Latest news with #ChrisBarman
Newsweek
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Slate Confirms $700 Million in Funding, Bezos Investment
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Slate Auto, the startup electric vehicle manufacturer, today confirmed to Newsweek that the company closed on $700 million in Series B funding in late 2024. The funding comes from Bezos Expeditions, General Catalyst and TWG Global, among other investors though the amount each firm provided is unconfirmed. Bezos Expeditions is an American investment firm that manages Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's personal investment portfolio. General Catalyst, a venture capital firm, has a varied portfolio that also includes cosmetics company Beauty Pie, image software company Canva and online travel search tool Kayak, among others. TWG Global is a holding company that has other automotive industry investments, most notably Cadillac's Formula 1 team. A Slate vehicle wrapped in Newsweek camouflage, carrying stacks of Newsweek's World Greatest Auto Disruptors magazines in its bed. A Slate vehicle wrapped in Newsweek camouflage, carrying stacks of Newsweek's World Greatest Auto Disruptors magazines in its bed. Slate Slate aims to disrupt the automotive industry with a new vehicle and way of doing business that focuses on the necessary and gives buyers the power of choice at a budget-conscious price. It unveiled its first model, a battery-electric vehicle (BEV), to the world on April 26 in Long Beach, California. Though initially sold as a truck, the new Slate BEV can be transformed into an SUV through an accessories package. The unique truck is a two-seat pickup that will be sold in a single configuration - one bed size and one cab style. Simplicity is key to the design team's approach to the model; its windows crank and there are climate control knobs. There is no infotainment system nor a touchscreen. It wears steel wheels on each corner. Slate owners also have the option of wrapping their vehicle or having it wrapped by a pro. Customers can choose from three levels of wrap, which is designed to make the vehicle especially personal. The automaker will host SlateU tutorial videos on its website to instruct owners on how to enhance their model whether through accessory additions or wrapped elements. The American company will purchase American-made batteries for its electric truck and assemble the model in the U.S. Slate is led by CEO Chris Barman, Chairman Rod Copes, COO Jeremy Snyder and head of design, Tisha Johnson, among others. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is available.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Bespoke EV-Maker Backed by Bezos To Take on Tesla
The EV race is about to get a brand new, low-cost entrant backed by Billionaire Jeff Bezos. It's called Slate and it offers a bespoke style of electric vehicle that starts as a blank-slate, two-seat pickup truck for about $25,000 before incentives. Each buyer can then add accessories, like side-stripes, stronger bumpers or infotainment screens, and you can even change that little truck into a five-seat SUV. Chris Barman, the CEO of Slate Auto, joined Bloomberg Open Interest to talk about its business model and how it hopes to take on EV giants like Tesla.
Bloomberg
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Bespoke EV-Maker Backed by Bezos To Take on Tesla
The EV race is about to get a brand new, low-cost entrant backed by Billionaire Jeff Bezos. It's called Slate and it offers a bespoke style of electric vehicle that starts as a blank-slate, two-seat pickup truck for about $25,000 before incentives. Each buyer can then add accessories, like side-stripes, stronger bumpers or infotainment screens, and you can even change that little truck into a five-seat SUV. Chris Barman, the CEO of Slate Auto, joined Bloomberg Open Interest to talk about its business model and how it hopes to take on EV giants like Tesla. (Source: Bloomberg)
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Jeff Bezos-backed Slate Auto announces factory location for its $25,000 electric truck
Slate Auto said it would assemble its $25,000 EV in Warsaw, Indiana. The 1.4 million-square-foot facility was occupied by a printing company until 2023. Slate says it expects to make its first customer deliveries near the end of 2026. Slate Auto, the Jeff Bezos-backed EV startup, confirmed to Business Insider on Tuesday that its $25,000 electric pickup would be assembled at a former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana. "We would like to see what we can do to go into an existing facility that has been shuttered and reindustrialize and revitalize that community," Slate CEO Chris Barman told us in an interview ahead of the truck's introduction last week. The factory is expected to bring over 2,000 jobs back to Warsaw, more than the number of jobs lost when the plant's previous tenants shut down, a company representative said in an email. A local news report said 500 jobs were lost when the facility ceased operations in 2023. Slate's decision to repurpose existing production facilities follows a similar path to that of other high-profile EV companies, such as Tesla, which took over General Motors'/Toyota's NUMMI factory, and Rivian, which occupies Mitsubishi's former Normal, Illinois, plant. However, Slate's future production site in Warsaw is not a former car factory but one previously owned by a printing company about 40 miles from Fort Wayne, Indiana. According to a real estate listing, the facility was originally built in 1958 and last renovated in 2000. The 1.4 million-square-foot compound features office space and two production facilities, each with about 600,000 square feet. The company declined to say how much of that square footage it planned to use. Local authorities with the Kosciusko Economic Development Corp. declined to comment, citing a nondisclosure agreement. The Slate Truck, which comes standard with 150 miles of range and a starting price of about $25,000, is expected to be the cheapest new electric vehicle and pickup truck in the US, staking out a spot in the market no truck — electric or otherwise — has been able to. Barman said customer deliveries were expected to commence on the pickup, which, with tax incentives, could cost less than $20,000, near the end of 2026. Reservations for the truck are open with a refundable $50 fee. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Jeff Bezos-backed Slate Auto announces factory location for its $25,000 electric truck
Slate Auto said it would assemble its $25,000 EV in Warsaw, Indiana. The 1.4 million-square-foot facility was occupied by a printing company until 2023. Slate says it expects to make its first customer deliveries near the end of 2026. Slate Auto, the Jeff Bezos-backed EV startup, confirmed to Business Insider on Tuesday that its $25,000 electric pickup would be assembled at a former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana. "We would like to see what we can do to go into an existing facility that has been shuttered and reindustrialize and revitalize that community," Slate CEO Chris Barman told us in an interview ahead of the truck's introduction last week. The factory is expected to bring over 2,000 jobs back to Warsaw, more than the number of jobs lost when the plant's previous tenants shut down, a company representative said in an email. A local news report said 500 jobs were lost when the facility ceased operations in 2023. Slate's decision to repurpose existing production facilities follows a similar path to that of other high-profile EV companies, such as Tesla, which took over General Motors'/Toyota's NUMMI factory, and Rivian, which occupies Mitsubishi's former Normal, Illinois, plant. However, Slate's future production site in Warsaw is not a former car factory but one previously owned by a printing company about 40 miles from Fort Wayne, Indiana. According to a real estate listing, the facility was originally built in 1958 and last renovated in 2000. The 1.4 million-square-foot compound features office space and two production facilities, each with about 600,000 square feet. The company declined to say how much of that square footage it planned to use. Local authorities with the Kosciusko Economic Development Corp. declined to comment, citing a nondisclosure agreement. The Slate Truck, which comes standard with 150 miles of range and a starting price of about $25,000, is expected to be the cheapest new electric vehicle and pickup truck in the US, staking out a spot in the market no truck — electric or otherwise — has been able to. Barman said customer deliveries were expected to commence on the pickup, which, with tax incentives, could cost less than $20,000, near the end of 2026. Reservations for the truck are open with a refundable $50 fee. Read the original article on Business Insider
