Hands-On with the SLATE Pickup Truck
SLATE allows customers to transform this tiny 174.6-inch pickup (over two feet shorter than a Ford Maverick) into many other configurations. You can turn it into a five-passenger SUV, an open-top SUV, or a fastback wagon. It can be lifted or lowered, and there are plenty of upgrades available, too. All of this can be sent as parts to the DIY owner or assembled by qualified staff.
Oh, and they have wrap kits. If you want to change the color or design theme, you can order a wrap, which fits without major trimming or removing body parts. Once again, you can do it yourself or have someone do it for you. I should also mention that all of these parts and accessories are under warranty, even if you are the one who installed them.
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Powered by a 150 kW motor that's mounted to the rear axle, the SLATE makes 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. Two batteries are available: a 52.7 kWh unit, which allows for an approximate 150-mile range, and an 84.3 kWh battery that is estimated at 240 miles. Official EPA numbers will come later.
The SLATE will come with an NACS (Tesla) plug and will be able to charge at up to 120 kW on a DC fast charger. SLATE claims that will charge the vehicle up to 80 percent in about half an hour. Level two charging is rated at 5 hours from 20 to 100 percent, and level one is 11 hours. Unlike some competitors, its batteries are sourced and built in the United States.
Speaking of assembly, the SLATE will be built in Indianapolis, Indiana, and go on sale during the fourth quarter of 2026. Sale prices are expected to hit about $27,000 before rebates and tax credits and drop somewhere around $20,000 after. Prices for the accessories will be announced later, but larger components like roofs, bumpers, roll bars, seats, etc., will be flat-pack shipped to the consumer.
Want navigation and a stereo? Use your phone or tablet with the SLATE-provided mounts. You can also upgrade to more speakers, power windows, and various interior features. They are working on a seat cover that zips on, with a heating element embedded, but for now, you can change the color of your interior and seating materials with zip-on covers.
SLATE's payload is rated at over 1,400 lbs with a towing capacity of up to 1,000 lbs. All of the body panels are composite and colored, removing the need for chemical-filled and expensive painting. 0 to 60 mph times are estimated at 8 seconds, with a top speed of 90 mph. Suspension is provided by coil springs, with an old-school DeDion setup in the rear.
I sat in and interviewed many of the people who put this little truck together. I'm a big, tall guy, and the two-seat (no bench seat - yet) setup still offered more leg and headroom than any midsize pickup I've driven. With a large frunk and a sparse interior that's ready for upgrades, it's hard not to fall in love with it.
Among the many deep-pocketed backers, one name stands out - Jeff Bezos. When I attended the event, I was stunned to see several beta-tester trucks driving around, each with different accessories or liveries. It hit home the point that this company looks a lot more legitimate than some of the other startups that have been making headlines recently. To me, it seems like SLATE could be the start of something special.
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