Jeff Bezos-Backed Slate Auto To Take On Elon Musk's Tesla, Rivian With Budget EV Pickup: Report

Slate Auto has set a target of developing a “cheap” $25,000 single-cab EV truck, and plans to enter the production phase by late 2026.

Also Read: Elon Musk’s Political Fallout Fuels Record Dump of Used Tesla Cars — Now Selling For Thousands Below Market Value

As news of the Bezos-backed startup hit the wires, a post on social media platform Reddit in the r/whatisthiscar subreddit surfaced, which showcased what looked like a small EV truck in dark grey being transported on a flatbed truck. The truck features round headlights, upright B-pillars, and steel wheels.

It was later confirmed that the truck was Slate Auto's concept car. According to the report, the company is looking to manufacture its vehicles in a plant in Indianapolis, Indiana. The design of Slate Auto's concept car is somewhat reminiscent of the old-school Ford Ranger.

Goldman Sachs analyst Mark Delaney forecasts a difficult period for the auto sector in the U.S. due to the tariffs. Delaney pointed out that Rivian may face risks from reduced U.S. EV policy support.

EV trucks in the U.S. from the likes of Tesla, GM, Ford, and Rivian currently retail in the approximate price range of $47,000 – $105,000. However, a cheap EV truck would certainly broaden the sector's appeal and could potentially disrupt the segment as well.

EV companies are looking to release cheaper variants of their EV trucks in a bid to broaden the product’s appeal, with Tesla most recently releasing an RWD, long-range variant of its Cybertruck.

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