Little known car brand backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos reveals highly customisable compact pickup at bargain price

Business Mayor

28-04-2025

A LITTLE-KNOWN car brand is preparing to unleash a budget all-electric compact pick-up truck onto the roads of the US – with significant backing from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Slate, an American start-up, has unveiled its very first model – aptly named 'Truck' – with plans to begin deliveries by the end of next year.
5 Bezos backed American start-up Slate has unveiled its very first model Credit: Slate
5 The little pickup's standout feature is its customisability, offering a wide range of options for colours, accessories, and conversion kits Credit: slateauto / Instagram
5 It can boast multiple different looks and serve different purposes Credit: slateauto / Instagram
5 The Truck's bed can also be tweaked Credit: slateauto / Instagram
5 Indeed, it can even be built to resemble a mini SUV Credit: slateauto / Instagram
Its base price, a bargain $27,000 (approximately £20,000), is intentionally designed to make electric motoring accessible to drivers seeking a simple, two-seat pick-up.
In many ways, it draws inspiration from the popular Citroën Ami quadricycle, adopting a no-frills approach that includes manually cranked windows and a basic smartphone mount in place of a central touchscreen.
Features such as speakers are available as optional extras, while standard equipment includes a USB port, central locking, and cruise control.
The Truck's standout feature is its customisability, offering a wide range of options for colours, accessories, and conversion kits.
Remarkably, owners can even transform it into a five-seat mini SUV or a fastback crossover, thanks to the modular conversion kits on offer.
Powered by a standard 52.7kWh battery pack, the Truck delivers a range of 150 miles, which can be extended to 240 miles with an upgrade to an 84.3kWh pack.
Its power output is reportedly around 201hp, enabling a 0–60mph sprint in under eight seconds, while its top speed is a modest 90mph.
The brand, headquartered in Troy, Michigan, will not be affected by former President Donald Trump's 25% import tariffs on foreign-made vehicles.
However, it remains unclear whether Slate intends to manufacture the EV itself or where it plans to establish its production facility.
The fact that the Truck is moving towards production at all is largely thanks to funding from Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon.
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This comes as Mercedes revealed the ultimate in luxury travel with a new MPV that's been likened to a 'private lounge'.
The new-look V-Class concept isn't just an ordinary-looking van with extra bells and whistles – it's potentially the king of all people carriers.
The German giants, who showcased the VIP shuttle at the Shanghai Motor Show, claim they have 'set a benchmark' for the future of premium driving.
The new V-Class line-up promises a range of practical family vehicles that scale all the way up to 'luxurious limousines' – with the first model set to arrive in 2026.
While the exterior might resemble a slightly more futuristic-looking van, Mercedes says it 'marks the next step' in their design language, with aerodynamics playing a significant role in its appearance.