2027 Slate Truck

The Slate Truck arrives as a clean sheet of paper. Slate has appeared as a brand-new automaker, and this truck aims to arrive for around $20,000 after incentives.

A new truck at an affordable price point makes for really exciting news. It’s also something shoppers have wanted for a long time. The fact that you can choose to make it a 5-passenger compact SUV makes it even more exciting. This fully electric vehicle will be built on a platform designed for multiple configurations, and more than 100 accessories will be available, so this truck is – you guessed it – a blank slate.

The goal with the Slate Truck is affordability. Pricing will reportedly start at $27,500. Assuming the $7,500 federal EV tax credit remains available, the Slate Truck would qualify for it under the given regulations. The company hasn’t announced prices for the accessories and the flat-pack SUV kit, but the more you add, the more the Slate Truck will cost.

There will be a nationwide service network, but no Slate dealer network. You order the truck on Slate’s website. The company does direct-to-consumer sales, and you can pick up the pickup near your home. Slate will be made in the U.S., and production is set to begin in late 2026.

Its announced starting price is a few thousand dollars less than the Ford Maverick, currently the most affordable truck.

The Slate Truck comes from the factory in one configuration, with crank windows, as well as knob controls on the center stack. That level of retro would suggest a 4-speed manual, a cassette player, and a pine tree air freshener on the rearview mirror. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Instead of fretting about the cost of an optional in-house nav system or having to adapt to a new interface, this is a BYON (bring your own nav). The Slate Truck has a universal phone mount and a USB charger. So whatever you have — iPhone, Android, etc. — serves as the interface you already know and use every day. You can even use a tablet. The cabin is clean and simple, but simultaneously looks modern and like a terrific throwback. You can choose seat color, retro stripes, and accents on the climate control knobs. Do you want to bring your own speaker? You can do that, or get speakers from Slate.

As trucks continue to get bigger, that creates space in the market for true compact trucks. The Slate Truck is a throwback in many ways – it’s a 2-seat, regular-cab truck that’s a smidge bigger than the 1985 Toyota SR5 Pickup and smaller than the Ford Maverick.

Not only is this a true compact truck like back in the day, but it can also be made into a small 5-passenger SUV with an accessory kit. You can even choose between a fastback or a boxy SUV. The information Slate provided said that a DIY’er could do this conversion. There is also a choice of exterior wraps.

The Truck comes with 17-inch steel wheels and, as it is an EV, a frunk. Slate offers a number of wheel options, including bronze, silver, black, and anthracite, in either 17-inch or 20-inch sizes. All-terrain tires, all-season-type “modern tires,” and low-profile tires are available.

Wide-Ranging Modification Choices
The Slate Truck has more than 100 attachment points. The biggest option is upgrading the truck to an SUV, but you can also choose a wrap, wheels and tires, interior colors and fitments, tech, and more.

Potentially Low Price
The idea of a “have it your way” truck that starts at less than $30,000 is something to celebrate. That there are fewer electronics on board, plus an EV powertrain, makes maintenance potentially less expensive as well.

Up to 240 Miles of Range
That’s plenty for the needs of most drivers, but it does require an upgrade to a larger battery pack.

Fast Charging
The truck may be bare-bones, but it has a North American Charging Standard (NACS) port and is set up to charge to 80% at 120 kW in 30 minutes.

Solid Payload Capacity
Its 1,433-pound payload capacity is comparable to that of some 1/2-ton trucks.

Vibrant Colors
Black, white, silver, and gray dominate the highways these days. It’s nice to see Slate offer bright colors and fun graphics.

This rear-wheel-drive pickup is powered by a single-motor EV system that offers 150 miles of range, or 240 with an available 84.3 kWh pack. That option doesn’t make the truck all-wheel drive; it’s still a single-motor system. The Slate Truck uses an NACS port and can be fast-charged to 80% in about 30 minutes. This pickup has 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, and the base weight is 3,602 pounds.

Towing and Payload

In addition to being able to store smaller items up front, the 5-foot cargo bed has a 1,400-pound payload capacity. Towing capacity is 1,000 pounds.

Safety

Slate expects the Truck to get top safety ratings. The Truck will come with Active Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning, as well as up to eight airbags.