Slate Auto is trying to succeed where Ford Motor struggled: convincing pickup drivers to move from gasoline-powered trucks to an electric alternative.
The company opened $300 preorders Wednesday for its entry-level electric pickup, priced at $24,950 — less than half the roughly $57,000 average cost of a new electric vehicle and significantly under the $49,000 average price for a new car.
Slate expects to begin delivering the truck in late 2026.
Electric vehicles have faced a difficult stretch in recent years, as demand softened after an EV tax subsidy ended in 2025 and more shoppers turned to lower-cost gas-powered models.
In December, Ford ended production of the electric version of its bestselling F-150 pickup, with CEO Jim Farley saying continued investment in an unprofitable product no longer made sense.
Slate, which also produces an electric SUV, is wagering that a sharply lower sticker price can help bring hesitant buyers into the EV market.
“A Slate Truck is $24,950. Because America asked for an affordable new truck,” the company posted Wednesday on social media.
Slate
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Even so, the Slate Truck may encounter significant challenges. Its estimated 205-mile range is modest for an EV and could give pause to buyers comparing it with longer-range electric models. Its 1,000-pound towing capacity is also well below what many competing pickups can handle.
The Slate Truck “is a real test of how much affordability still matters to today’s buyers,” said Ivan Drury, Edmunds’ director of insights, in an email. “The base pricing is the headline, but the entry-level price point is paired with an unconventional build and a powertrain that is proven harder to sell today.”
Drury added, “The real question is whether the enticing price alone can overcome that.”
Alain Sherter
