American EV startup Slate Auto has finally revealed pricing for its bare-bones electric truck. The base model’s estimated range was boosted from 150 miles to around 205 miles, making the price look ever better against the new-car market, where almost nothing starts under $30,000. The price excludes taxes, title, registration, destination, and documentation fees, so the out-the-door number will be higher. Even with those fees added, it sits at roughly half the average price of a new car, which now hovers around $50,000. Backed by Jeff Bezos (Amazon) and Eric Schmidt (Google), Slate Auto says that affordable price is possible because of its pared-down, basic model that can then be customized — and even transformed from a truck into an SUV. Everything about the truck is stripped down. It has hand-crank windows, no infotainment screen, and a single gray composite body finish with no paint options. Slate plans to sell customizable wraps instead, which conveniently sidesteps the cost of a factory paint shop, one of the most expensive parts of building cars. First deliveries are expected by the end of the year.
