Buying a new vehicle in the mid-$20,000s sounds almost impossible right now. In the video at the end of this post from Jay Leno’s Garage [3.94M subscribers, almost 1.1B views], Jay meets the Slate prototype truck, an American-made electric pickup that tries to do exactly that, without turning into a bare-bones penalty box.
Slate’s pitch is simple. Build one basic truck efficiently, keep costs down, then let owners make it their own over time, from looks to body style to audio. Leno also likes what it stands for: manufacturing coming back to the U.S., instead of rebadging something imported.
Built in Indiana, with a plan to bring jobs back
Slate says the company was created to rebuild manufacturing in America from day one. The truck is set to be built in Warsaw, Indiana, and the factory choice matters. Instead of building a brand-new plant, Slate bought an existing facility that used to print Sears catalogs. The plan is to rebuild and reuse it, and employ about 2,000 people.
Leno frames it as the kind of “ultimate recycling” he likes to see, reviving work in the heartland. He also points out Indiana’s long history with car names that once rivaled Detroit, and he puts Slate in the newer wave of American EV makers.
Why the Slate EV truck targets the mid-$20Ks
Slate puts the truck’s price in the mid-$20,000s, with Leno hearing a range somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000. The context is harsh: Slate cites the average new car price around $50,000, and says most Americans can’t afford that.
The cost control starts with manufacturing. Every truck comes off the assembly line the same, which helps scale production efficiently. Slate also plans direct-to-consumer sales, with one price for everyone, so dealer markups do not erase the whole point of an affordable truck.
One truck platform, then owners choose pickup, SUV, or open-air
Slate’s modular idea kicks in after the truck leaves the line. The company designs access points around the vehicle so people can install parts themselves, or have Slate deliver the truck with a kit already installed.
Configurations discussed on the show include:
- Pickup truck with a 4×5 bed sized to handle 4×8 building sheets
- Five-seat SUV options, including squareback and fastback kits
- Open-air setup with an exposed roll cage and rear bench
Fasteners are left visible on purpose, making it clear that panels and add-ons are meant to come off and go back on.
Wrapped, not painted, with simple details meant for DIY style
Slate’s factory color is a flat slate gray with the color formed in the tool (impregnated in the plastic body panels), not painted. That helps eliminate the need for a paint shop, and the truck is designed to be wrapped. Slate also builds in smaller “landing areas,” like on mirrors, for stickers or accents.
Even the wheels are intentionally simple, so an owner can change the look quickly with a decal.
Range, charging, and the basics that still matter
Slate says buyers can choose a 150-mile battery pack or a 230-mile pack. The battery sits low and central, and it is liquid-cooled. The motor is also mounted in the center. Regenerative braking is included, but not adjustable. The truck is rear-wheel drive, and Leno notices the five-lug setup up front, hinting a future option is possible.
Slate also says it uses the North American charge standard, with access to the Supercharger network. That matters for people in apartments or multi-unit buildings who cannot count on home charging every night. The truck includes a “frunk” (front trunk) for extra storage, and the bed is kept low to make loading easier.
Safety and right-to-repair, without dealer-only restrictions
Slate says safety is the top priority, aiming for a five-star crash rating and an IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) Top Safety Pick. The company claims it has built dozens of beta prototypes, with many crash-tested in both truck and SUV forms. Airbags and seat belts are part of the plan, even with the open-air SUV setup.
On repairs, Slate takes the opposite approach from locked-down service models. Customers can do DIY repairs, including warranty repairs, and use a RepairPal network of more than 4,000 independent shops. The Slate app is meant to show error codes, so owners can diagnose problems before they even book a visit.
A minimalist interior that grows with the owner
Inside, the prototype keeps things simple. There are no traditional gauges, and there is no built-in stereo system beyond small speakers for alerts. Slate expects some owners to bring a Bluetooth speaker, with a designed spot to secure it, then step up later to more integrated audio options.
Air conditioning stays in, even though the team debated it early on. Roll-up windows are part of the cost-minded approach.
What stood out after the drive
Leno calls out the hard part: Building something affordable in the U.S. means working smarter, not cheaper. He says the prototype has the usual early-vehicle rattles, but the concept feels solid, and it delivers many EV basics for about half the price of typical electric trucks.
Slate says it revealed the truck after three years in stealth, it has pulled in more than 150,000 reservations, and it is backed by investors including Jeff Bezos and Mark Walter. The plan shared on the episode is for trucks to be available in about a year, with reservations open now.
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RVDT2843
Warsaw Indiana is about 50 minutes away from me. The residents there are very excited to have the Slate company use an abandoned warehouse and to add jobs to the community. I hope this company succeeds because it would be great to have an affordable EV option.
Number 1 question: Is it flat towable?
It’s an EV, so no.
Why would being EV keep it from being flat towed by another vehicle, exactly?