Latest news with #SlateTruck
CNBC
3 days ago
- Automotive
- CNBC
Why Slate Automotive says it has cracked the code to affordable EVs
The Jeff Bezos-backed Slate Automotive says it can sell an American-made electric vehicle pickup truck for about half of the average transaction price in the U.S. Slate's pitch is keep the vehicle as simple as possible to save on manufacturing costs, and then let owners add on and customize the truck however they want. The Slate Truck is compact — two doors and two seats in its most basic form. It is spare — if you want an infotainment system, you have to add that yourself. And, you can. The vehicle is almost endlessly customizable. Slate plans to sell more than 100 accessories for its truck, including a kit that will convert it to a 5-seat SUV. But Slate also wants to make the truck "open source," meaning anyone could make accessories for the pickup. So far, more than 100,000 people have made reservations for Slate's small barebones truck. Price has been Slate's big selling point. Nearly half of American car shoppers say the top drawback to EVs is sticker price, according to a May 2025 survey by J.D. Power. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has been levying tariffs on foreign automakers and slashed federal incentives for EVs, making it more difficult for consumers to buy EVs. Earlier in 2025, the company advertised that its truck would start below $20,000 with the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. It then wiped that language from its website around the time the Trump Administration issued an executive order in July that began the rollback of EV incentives. The company says the case for its cheap truck will remain strong after federal EV tax credits expire in September. The question for Slate is whether the vehicle is still compelling at around $27,000 or $28,000 as it would be around $20,000. There is only one vehicle in the United States transacting below $20,000 — the Mitsubishi Mirage. But below $30,000 there are about 20 models, according to Cox Automotive. One of those is the Ford Maverick, which comes with either a straight internal combustion engine or a hybrid powertrain, and has many of the features the Slate lacks. "All of a sudden, that price point just doesn't look very competitive anymore," said Market Research Telemetry Vice President Sam Abuelsamid, adding that Slate could lower its price to appeal to consumers. "But now you start to eat into that profit margin." Watch the video to learn more
Newsweek
11-08-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Ford Plans Business Revolution With Low-Cost Electric Vehicles
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. Billed as a "Model T moment" by the company, Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley today announced that the automaker will invest $5 billion into its electric vehicle future, creating 4,000 jobs. The Ford Model T was produced from 1908 to 1927 and is noted as being the first mass-produced, affordable vehicle. Its low cost was greatly attributed to its assembly line construction, which produced the vehicles faster than their paint could dry. The mass assembly of the Model T drove down costs to Ford, the savings from which were passed on to the consumer. Today's announcement comes as the company has faced criticism for the cost of its recalls and lack of public information regarding its electric vehicle strategy, as other automakers have been transparent about their plans, and competition is growing. At an event staged inside the company's Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky, Farley took the stage to defend Ford's strategy to date and spell out details of the company's electron-rich future. Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley speaks at the company's Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky. Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley speaks at the company's Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky. Newsweek A new, midsize, four-door battery-electric pickup truck will be added to the company's lineup, which currently includes the small Maverick, midsize Ranger, full-size F-150 and heavy-duty Super Duty pickup trucks, in 2027. The new electric truck will be built at the Louisville plant and Ford aims to have it start at under $30,000. The only other battery-electric truck announced around that price point is Slates's smaller first model, which is expected to have a starting price around $25,000. Slate's truck is scheduled to come to market ahead of the Ford. No electric trucks are currently sold for that amount. The F-150 Lightning is the company's all-electric, full-size pickup. Lightning was the best-selling electric truck in America in the second quarter of 2025 and is the best-selling electric truck in the region through mid-year. "The F-150 Lightning proudly holds its position as America's best-selling electric truck, a testament to its enduring customer appeal and contributing to the Ford F-Series 48 years as the best-selling truck in America. The F-150 Lightning embodies Ford's Built Ford Tough DNA while adding innovative benefits like home power backup, lower running costs, and a spacious front trunk. It's a compelling package and ideal choice for customers ready to embrace electric truck ownership, Rob Kaffl, Ford director, U.S. sales and dealer relations, told Newsweek. Front three-quarters view of the Slate Truck. Front three-quarters view of the Slate Truck. Slate Lightning isn't the only battery-electric vehicle Ford sells in the U.S. The electric Ford Mustang Mach-E crossover is one of the best-selling EVs on the road today, traditionally only overshadowed by Tesla products. Like other Ford products, it is offered to business and government customers as a fleet vehicle as well as in more traditional passenger configurations. Ford plans to sell its new battery-electric truck in the U.S. and overseas. That stands in contrast to its sales of the Maverick, which is only available to customers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and some countries in South America. It is built in Mexico. Ford's Ranger is sold in 180 markets and is the best-selling pickup in 21 of them. Ranger is built in Michigan for domestic distribution and Argentina, South Africa, Vietnam and Thailand for global sales. F-150 is available to customers in Australia, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as several countries in Central and South America. Its Lightning counterpart is only sold in the U.S. and Canada. A 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning being driven off road. A 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning being driven off road. Ford Motor Company Super Duty is sold extensively throughout the world in numerous configurations. The product announcement was joined by news that Ford's BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, located in Marshall, Michigan, will make LFP (lithium ferrophosphate) batteries that will power the new truck. General Motors is betting on LFP chemistry for its future as well, the company told Newsweek in July. Lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries offer the longest range for battery-electric vehicles, but have a high cost. Lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) battery technology offers high range at a lower cost. LFP batteries are currently widely believed to be the best compromise of performance, cost and range for next-generation EVs across the automotive landscape. LFP batteries are also considered more sustainable than the other two chemistries.
Car and Driver
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Slate Truck No Longer Priced Under $20K After EV Tax Credit Axed
The Slate Truck's starting price won't come in under $20,000 after all. The automotive startup's website now lists the starting price in the "mid-twenties," instead of the previously advertised sub-$20K price that required the federal EV tax credit. The change to Slate's website came as President Donald Trump's policy bill was passed last week, eliminating the federal EV tax credit starting on September 30. Newcomer Slate surprised the automotive industry when it revealed its stripped-down electric pickup truck in April and touted a starting price of under $20,000. The number came with a caveat, however. The actual starting price is set at just under $27,500, and that sub-$20K price was with the expiring $7500 federal EV tax credit. So, the Slate Truck is looking like it will be less affordable than initially thought, with the automaker's website now showing an expected price in the "mid-twenties," as first reported by TechCrunch. The change in price on Slate's website followed the passage of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill last week, which, among many sweeping changes, included a provision to eliminate the federal EV tax credit on September 30. An asterisk next to the expected price states that the EV's price is subject to change, with the Truck not due to reach customers until late 2026. There's also a note that state and local incentives might still be available that could further reduce the cost. View Photos Slate The Slate Truck's eye-catching price tag was always going to be tenuous, relying on government incentives that were never guaranteed, especially after Trump took office earlier this year. Instead of undercutting the likes of the Nissan Versa and Hyundai Venue to be the most affordable vehicle in the United States, the roughly $27,500 price will see the Slate Truck compete more closely with the Ford Maverick, which starts at $29,840. The Maverick comes standard with a sound system, power windows, and a central touchscreen, all things that are missing on the Slate. While the Slate Truck could get away with its bare-bones cabin with the initial sub-$20,000 price, the modular electric pickup could be less desirable to some customers with a mid-$20,000 starting price. Caleb Miller Associate News Editor Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Motor 1
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Thanks, Trump: Slate's Truck Probably Won't Cost Under $20,000
The Jeff Bezos-backed Slate Truck debuted in April with promises of 201 horsepower, 150 miles of range, and most importantly, a sub-$20,000 asking price. But thanks to President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," that affordable price tag may be out the door before the truck even hits the road. The Trump Administration eliminated the federal EV tax credit with the signing of the "Big Beautiful Bill," which cleared the House and Senate before making its way to the president's desk on July 4. All new EVs—not just from Slate—will lose the maximum $7,500 federal tax credits that helped keep prices low. Buyers still have until September 30 to take advantage of them. Photo by: Slate Slate advertised a sub-$20,000 starting price for its base pickup with the caveat: "After federal incentives." As initially reported by TechCrunch , the company has since removed that pricing promise from its website. We've reached out to the automaker for confirmation. Slate's sub-$20,000 asking price was for its most affordable bare-bones Truck; gray paint, two seats, a gauge cluster, and that's about it. Of course, buyers can still option things like cup holders and power windows if they so choose, with fancier features like an infotainment system, speakers, and an SUV conversion all available for an extra cost. No matter how you spec it, every version of the Slate Truck comes with the same 52.7-kilowatt-hour battery pack and promises 150 miles of range. An "accessory" 84.3-kWh pack increases the range to 240 miles. Even with President Trump's EV tax credit reversal looming, buyers are seemingly still eager to get their hands on a new Slate Truck. The company racked up over 100,000 reservations for its pint-sized pickup within a week of its debut. Deliveries are scheduled to kick off sometime in 2026. More On Slate Ram: We've Thought About a Cheap Truck Like The Slate 'A Million Times' Don't Hate Slate: It's Okay to Love the Bezos Truck Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Korea Herald
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
SK On banks on EV battery deal with Slate for recovery
SK On is aiming for a recovery with an agreement to exclusively supply battery cells to Slate, a US-based electric vehicle startup backed by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. According to media reports Thursday, Slate unveiled the Slate Truck to the public in Michigan on Sunday, and the company will host another event in Detroit from Saturday to Sunday. The compact, highly customizable electric pickup truck will launch next year. SK On and Slate announced a supply deal covering 20 gigawatt-hour battery cells in April, making SK On the first official battery supplier. The capacity is enough to power 300,000 units of the EV maker's upcoming Slate Truck from 2026 to 2031. Industry insiders anticipate that SK On could potentially benefit from Slate's competitive pricing strategy, having already surpassed 100,000 preorders in two weeks in June. This figure represents nearly half of the one-week preorder volume for Tesla's new Cybertruck. The Slate Truck is expected to be priced from $27,500 before tax credits, a price point less than half of existing electric pickups in the US. Notably, major electric pickup trucks on the market start at significantly higher prices — approximately $55,000 for the Ford F-150 Lightning and $70,000 for the Rivian R1T, respectively, and over $60,000 for the Cybertruck. SK On highlighted that Slate's low-price strategy is poised to capitalize on the rapid growth of the US electrified light truck segment. According to a recent report from the Washington-based Automobile Innovation Alliance, electric sport utility vehicles, pickups and vans will account for about 79 percent of total EV sales in the region by the first quarter of 2025. 'Slate's reasonable pricing strategy offers eco-friendly vehicle options to consumers who have been unable to afford high-priced electric cars and are largely underserved in the current EV market. This approach aligns with SK On's vision to make EVs accessible to a broader consumer base,' said an industry source familiar with the matter on condition of anonymity. As SK On pushes into mid- and lower-priced EV markets beyond its traditional premium segment, investors and analysts are watching closely to see whether the battery maker can swing to profitability in the second quarter. From January to March, SK On reported sales of 1.6 trillion won ($1.2 billion), down 4.6 percent from a year earlier. However, its operating loss narrowed by 9.7 percent to 299.3 billion won.
