Slate Unveils $24,950 Electric Pickup with Basic Features and Strong Early Orders

Slate introduced an electric pickup truck with a starting price of $24,950. Business Insider reported that the vehicle measures 14.6 feet in length, one foot shorter than a 1990s Ford Ranger and three feet shorter than the 2026 model. The base version includes manual crank windows, two doors, two seats, no infotainment screen, and no speakers.

Slate decided to add air conditioning to the production model after internal debate. Buyers can purchase add-ons such as SUV conversion kits, second-row seats, and $50 door-mounted armrests through an accessories catalog. The average transaction price for a new vehicle reached $50,900 this spring, up 3.3 percent since December, according to CarGurus data cited by Business Insider.

More vehicles priced above $50,000 sit on dealer lots than those below $35,000. The $122,000 Cadillac Escalade and $84,000 Toyota Sequoia each sell in an average of 30 days, half the industry norm of 60 days. JD Power and GlobalData forecast more than 1.3 million new vehicle sales in June, a 3.6 percent increase from the same month last year.

Business Insider reported that more than 10,000 people placed nonrefundable $300 preorders for the Slate truck in the first four hours after the website opened. Slate told CNBC that every truck sold will be profitable from the start. Several larger automakers previously targeted lower-priced electric vehicles but later raised prices or withdrew models.

Volvo discontinued the EX30 in March after lifting its base price above the original $35,000 target. Chevrolet offered a limited return of the sub-$30,000 Bolt, while Nissan dropped a planned lower-cost Leaf trim after launch. Ford is developing a lower-cost EV platform that could reach Slate's price range.