Slate Auto: Everything you need to know about the Bezos-backed EV startup
The automotive world was stunned in April 2025 when Slate Auto, a previously undisclosed company, emerged from stealth. Backed by figures like Jeff Bezos and LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter, this innovative startup revealed ambitious plans for an ultra-affordable, highly customizable electric pickup truck, operating secretly for three years right in the heartland of major automakers in Troy, Michigan.
TechCrunch broke the story, uncovering Slate Auto’s existence, its ties to the Amazon founder, and its groundbreaking business model. The ensuing weeks saw a flurry of activity, with prototypes of the unique electric truck appearing across California, building anticipation for its official unveiling.
Slate Auto stands as a notable exception in the U.S. EV sector, a landscape often marked by bankruptcies and failed launches. While its current leadership, investors, and product vision present a compelling future, the path to its late 2026 production target is still fraught with challenges.
Here’s a detailed timeline of Slate Auto’s journey, from its mysterious origins and key backers to its revolutionary product, business strategy, and production ambitions.
Inside the EV startup secretly backed by Jeff Bezos
April 8, 2025: After a year-long investigation, TechCrunch published a story revealing that a secretive EV startup called Slate Auto had been operating for three years with significant financial backing from Jeff Bezos and LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter. Unlike its competitors, Slate Auto was developing an electric pickup truck aiming for an incredibly low starting price of around $25,000. This vehicle was designed for deep customization, drawing on the expertise of former employees from accessory-rich companies like Harley-Davidson and Chrysler.
Slate Auto’s pickup truck spotted in the wild
April 10, 2025: Just two days later, an image of an unidentified electric truck began circulating on the r/whatisthiscar subreddit, sparking speculation that it could be Slate’s mysterious EV. TechCrunch swiftly confirmed that the photo was indeed of a Slate prototype, spotted outside the company’s Long Beach, California design center.
An EV that can change like a ‘Transformer’
April 21, 2025: Ahead of its April 24 launch event, Slate began deploying concept versions of its EV on public streets to generate buzz. Interestingly, some prototypes resembled SUVs or hatchbacks, not just pickup trucks. TechCrunch later confirmed that the company had engineered the EV with “Transformer-like” modular capabilities, making this public appearance a clever teaser for its highly customizable design.
The analog EV pickup truck that is decidedly anti-Tesla
April 24, 2025: Slate Auto officially debuted its customizable electric pickup truck at a launch event in Long Beach, California. A striking announcement was the truck’s sub-$20,000 price point, attainable with the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. The base model was revealed to be minimalist – featuring only 150 miles of range, manual windows, no primary infotainment screen, and even unpainted body panels. Slate emphasized that virtually every aspect of the truck, from the number of seats to its overall silhouette, would be customizable.
A former Indiana printing plant eyed for EV truck production
April 25, 2025: TechCrunch reported that Slate had identified a 1.4 million-square-foot former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana, as the potential site for its truck factory. The facility, built in 1958, had been vacant for approximately two years.
Slate Auto crosses 100,000 refundable reservations in two weeks
May 12, 2025: In a testament to its compelling value proposition, Slate Auto confirmed to TechCrunch that it had surpassed 100,000 refundable $50 reservations for its affordable EV truck within just two weeks of its public debut. This remarkable reception underscored the widespread appeal of the company’s vision, despite its recent emergence from obscurity.
Slate Auto drops ‘under $20,000’ pricing after Trump administration ends federal EV tax credit
July 3, 2025: A significant blow came when the Trump administration enacted a tax-cut bill, ending the $7,500 federal EV tax credit by September. This move directly impacted Slate’s ability to offer its truck for “under $20,000.” Consequently, Slate swiftly removed this pricing claim from its website, even before the bill was officially signed into law.
Why this LA-based VC firm was an early investor in Slate Auto
July 8, 2025: While many of Slate’s 16 investors from its 2023 funding round remain undisclosed, Los Angeles-based Slauson & Co. publicly discussed with TechCrunch its decision to invest in the EV startup’s initial funding round and its subsequent Series B, highlighting the early belief in Slate’s disruptive potential.
