The numbers are real. Slate Auto just confirmed a starting price of $24,950 for its bare-bones electric pickup, officially making it the most affordable new truck you can buy in the United States today.
The Ford Maverick XL, previously the cheapest truck in America, starts at $27,145 before you add destination. The Slate is already under that. Without any incentives.
This is a big deal.
More than 180,000 reservation holders have put down a $50 deposit since the truck was revealed in April 2025, and Slate just opened full preorders for an additional $250. First deliveries are expected in Q4 2026, with the trucks assembled at a reindustrialized plant in Warsaw, Indiana, where Slate says it will invest nearly $400 million and create more than 2,000 jobs.
What You Actually Get
The base “Blank Slate” is exactly what it sounds like. A single 65 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, one rear motor making 181 horsepower, and an estimated 205 miles of range. Zero to 60 happens in about 8 seconds, with a 90 mph top speed.
The practical numbers are solid. Towing is rated at 2,000 pounds, and payload capacity is 1,550 pounds. The 5-foot bed works for most weekend-warrior situations, and there’s a 7 cubic foot front trunk with an integrated drain plug.
No power windows. No infotainment screen. You bring your own nav. There’s a universal phone mount and a USB charger, and whatever phone or tablet you already own becomes the interface. It’s either refreshingly honest or delightfully retro, depending on your perspective.
The “You Make It” Philosophy
Slate’s whole pitch is customization on your own timeline. Over 100 accessories are planned, and full-vehicle wraps start under $500 for buyers who don’t want a grey truck forever.
Here’s the clever part: you can also convert your pickup into an SUV after purchase. The Squareback wagon is an add-on panel kit that removes the cab back, remounts it as a longer roof panel to act as a tailgate, and adds a second-row seat. SUV variants start at $29,950.
The EV Tax Credit Situation
Originally, Slate marketed this truck as under $20,000 after the federal $7,500 EV tax credit. After the One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminated federal EV subsidies, Slate stopped advertising that sub-$20K net price. But $24,950 as the base? Still genuinely competitive, especially as EV prices continue to come down across the industry.
Charging works from a regular 120V wall outlet, a 240V dryer outlet, or at any of 29,000 Tesla Superchargers across the country, all included.
Why This Matters
The EV market right now is full of premium trucks hauling premium price tags. The Slate is a direct counter-argument. It’s not trying to be a Cybertruck or a Rivian. It’s trying to be useful, affordable, and yours. For buyers who just need a capable, electric, no-drama daily driver with a truck bed, this might be exactly the thing.
We’ll be watching closely when Q4 deliveries roll out.