GoKawiilis a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews.
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We now know the price of Slate Auto’s affordable American-made electric truck, almost a year after the company warned it wouldn’t hit its initial “under $20,000” target price. The no-frills pickup starts at $24,950 — matching the revised mid-$20,000 price range it promised last year, after the Trump administration announced it was putting an end to the $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
Preorders for the Slate truck are going live today, with production scheduled to begin in autumn 2026. Customers can pay a $300 non-refundable deposit within the next 30 days to lock in a delivery date, which is expected to start in “late 2026.” On its website, Slate says customers can still preorder after the 30 day window, “but your delivery window will shift to a later time slot.”
$24,950 for a minimalist vehicle that doesn’t feel stripped down is a compelling price, as explained by Rani Molla who just returned from a first test drive of the new Slate:
The average new vehicle sold for $49,220 in May, according to data from Cox Automotive — a price that’s been heading ever upward. Small and midsize pickups averaged $43,044, while new EVs averaged $54,532. Slate’s truck is even cheaper than the average used vehicle, which goes for $26,918. Its closest pickup competitor, the Ford Maverick, starts at around $30,000, while the Chevrolet Bolt EV begins at roughly $29,000.
Slate says it’s taken roughly 180,000 reservations to date, which suggests the company might be onto something with its approach.