Meet Slate Auto: The Custom Truck for Every Driver

BY MUFARO MHARIWA
May 14
4 min read

Imagine if you could customise your car to look like absolutely nothing else on the road. Sure, today’s vehicles let you pick a daring paint job, upgrade to sportier seats or splash out on flashy rims, but what if the possibilities went way beyond that?

Introducing Slate Auto, a new electric vehicle startup rewriting the EV playbook with its debut model: a fully customisable electric pickup starting at just $25,000 (around R462,000). Backed by Jeff Bezos, Slate’s approach is refreshingly simple: build an affordable, modular truck that you can make completely your own.

What Makes the Slate Truck Unique

At first glance, the Slate truck is as bare-bones as they come, and that’s entirely the point. In its most basic form, you get a rear-wheel drive electric pickup with manual everything: seats, window sliders, knobs, and buttons. There’s no central screen, no embedded software, and no forced connectivity. It’s a clean slate, literally.

But that simplicity is what makes the customisation possibilities so exciting. Rather than locking buyers into rigid trim levels, Slate offers a modular system that lets you build up the truck to match your lifestyle. Want music and navigation? Add a stereo system or a digital display. Prefer convenience? Install automatic windows. Want to show off a bit of flair? Choose from a library of quirky “Slatelets”: decorative decals that add personality without permanent commitment.

Beyond gadgets, the body of the truck itself can transform. While it starts out as a traditional pickup, you can swap in an SUV kit or a sleeker fastback SUV variant. The frame is designed to support these add-ons without compromising structural integrity, so one truck can take on multiple forms over time, ideal for drivers whose needs evolve.

And when it comes to aesthetics, Slate skips paint entirely. Every vehicle arrives in a neutral finish, ready to be wrapped in the colour or design of your choice. It’s a nod to personal expression, but also practicality; wraps are easier to change, repair, and recycle than traditional automotive paint jobs.

This layered approach to customisation means Slate isn’t just building a truck, it’s building a platform. Whether you want something rugged, refined, quirky, or minimal, the Slate truck can shift into that vision without needing a new model or trip to the dealer.

Pricing

In a market where electric pickups often come with luxury price tags, Slate’s sub-$27,500 starting price feels almost radical. With federal tax incentives in the US, some buyers could pay as little as $20,000, putting it within reach for those who’ve long been priced out of the EV space.

But it’s worth noting: that’s just the base. The beauty of Slate’s modular design is how deeply customisable it is, and naturally, every added accessory changes the final cost. Want the SUV kit? That’s extra. Fancy a metal grille guard, all-terrain wheels, or an open-air utility bed? You can have it; for a price. The flexibility is a major selling point, but just like building your own PC or custom bike, those personal touches can add up.

Still, what Slate offers is rare: an EV that’s not trying to be smarter than you or fancier than your neighbour’s. It’s built with working-class drivers in mind: contractors, adventurers, anyone who wants a reliable tool first and a digital assistant second. And crucially, it allows you to decide where to spend, what to skip, and how your truck should look and function.

Power, Charging, Range & Weight

While Slate Auto’s pickup may lean into simplicity, it’s still an EV at heart, and the numbers matter. The truck comes with two battery configurations: a 52.7 kWh pack for short commutes and local errands, and a larger 84.3 kWh option for those who need more flexibility and range. The smaller pack offers an estimated 241 km, while the bigger one stretches to around 386 km; both solid figures for a lightweight utility-focused vehicle.

Charging is designed to be practical and user-friendly. Every Slate truck comes with a dual-mode cable that supports both Level 1 and Level 2 charging. On a standard wall socket, you’re looking at around 32–80 km added overnight. With a 240V outlet, charging times drop considerably: a full recharge in as little as 4 hours for the smaller battery. For those who need quicker turnarounds, DC fast-charging is supported up to 120 kW, delivering 20–80% charge in roughly 30 minutes.

Under the skin, the truck sticks to a rear-wheel drive powertrain and skips dual motors or all-wheel drive entirely. This keeps the design lean and cost-effective, perfect for city dwellers and light-duty users. The top speed is capped at 129 km/h, a nod to its urban utility focus rather than high-speed ambition.

As for weight, Slate hasn’t published a final figure yet, but its modular construction and use of simple materials suggest a vehicle significantly lighter than traditional EV trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning or Rivian R1T. Towing isn’t its strong suit, this isn’t the truck for hauling trailers across provinces; but for tools, gear, deliveries or a weekend adventure setup, it’s more than capable.

The Bigger Picture

Slate Auto isn’t just building a truck, it’s poking at the very idea of what a modern EV should be. Where most electric vehicles lean into screens, software, and self-driving gimmicks, Slate pulls things back to basics: no touchscreen, no app, no subscription-based features.

But this isn’t just for the minimalist driver who misses the feel of old-school cars. Slate’s approach speaks just as clearly to a broader audience; people who do like what cars have become, but want the freedom to shape that experience for themselves. With over 100 available accessories, different wheels, body styles, SUV kits, bars and wraps, this EV lets you build a truck that looks and functions exactly how you want it to.

It’s this blend of customisation and restraint that gives Slate a wider appeal. On one hand, it satisfies nostalgia for simplicity; on the other, it leans into the modern appetite for personalisation without overwhelming the driver with tech.

Its modular platform also nudges the industry towards something more sustainable: a vehicle you can change over time instead of replacing entirely. Need a camper this year and a flatbed next? Slate’s ecosystem makes that possible, meaning one truck could serve multiple roles across its lifetime.

As EV brands fight to outdo each other with bigger screens and pricier trims, Slate’s approach feels refreshingly grounded. It’s not just a new truck; it’s a quiet call for automakers to rethink who they’re designing for, and what those drivers actually need.