A stripped-down electric truck you can truly make your own.
Slate Truck: It’s no secret—new cars keep getting pricier. Bigger screens, more tech, and flashier features have driven up costs across the board. Even so-called “budget” models tend to come loaded with dealer-installed extras that push them well past their MSRP.
Enter Slate, a new name in the automotive game, looking to change that. Its first vehicle, the Slate Truck, is a small, electric pickup designed with one big idea: start simple and let the owner build the rest. And with a projected price of under $20,000 after federal incentives, it could shake up the EV market in a major way.
Built to Be Basic
The Slate Truck is being built in Michigan, using American-sourced components wherever possible. One launch configuration is ultra-simple: a two-door, regular-cab truck; the bed is about 4 feet high and 5 feet wide. While Telo MT1 will measure up to a distance somewhat less than the one provided by the Ford Maverick.
Its body panels? Unpainted, molded composite in—you guessed it—Slate Gray. The steel wheels? As basic as they come. But don’t mistake bare-bones for unsafe. The truck includes essential features like front automatic emergency braking and multiple airbags.
Inside, the theme continues. You’ll find manual cloth seats, crank windows, and physical knobs for climate control. A small 4-inch display behind the steering wheel serves backup camera duties, and a phone mount on the dash helps run Slate’s companion app. Want touchscreen controls or powered windows? Those are optional and installable.
Performance That Prioritizes Simplicity
The performance of the pickup truck is propelled by a 52.7-kWh battery paired with a 201-hp motor, which in turn rotates the rear wheels.. Estimated 0–60 mph time? About 8.0 seconds. The company claims that the base model will have a range of 150 miles, and another 84.3-kWh battery may be added for an expected range of 240 miles. A dual-motor AWD version may be on the horizon.
Towing capacity maxes out at 1,000 pounds, while payload is a respectable 1,433 pounds. Charging uses the NACS port—a growing standard in the EV world.
Your Truck, Your Way
Forget trim levels and option packages. Slate’s philosophy is modular customization. Build what you want upon a space, where you start afresh in all honesty. From heated seat covers to tablet mounts, wrap kits, and suspension upgrades, nearly every part of the truck is upgradeable.
Want to turn it into a small SUV? Strip off the last cabin wall and fit it with seats and caps along with a hoop roll. Sporty wheels can be added and removed through a roof rack. Dream configurations can be visualized with Slate Maker. Slate University’s library is a great source of DIY instructional tutorials.
The company even plans to open-source its platform, inviting third-party creators to design compatible parts and share them online. It’s a modern twist on automotive DIY culture, bolstered by a community-first approach.
Who’s It For?
Slate isn’t just for hobbyists and gearheads. While enthusiasts will love the customization potential, Slate is also eyeing small business owners, local government fleets, and budget-conscious drivers. The base price is expected to land around $27,000 before incentives, or under $20,000 after, assuming current federal EV credits remain.
Still, that affordability hinges on factors outside Slate’s control, like government policy and buyer willingness to start from scratch. Some may prefer a feature-rich compact sedan with power windows out of the box.
Big Promise, Big Questions
Right now, the Slate Truck is still a prototype. Safety certifications and manufacturing logistics are works in progress. The open customization model also brings unique challenges that most automakers have avoided for liability reasons.
But Slate’s pitch is fresh—and necessary. While legacy brands chase ever-higher price tags, Slate offers a different path: affordable, functional, and fully customizable transportation. Production is slated for late 2026, and we’re already dreaming up our ideal build.
2027 Slate Truck Key Specs
- Expected Pricing: $27,000
- Layout: rear-drive, two-passenger, two-door pick-up
- Motor: 201 hp / 195 lb-ft electric
- Battery (Standard): 52.7 kWh
- Battery (Optional): 84.3 kWh
- Range: 150–240 miles (est.)
- 0–60 mph: ~8.0 seconds
- Claiming Towing Capacity: 1,000 lbs
- Payload: 1,433 lbs
- Charging Port: NACS (Tesla-style)
- On Sale: Winter 2026
Conclusion
The Slate Truck 2027 is not realized to be another electric car audacious rethink of the truck paradigm, thus, made in this market. Trimmed down to afford something very functional, modular, and personalized, it hints toward a very different relationship between driver and machine. For do-it-yourself people, for small business owners, or just for someone wanting a sensible and affordable workhorse EV, the Slate Truck offers a neat alternative. Next come issues on execution and safety validation; however, it will put interesting designs into focus as early as late 2026.
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