It’s only a matter of time before Slate, a new mysterious EV company, reveals its first model – a still-unnamed electric pickup truck with minimalist design and Rivian R1T vibes but without the expensive price tag. Enthusiasts and fans from Slate Forums are just as curious and excited as us about the brand, leading to a series of renderings meant to preview what the Slate truck would look like in different paint jobs.
The renderings are, of course, based on a prototype sighting earlier this month and a camouflaged teaser released through social media. A total of six colors can be seen here, namely Basalt, Grey, Limestone, Blue, Yellow, and White. Of note, these colors aren’t official yet and are still speculative, though we must say the yellow-painted Slate truck is particularly striking.
What We Know About Slate So Far
Slate is a secretive startup company founded in Michigan in 2022. Several names have already been linked to the company, including its CEO, Christine Barman, a Chrysler veteran, and executive chairman Rodney Copes, an executive from Harley-Davidson and Rivian. Its team, meanwhile, is heavily composed of recruits from Ford, GM, Stellantis, and the aforementioned Harley-Davidson and Rivian.
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More importantly, reports have been pointing to Slate’s three major financial backers. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos has been said to have raised $111 million for the startup in 2023 through a Series A round. Documents have also revealed Mark Walter, controlling owner of the LA Dodgers, and Thomas Tull, lead investor in Re:Build Manufacturing, are part of Slate’s board. With such successful names behind the venture, it seems likely that this is a startup that won’t share the fate of Fisker, Canoo Inc., or Nikola, the latter of which filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, as reported by Reuters in February.
More Concrete Details Coming This Week
As for the truck itself, information is scarce, although the previous prototype sighting told us that the truck would be a two-seat single-cab workhorse, which should appeal to first-time EV buyers, small businesses, and modding enthusiasts. The EV truck was reportedly aimed to be priced at $25,000, poised to become a more affordable alternative to the Ford F-150 Lightning, Tesla Cybertruck, and Chevrolet Silverado EV.
RelatedThere’s one huge drawback though: the price.
Apart from the promised pricing, perhaps the biggest question now is the truck’s range and its capabilities. Given the target price point, it’s quite probably that this new vehicle will have a small range estimate, with not-so-outstanding numbers to back up its acclaim as a workhorse. We’ll know more concrete details on its launch date, April 24. After that, our attention will pass on to its crossover sibling, which is now under a peculiar teaser campaign of its own.
Source: Slate Forums
