Inside Slate Auto: Jeff Bezos-Backed EV Startup Bets Big on Modular, Affordable Electric Trucks

Electric vehicle startup Slate Auto, backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is aiming to redefine affordable EVs with a new kind of vehicle: a modular, customizable, no-frills electric pickup truck. Built inside a beta production facility in Michigan, the company has already assembled over 70 vehicles for testing.

Slate’s vehicles are two-door, two-seat electric trucks that can be converted into various SUV styles. They are designed with simplicity in mind — crank windows, no touchscreen, and body panels that can be replaced or upgraded by the user. The goal is to keep manufacturing low-cost and pass those savings on to customers.

CEO Chris Barman and Head of Engineering Eric Keipper, both former Fiat Chrysler executives, say Slate is focused on building a basic, affordable EV for the everyday consumer. Their target price is under $20,000 — before federal tax credits — and the vehicles are made with composite exteriors and fewer parts than traditional models.

Slate has already attracted more than 100,000 reservations, each backed by a $50 deposit. It is currently raising more capital through a Series C funding round, after previously securing $700 million in investment.

The company is also building a full-scale manufacturing plant in Warsaw, Indiana, with a projected capacity of 150,000 vehicles per year. It plans to offer customers high levels of customization — including body styles, wheel types, lighting, and audio — but industry analysts caution that such complexity could raise costs and delay production.

Slate’s first vehicles are expected to begin shipping by late 2026, though hurdles remain. These include the challenge of scaling from hand-built units to mass production, competing against larger automakers, and maintaining affordability after options are added.

Auto experts have praised Slate’s innovative approach but remain skeptical about how well it will compete in a tight and evolving EV market. While the company aims to be “radically affordable,” real-world pricing and production challenges could test that claim.

Still, Slate Auto’s mission to simplify electric vehicle ownership and lower the price barrier is gaining attention. Whether it succeeds or joins the list of EV startups that struggled to scale remains to be seen.