Bezos About to Launch a Cheap Compact EV Pickup Truck?
- Editor OGN Daily
- Apr 17
- 2 min read
A boxy two-seat electric pickup truck spotted in Los Angeles may be a sighting of a new $25,000 vehicle rumoured to be on the way.
Ford CEO Jim Farley has long been saying that American's must break their addition to "monster" vehicles and need to “get back in love” with small cars, and now it seems that a newcomer is going to help deliver that vision.
Those in the know, according to AutoBlog, say a cheap, compact electric truck is being developed by Slate Auto, a secretive Michigan startup with deep Amazon ties and backing from Jeff Bezos himself. As we know, most electric vehicle companies start by introducing wildly expensive luxury sedans and SUVs, but Slate is taking a different approach by starting with a compact, no-frills, affordable EV.
The boxy, upright prototype seen recently in Los Angeles could be the first public sighting of that concept, which has been shown to investors at a design studio in Long Beach. Apparently, funding is rolling in. Probably because Slate has assembled a team of auto industry veterans with experience at Harley-Davidson, Stellantis, and GM and, at the helm is CEO Christine Barman, a Chrysler veteran; and because Slate’s approach stands out for its departure from the typical EV playbook. Instead of starting with a high-end model to build column inches, Slate is aiming for a vehicle that could be someone’s “first car.” Its projected $25,000 price tag puts it far below most EVs on the market.
To make the numbers work, Slate plans to emulate the accessory-driven model used by some other brands whereby owners will be encouraged to customize and personalize their trucks, choosing from a catalog of accessories, parts, and associated upgrades.
It's believed that production could start as early as late 2026. If so, Americans will soon be able to get behind the wheel of a reasonably sized and reasonably priced compact EV truck. Finally, being able to drive a truck that isn't a luxury toy / status symbol, but a tool that almost anyone can own and personalize.
