paint, no infotainment system, and no radio is just not competitive at all.

Have you seen how much car you get when you buy a $21,895 Chevy Trax or $21,885 Kia Soul?

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We also have to talk about the other small pickup truck built by an American company: The Ford Maverick. Though the 2024 model cost about the same as the Slate, the 2025 model is now up to $29,285 for the hybrid and $29,860 for the turbo four.

That’s a bit more change, though the Maverick is clearly at least five grand more car, with the turbo four-cylinder coming with an eight-speed automatic that will help Iget the truck to 60 mph in under 6.5 seconds compared to the Slate’s 8 seconds (which is about the same as the 38 MPG hybrid Maverick’s 0-60). But it’s not the acceleration that matters, it’s the standard four doors (which is huge to U.S. consumers) and other standard content.

Nevertheless, Slate’s decidedly different product strategy and coolness factor were enough to garner more than 100,000 handraisers after the vehicle’s unveiling, with each person plunking down 50 bucks for a reservation. Autopian Publisher Matt Hardigree was one of them:

Why did I reserve one? I think the idea of a super cheap electric truck is great and, at the earliest, this truck will be available at the end of next year, which gives me time to merely enjoy the idea of it.

Of course, his praise came with its own asterisk:

What’s important to me is the pricing of all the little additions. If this ends up being a $35k truck, with no tax credit, after all my options then… I’m probably out. If some tax credit is in place and I can finance at a reasonable rate then I’d consider it. For the moment, I’m only out $50.

Slate July 5 Screenshot X
Screen capture of Slate Auto website on July 5, 2025.

Well, that $50 reservation fee is fully refundable, so Hardigree would really just lose the time he’s spent thinking about owning the truck. As for the price, Slate never provided a hard number. Today, its website lists the truck’s expected MSRP as “mid-twenties.” That can change again any number of times between now and when the first trucks roll off the line next year. And again, even after that.

What makes the Slate truck and SUV so intriguing is the unique ownership experience and simplicity. Keep it stock or wrap the shell, bring your own music and touchscreen, change the headlight cover design, or make it an open-top — the options are endless. 

Too bad most of us don’t have bottomless bank accounts. Although the Slate customization choices are unlikely to change much, the price point comparison to the hybrid Maverick and gas-only Hyundai Santa Cruz gets ever closer. Or as EIC Tracy matter-of-factly put it:

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And it seems to me that Slate is relying too heavily on the EV rebate sticking around and tariffs cranking up the prices of other cars in the segment. Because if it’s between even a $3-5K pricier Ford Maverick — which comes with paint, an infotainment system, power windows, and a 120-year old company reputation — and a bare-bones, two-door Slate that can only go 150 miles on a charge, it’s pretty obvious which one is the better “people’s car.” 

With the charging infrastructure in no hurry to improve and EVs, in general, turning out to be less popular than hoped, what does Slate’s future look like? Can the company succeed on cool-factor alone? 

Top graphic image: Slate Auto

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MikeInTheWoods
MikeInTheWoods
21 minutes ago

My wife and I despised our CRV’s gold color. It was the only one that came with a manual locally (a 2006 model). Over the years I looked into having it wrapped. I was quoted at anywhere from $3500-5000. Not exactly cheap. I realize Slate claims the panels are all simple to wrap, but any company that does wraps still wants to remain in business, and would likely not take much money off.

Greg
Greg
3 hours ago

Commenters and the author make some good points, but once again I will be the contrarian here.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY!

Slate had fucked itself by being an EV only and not having some dinky little simple ICE motor. A lot of the comments in the slate articles say “I wish it had a dinky little ice motor”. Well, now that being an EV does jack shit for your customers and your accountants, they can break out of that hole they dug, and bring us a dinky little ice motor that is simple,proven and cheaper than a battery pack. Grab me some little honda powersport/generator motor and strap it in!

I don’t need to go fast! I just don’t want anyone else coming along for the ride in my truck, univited. I am talking about Google, Apple and the God-damned FBI. I just want to be freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and not have to rely on dealers to fix a simple little truck.

Last edited 3 hours ago by Greg
Ppnw
Ppnw
7 hours ago

It never had a shot at success anyway, so it didn’t take any hit. This thing was DOA, and still is.

Greg
Greg
3 hours ago
Reply to  Ppnw

I love the truck. Interested in why you feel that way.

TDI in PNW
TDI in PNW
8 hours ago

I suspect ALL automakers in the US are in trouble soon.

Marc
Marc
9 hours ago

My attitude is that we’ll be very lucky if any gas and/or electric vehicle increases price by only $7500 (and/or decontented accordingly) in the next year or so. All EVs (and PHEVs?) that qualified for credits will take this hit. And, uncertain tariffs screw with the price of everything. The only thing that matters is whether it’s still a bargain relative to the alternatives, when/if they actually start delivering.

Last edited 9 hours ago by Marc
Hallucinogenic Jack
Hallucinogenic Jack
10 hours ago

Gentle reminder that “refundable” is likely meaningless if the company goes bankrupt first.

That said, I’m not sure the price is an issue by the time it launches. Many things can happen between now and then.

I was, and remain, skeptical that people want a barebones truck rather than the idea of a barebones truck.

Bassracerx
Bassracerx
7 hours ago

I like the bare bones truck but this went a step too far. no radio ? seriously? and if you “option” for the radio you get the equivalent of a two cheap bluetooth speakers on the dash. they don’t even have a six inch door speaker provisioned. I guess you can always install kick speaker boxes by your feet like its the late 90s!

also the range is garbage. and no fast charging! you are just so much better off in an old pickup truck in every way except efficiency.

Harvey "Shift To" Park
Harvey "Shift To" Park
7 hours ago
Reply to  Bassracerx

It’s not so much the no-radio thing as it is the no-way-to-take-a-call-hands-free-as-the-law-requires (other than a headset). Not to mention driving directions from your phone.

It’s possible with the phone’s speaker, but far from ideal.

Greg
Greg
3 hours ago

Modern humans are helpless.

Last edited 3 hours ago by Greg
MegaVan
MegaVan
1 hour ago
Reply to  Greg

I mean sure. But it also would be pretty reasonably…. $50 in wire? To go from a single/double din slot in the dash to optional speaker boxes behind/under the bench seat as in any old truck with no door speakers.

Hoonicus
Hoonicus
11 hours ago

Screw the poors! They’re the ones that have been gaming the system and ruining society all along! (yeah I know 50 mil. wedding in the sewer boy funded it) Find out how absurd/catastrophic the BBB is, the medicaid/snap cuts don’t bite till after the mid term, because they are Soo shrewd.

Weston
Weston
11 hours ago
Reply to  Hoonicus

The poors living on welfare, relying on Medicaid and benefiting from Snap are the same people who voted for Trump. Republicans have become experts at getting morons to vote against their own interests.

Anoos
Anoos
11 hours ago

I’m still in on Slate. It’s new and interesting and seems like it would add some utility to the fleet.

Of course, they have not released pricing on the accessories (most importantly for me the SUV top kits. Those could quickly kill the whole deal for me. $40k buys a lot of vehicle. I wouldn’t pay an extra $15k just to be the first one on the block with a Slate.

I didn’t pay more to be the first with an xB or FR-S, and those were both much more interesting vehicles.

Kelly
Kelly
11 hours ago

Even since the quote from April those maverick numbers are now too low by about $1500.

Weston
Weston
12 hours ago

Since it’s more than 4 years away anyway this may not matter. The tax credit could come back.

ADDvanced
ADDvanced
12 hours ago

An EV.

From a Startup company.

With an unbelievably low price advertised.

Who could have ever seen this coming?

Spikedlemon
Spikedlemon
11 hours ago
Reply to  ADDvanced

Well, if they follow theprecedent set by another EV company, they should just blatantly lie about their future products.

Anoos
Anoos
11 hours ago
Reply to  Spikedlemon

You need to be more specific.

That describes many EV companies.

Gene1969
Gene1969
12 hours ago

Slate is definitely in trouble and so is every other regular market EV out on the road.

10001010
10001010
13 hours ago

If they can still get it out the door at $25K it’d be worth looking at, especially with the Maverick going up in price.

Kelly
Kelly
11 hours ago
Reply to  10001010

Wait a sec, that’s the answer. Don’t try to make EVs cheaper or simpler, just make everything else more complex and expensive. That way the EVs seem like a deal.

Man, I could totally work in marketing.

Anoos
Anoos
11 hours ago
Reply to  Kelly

Are you a recent college grad looking to kill time and meet a spouse?

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