June 24, 2026 - Slate Officially Prices Truck at $24,950, Too Much?

This is the Telemetry Transportation Daily for June 24, 2026, and I'm Sam Abuelsamid, Vice President of Market Research for Telemetry. 

Just over a year after initially revealing the Blank Slate electric pickup, the Michigan-based startup has officially announced the pricing and opened the order books. When it was announced, Slate targeted a starting price under $20,000 based on the availability of a $7,500 federal tax credit. Unfortunately, not long after the announcement, the Republican-controlled Congress passed a bill that eliminated all EV tax incentives effective September 30, 2025. Thus, the initial price for the Slate is $24,950. For that price, buyers will get an extremely basic two-door compact electric pickup truck with manual roll-up windows, no infotainment system of any kind, unpainted grey plastic body panels, and an estimated range of 205 miles.  

A key part of the Slate story is that the vehicle is basic but designed to be upgradable by owners, transforming it from a two-door pickup to an SUV or even an open four-seat pickup. A wide range of easily changeable wraps is offered that can be applied by the owner or a third-party shop. Today is the first time prices have been revealed for any of these add-ons. The square-back SUV starts at $30,000, and the fastback SUV goes for $32,000, with both including the second-row seat.  The rear axle motor produces 135 kW and will reportedly propel the truck to 60 mph in an adequate 8 seconds. 

While all this sounds good and the simplified premise of the Slate makes total sense, the reality is that this two-door pickup body style is likely to have very limited consumer appeal. Fleets will probably appreciate it, but consumers have shifted almost entirely to four-door pickups and SUVs over the last 30 years. At $25,000, the starting price makes this the most affordable EV in the U.S., but for entry-level buyers, it's probably still not the best choice. For the same price, consumers can buy a base Toyota Corolla hybrid that gets 50 mpg and has power windows, infotainment, a back seat, and a choice of colors. For a couple of thousand dollars less, they can get a Nissan Kicks or Sentra or a Chevrolet Trax, again with all of what are now considered basic features standard. 

As much as I would like to see a concept like Slate succeed and show the industry the path forward for affordable vehicles, it may still be too much money for too little vehicle. 

Thanks for listening.