Extremely Bare-Bones $20,000 Electric Pickup Truck Doesn't Even Have a Radio

A Michigan-based startup called Slate Auto has shown off an extremely affordable, all-electric pickup truck. By far the most eye-catching figure related to the sleek two-seater Slate Truck is its cost: just $20,000 — before federal EV incentives. But you get what you pay for. The truck is as bare-bones as it gets, lacking even a radio, speaker system, or touchscreen. Its body panels are molded plastic, its range is a middling 150 miles, its wheels are basic steelies, and the seats are uninspired fabric. However, the company is betting big on customizability, selling a range of more than 100 accessory items that could turn the vehicle into far more flexible vehicle, like a four-seater SUV with a functioning sound system. If it sounds a bit like a functional off-brand you'd buy on Amazon, you might be onto something; the e-retail giant's founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly backing the company. All told, it's an intriguing offering that subverts the prevailing EV formula of lavish specs ... Read full article.