Crank Windows, No Touchscreen: This EV Truck Lets You Build It Your Way
The tiny Slate Truck has huge potential, if the price is right.
Alex LeanseWriterManufacturerPhotographerBrian VancePhotographerAug 20, 2025
Slate FN EV truck 10
What It Is A super-small all-electric pickup, the first product from this startup American automaker invested in by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. But Slate is about more than just the Truck (yes, that’s its name). It will build the Truck in only one ultra-basic configuration—think crank windows, cloth seats, no touchscreen—while a vast accessory ecosystem will let owners customize and personalize their Truck how they please. Colorful custom wraps, interior tech, trim upgrades, a suspension lift, and even an SUV conversion kit are on the menu; Slate says only the powertrain and chassis electronics are off-limits to changes. As Slate will open-source its designs, what accessories might be created for the Truck won’t come only from the automaker itself.
Why It Matters Slate seeks to upend paradigms in today’s auto industry, going smaller and cheaper rather than bigger and pricier with its debut vehicle. The company sees modern cars and trucks as excessively complex, increasing costs and detracting from the user experience. Instead of deciding what its vehicle is or isn’t, Slate will let customers choose through accessorizing—the spectrum ranging from inexpensive no-frills workhorses to built and bedazzled runabouts. Slate thinks the Truck will appeal to shoppers seeking the cheapest and simplest new vehicle, business operators who need to haul things, and lifestyle drivers wanting a fun little project car to wrench on.
020 2027 Slate Truck
Platform and Powertrain The Truck will be built on the so-called Slateboard architecture, which combines certain elements of a traditional truck frame and carlike unibody. Its molded-in-color gray plastic body panels are designed to resist dents and accommodate a range of accessories.
As standard, the Truck is equipped with a single rear electric motor that produces 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. It draws energy from a 52.7-kWh battery pack, which provides approximately 150 miles of driving range. An optional 84.3-kWh battery extends the range up to 240 miles. Slate is aware of customer demand for a dual-motor all-wheel-drive EV powertrain. The Truck recharges via a Tesla-style NACS port.
Estimated Price $20,000–$30,000
Expected On-Sale Date: 2027 or 2028
Alex Leanse
Alex’s earliest memory is of a teal 1993 Ford Aspire, the car that sparked his automotive obsession. He’s never driven that tiny hatchback—at six feet, 10 inches tall, he likely wouldn’t fit—but has assessed hundreds of other vehicles, sharing his insights on MotorTrend as a writer and video host.