The $24,950 Slate Will Soon Prove If Americans Really Want Cheap Trucks

A small two-door pickup with hand-cranked windows might sound like something from the last century. But it could be the future of the American automotive industry.That is what Slate is hoping, as the startup automaker debuts the production version of the country’s smallest and lowest-priced truck, which also happens to be electric. The company is backed by investments from TWG Global and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and is led by CEO Peter Faricy, who previously oversaw the launch of Amazon Marketplace.It was founded four years ago at the height of the electric vehicle frenzy, and the original plan was to sell a basic battery-powered truck priced at around $20,000 after the $7,500 federal tax credit was applied. The credit has since been unplugged and, despite a recent surge amid high gas prices, the electric vehicle market has lost much of its spark.Slate is nevertheless moving forward undeterred and has produced a truck from its Indiana factory that looks more promising than originally advertised. The base price ended up at $24,950, and that is not a suggestion. Slate sells directly to customers, so there is no haggling required.The truck is roughly the size of a Ford Bronco Sport subcompact SUV and two feet shorter than a Hyundai Santa Cruz, which is the smallest pickup currently on sale. It has a 201-horsepower motor for the rear wheels and a range of 205 miles per charge. That is significantly more than the originally-advertised 150 miles and a nice surprise for the more than 180,000 reservation holders the company has tallied over the past year.The Slate is not equipped with power windows or a standard audio system. SlateIt will be delivered from Slate’s factory in Indiana in a single configuration with “Slate Gray” plastic body panels, two seats, required safety features, and just the bare essentials to simplify assembly and keep costs down. It has traction control, cruise control, a backup camera, automatic emergency braking and air conditioning, but is not equipped with a built-in radio. The manual roll-down windows are an intentionally spartan feature to highlight the truck’s budget character.That isn’t to say you can’t get one with amenities. Slate has an extensive catalog of accessories that can be added a la carte, including a wide array of wraps in more than 100 colors and patterns, and various audio system options that can be installed by handy owners or with help from the RepairPal network of technicians, which will also be Slate’s primary source for maintenance.The most ambitious options are kits that convert the pickup into a two-row, five-passenger SUV, complete with a safety cage and rear seat airbags. Slate is offering a squareback style for $5,000 and a fastback for $7,000.: A conversion kit is available to turn the Slate into a five-passenger SUV. SlateThe company expects many of its early customers to be retail buyers, but is looking at a shift toward the commercial fleet side of the market as things progress, and has designed the truck to be a capable little workhorse. Slate says it can tow up to 2,000 pounds and carry a payload of 1,550 pounds, which includes the weight of the passengers and whatever will fit in its five-foot-long bed.The specifications are almost identical to those of the Ford Maverick hybrid, which is the Slate’s most direct competitor today. The compact Ford has a 38-mpg fuel economy rating, four doors, a $28,145 starting price and power windows, of course.The Maverick went on sale the same year Slate got started and has been such a hit that Ford can still barely build enough to keep up with demand. That won’t stop it from introducing its own small electric pickup next year, however, when it unveils a Maverick-size model at a $30,000 target price with no assembly required.Slate fans might consider the latter a negative, but exactly how many there are is yet to be seen. Their $50 reservations must now be converted into preorders for an extra $250, and then they need to start writing the big checks. Slate is preparing to build up to 150,000 annually and make a profit at that amount, but its small truck has a big hill to climb to get there.

The $24,950 Slate Will Soon Prove If Americans Really Want Cheap Trucks

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