Slate Auto Draws 100,000 Reservations for EV Pickup

Slate Auto, an electric vehicle startup with backing from Jeff Bezos and other investors, has secured over 100,000 refundable reservations for its customizable electric pickup truck in just two weeks. The vehicle is priced at $25,000 before incentives, with the potential to drop below $20,000 if the federal EV tax credit remains available, though there is uncertainty about the credit's future. Slate requires a $50 refundable deposit to reserve the truck, and plans to manufacture it at a repurposed plant in Warsaw, Indiana, employing over 2,000 workers. Production is targeted to start in late 2026, with an annual goal of 150,000 vehicles by 2027. The truck emphasizes affordability and modular design in a market where electric pickups often cost over $100,000. Despite strong early interest, industry experts caution that high reservation numbers do not guarantee eventual sales.