The upcoming Slate Truck looks poised to disrupt the way we buy electric vehicles (EVs). CarGurus has had access to the start-up and its truck since before the automaker officially announced its presence, getting the chance to interact with early prototypes all the way to the current, pre-production models. Each time, our hands-on access has revealed one fact above many: Slate is not satisfied only producing a cost-effective vehicle; its goal is to disrupt the marketplace by offering affordability, reliability, and customizability.
Slate initially announced the truck with a starting price below $20,000 after federal EV incentives, however, with the termination of those incentives under the Trump Administration, the goal became a price in "the mid twenties."
And we now have a price. Every Slate Truck will leave the assembly line at the company's Warsaw, Indiana factory as a "Blank Slate." Priced at $24,950, the Blank Slate formula allows the company to keep costs low while providing a canvas for shopper personalization.
To hit its price target, the 2027 Slate Truck trades from-the-factory options like touchscreens and paint (seriously) for a bare-bones interior and color-injected body panels. Production is tentatively slated to begin in 2026 with sales of the 2027 Slate Truck expected to begin in the fourth quarter of the same year.
2027 Slate Truck Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
What's New for the 2027 Slate Truck
In short, everything. The 2027 Slate Truck isn't just a new vehicle, it's a new brand and a new way of buying cars. A two-door, two-seat, pickup truck, it operates with a single electric motor and offers 205 miles of range courtesy of a 65-kWh battery pack.
The 2027 Slate Truck is priced at $24,950. The Squareback SUV kit costs an additional $5,000 and includes rear seats, airbags, a roll cage, and the SUV top.
Most interestingly, the Slate Truck can be transformed from a simple pickup to a simple SUV thanks to two available conversion kits and a bolt-in rear bench seat.
But changing into an SUV isn't the Truck's only trick. The Jeff Bezos-backed company calls its base configuration the "Blank Slate." Built with modularity and customization in mind, the Truck can be personalized to every individual shopper. At launch, the company plans to offer more than 200 accessories between third-party partners and their own "Slate Made" line. Of those, more than 160 will be priced under $500.
Design
Steel wheels, two doors, and a 60-inch bed: Slate's little truck is the closest thing America will have to a Japanese Kei Truck. It stretches less than 15 feet from tip to tail and is only as wide as a Toyota Corolla. Without a doubt, this is the most stripped-down, barebones consumer vehicle to be built and sold in the United States in decades.
The Truck's body panels are not made of metal. Instead, they are a dent-resistant composite injected with the Slate Gray color. If you want a Truck in a different color, the company will sell you wraps in any hue, which can be installed by a pro but are said to be easy enough to apply that it can be a DIY job, too. Key to the wraps' easy installation is the truck's grid of coachlines crisscrossing the body. These lines allow the wraps to be placed in pieces, rather than all in one, intimidating sheet.
In addition to the wraps, Slate will offer decals, roof racks, headlight and grille insert replacements, wheel covers and wheel decals (like a toy Hot Wheels car–seriously!). Most vehicles boast consistent design language across their various trim levels that can be summarized and described in a few paragraphs. With the Slate Truck and its astonishing degree of customization, it would take pages.
Powertrain
The Slate Truck delivers 181 horsepower from its 135-kW motor. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard, with no all-wheel-drive (AWD) option offered. Towing capacity comes in at 2,000 pounds, or double the company's earlier estimate. Likewise, the Slate Truck offers 1,550 pounds of payload (up from 1,433 pounds in earlier communications). Despite its compact footprint, the Slate Truck is shaping up to be a capable pickup.
Although the initial product plan called for two battery options (a base version with 150 miles of range and an upsized option offering 240 miles), the company shifted to a simplified single-battery plan that splits the difference between the two previously planned options.
Charging will be quick, thanks in part to the small standard battery. The 65-kWh battery should fill from 20 to 100% on a Level 1 AC wall outlet in 17 hours. Upgrading to a Level 2 AC charger will drop the time to four hours, and a Level 3 DC fast charger will fill up the Slate's standard battery from 20 to 80% in 30 minutes.
Slate is partnering with RepairPal and its 3,000+ shops to provide service, and it is delivering the Slate Truck with an impressive ten-year, 110,000-mile battery and powertrain warranty.
Slate Truck vs. Ford Maverick
| Spec |
2027 Slate Truck |
2026 Ford Maverick XL (2.0L EcoBoost) |
| Starting price |
$24,950 (destination not yet announced) |
~$27,145 (not incl. destination) |
| Powertrain |
Electric (single motor, RWD) |
2.0L EcoBoost, FWD or AWD |
| Horsepower |
181 hp (135 kW) |
238 hp |
| Range / fuel economy |
205 miles (est.) |
26 mpg combined |
| 0–60 mph |
~8.0 sec. |
~7.7 sec. |
| Towing capacity |
2,000 lb. |
2,000 lb. (4,000 lb. w/ AWD and tow pkg.) |
| Payload |
1,550 lb. |
1,500 lb. |
| Seating |
2 (SUV kit adds 4) |
5 |
| Length |
174.6 in. |
199.8 in. |
| Bed length |
60.5 in. (80.7 in. w/ tailgate) |
54.4 in. |
| Warranty |
Comprehensive warranty TBA; 10 yr / 110,000 mi battery + powertrain |
3 yr / 36k comprehensive; 5 yr / 60k powertrain |
Interior
At least in Blank Slate specification, the Truck's interior is nearly as spartan as its exterior. You'll find manual-wind windows, dead-simple climate control knobs, but no touchscreen. Instead, Slate includes a smartphone mount that connects with the car's electrical system, allowing you to play music through the speakers–that is, if you purchase the optional integrated speakers. As a Blank Slate, it doesn't come with any.
The dashboard and door panels can be swapped out for inserts available in an array of colors and materials, and you can add seat covers for new upholstery, floor mats, a center console, and numerous other accessories. You can even change the color of the key fob.
Technology
Tech is minimal. As noted, the Slate Truck doesn't even come standard with speakers, nor does it have an online-connected modem; over-the-air updates will be downloaded to the owner's phone and pushed to the vehicle via USB.
The dashboard panel is hollow and can be opened to access storage or to easily add integrated speakers at the time of–or after–purchase. A tablet mount is also available, and Slate sells a "bring your own" mount for a Bluetooth speaker. Finally, steering wheel Bluetooth controls are also available.
Safety
The Slate Truck comes with up to eight airbags and offers a couple of advanced driver-assistance features: Active Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning. Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has yet crash-tested the Slate Truck, but we will update this section once scores become available.
Pricing and Release Date
The Slate Truck costs $24,950, but the company has not yet announced the truck's mandatory destination fee. The Squareback SUV kit adds $5,000 to that price ($29,950), and the Fastback SUV kit costs $7,000 ($31,950). Both SUV kits include an SUV top, roll cage, airbags, and rear seats. Beyond the shape-shifting SUV conversions, there will be a wide range of accessories, wheels (17- and 20-inch options, both priced at $1,399.99 for four), off-road tires from Kenda ($1,099.99), a two-inch lift kit (price TBD), and a three-piece, 400-watt stereo system ($400).
The $7,500 federal EV tax credit no longer applies to the Slate Truck. The credit was eliminated under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effective September 30, 2025. State-level incentives may still be available depending on your location.
Colors and interior further expand the personalization options. Slate is launching with 50 core color wraps, which each start at $499.99 and can be installed either at home as a DIY project or pre-delivery for an additional fee. There are 50 additional colors priced above the core line, or shoppers can submit their own custom wrap design for production. Inside, the dash covers, door cards, and center console lid can all be swapped for different colors or materials. Even the seats can be customized via specially designed zip-off covers; for $500, shoppers can swap out the Blank Slate's plain cloth seats for brown leather ones with gray fabric inserts.
Deliveries will begin in Q4 of 2026, with the majority of trucks shipping in 2027. Slate has received more than 180,000 early reservations (available with a $50 fee), and the order book is now open via a $300 deposit. Early reservation holders can submit the $250 difference and lock in their early place in line.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2027 Slate Truck
How much does the 2027 Slate Truck cost?
The 2027 Slate Truck starts at $24,950, making it the most affordable new truck currently available in the United States. Slate sells direct-to-consumer, and there is no dealer network. The Squareback SUV conversion kit costs an additional $5,000.
Does the Slate Truck qualify for a federal EV tax credit?
No. The $7,500 federal EV tax credit was eliminated under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effective September 30, 2025. The Slate Truck does not currently qualify for any federal incentive, though state-level credits may still be available depending on your location.
How far can the 2027 Slate Truck go on a single charge?
The 2027 Slate Truck has an estimated range of 205 miles on a full charge (standard 65 kWh / 63 kWh usable pack). Range will vary based on driving habits, temperature, and accessory load.
How long does it take to charge the Slate Truck?
Charging times vary by method: Level 1 (standard outlet) takes approximately 17 hours for a 20–80% charge. Level 2 (home charger) takes about 4 hours for a full 20–100% charge. Level 3 DC fast charging (120 kW) can reach 20–80% in approximately 30 minutes. The Slate Truck uses a NACS charging port compatible with Tesla Superchargers.
Can the Slate Truck convert to an SUV?
Yes. Slate offers two SUV conversion kits, the Squareback and the Fastback, which can be ordered from the factory or installed after purchase. The Squareback kit starts at $5,000, and both kits add rear seats, airbags, a roll cage, and the SUV top.
How much can the Slate Truck tow?
The 2027 Slate Truck has a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds and a payload rating of 1,550 pounds These figures are competitive with the Ford Maverick's base tow rating and sufficient for light-duty hauling, such as jet skis or a small trailer.
When does the Slate Truck go on sale?
Slate expects first deliveries in Q4 2026, with production taking place at the company's factory in Warsaw, Indiana. As of June 2026, more than 180,000 customers have submitted reservations. New preorders can be placed at slate.auto for a $300 refundable deposit.
Who is behind the Slate Truck?
Slate Auto was founded in 2022 by Jeff Wilkes, Miles Arnone, and Will Barker. The company has raised over $1.3 billion in financing. Among its backers are Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, General Catalyst, and TWG. The company's CEO is Peter Faricy. Slate is headquartered in Troy, Michigan and will assemble vehicles at a factory in Warsaw, Indiana.
How customizable is the Slate Truck?
Highly customizable. At launch, Slate offers over 200 accessories through the Slate Marketplace, with more than 160 priced under $500. Exterior color is handled through vinyl wraps (over 100 wrap colors are available at launch), and full vehicle wraps start under $500, with pre-delivery installation available for an additional fee. The Squareback and Fastback SUV kits allow the truck to be converted into a 4-passenger compact SUV.
Further Research on the 2027 Slate Truck and its Competitors
