Slightly bad news for the EV startup backed by Jeff Bezos and anybody who wanted to order the startup’s Slate Truck for under $20,000.
The problem is that the Slate truck was marketed as being under $20,000 for a very specific reason.
And that reason no longer exists.
But there’s some good news, too.
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The reason why the Slate Truck is now more expensive
The Slate truck, an innovative electric pick-up truck produced by an EV startup backed by Jeff Bezos, was introduced as an ‘under $20,000 truck’.
This was on the assumption that buyers could benefit from the $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
The problem for buyers is that the Trump administration’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ is set to eliminate federal EV tax credits, forcing Slate to adjust the price to around $27,000 rather than $20,000.
The EV tax credit will still be in effect until September 30, 2025, but the Slate truck is not slated for production until 2026.
So, barring any last-minute miracle, no one will actually be able to buy one for less than $20,000.
That’s bad news for the tens of thousands of people who already ordered one.
The silver lining
Having to fork out an extra $7,000 is not ideal, but it still won’t change the fact that the Slate Truck is still a good buy.
Even at $27,000, the Slate truck is still cheaper than nearly any other truck available in the US, with only a few exceptions.
The extra cash required also doesn’t change the truck’s main selling point: its modularity.
The idea that you can buy a truck with everything you need but nothing you don’t is refreshing, as car buyers are used to being charged for options they wouldn’t necessarily opt for if left to their devices.
In a way, the Slate truck is the automotive equivalent of a no-frills, low-cost carrier fare.
You know what you’re buying (and what you’re not buying), and that’s fine.
And a lot of people seem to appreciate the idea of buying an inexpensive, nicely designed electric truck that takes them from A to B, and that’s it.
Even if it doesn’t come with power windows.
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