2026 Slate truck: a transforming micro ute

The first vehicle from the long-rumored Bezos-backed car-maker Slate Auto has officially broken cover, and it’s not what you might expect.

Rather than launching with a luxury EV or a self-driving robo-taxi, the Slate truck is surprisingly humble: a low-cost, highly modular electric ute that can transform into a five-seat SUV via DIY kits.

The Slate Truck is built around a back-to-basics ethos, targeting affordability and customisation over cutting-edge excess.

Slate Auto CEO Chris Barman says the company is trying to fix what she calls a broken definition of “affordable,” claiming: “Slate exists to put the power back in the hands of customers who have been ignored by the auto industry.”

The Slate truck in its base “Blank Slate” trim will cost about US$27,000 (A$42,000) — or as little as US$19,900 (A$31,000) after the current U.S. federal EV rebate. That’s well below key rivals like the hybrid Ford Maverick (US$23,000/A$36,000) and miles under the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning (US$63,000/A$100,000).

Of course, at that price, you’re not getting luxury — you’re getting the basics. Steel wheels, crank windows, no infotainment screen, just a phone holder and charger. But if you want to upgrade, Slate offers over 100 options, including alloy wheels, speakers, fog lights, and even wraps and decals.

The most headline-grabbing add-on? A flat-pack SUV conversion kit, available in multiple styles — boxy or fastback, with options for a roof, no roof, or no doors at all. These kits can be installed at home or by professionals, converting the Truck from a two-seat pickup into a proper five-seat SUV.

Performance-wise, the Slate Truck is modest but functional - here's the vital statistics:

• Rear-wheel drive only
• Single motor: 150kW/264Nm
• Two battery options: 52.7kWh (~240km range) 84.3kWh (~390km range)
• Weight: from 1634kg
• 0–97km/h in 8.0 seconds, top speed of 145km/h

It supports AC charging up to 11kW and DC fast charging up to 120kW, which is better than some Chinese SUVs offered in Australia, like the Deepal S07.

It’s also fitted with a NACS port, giving it access to Tesla’s Supercharging network — a quiet prod at Musk’s home turf.

In terms of size, the Truck is compact by American standards, measuring 4435mm long, 1793mm wide, and 1760mm tall. It rides on a 2766mm wheelbase and compared with a single-cab Toyota Hilux (4930mm long), and Ford Maverick (5100mm) it is remarkably compact.

This should make it easy to park but it's small stature means it can't carry much, with a payload capacity of 650kg and a towing limit of just 454kg. That's probably enough for a single jetski and not much else.

The rear tray has 1048 litres of volume and measuring 1524mm long, extending to 2073mm with the tailgate down. It is 1395mm wide.

The suspension setup comprises MacPherson struts up front, and a De Dion rear axle with coil springs. A De Dion axle is a bit different to a live rear axle, in that the rear diff is separate from the axle tube and connected to the chassis.

Wheels start at 17-inch steel items wrapped in 245/65 tyres and there's plenty of customisation options - including an ability to add various tray accessories to transmogrify the vehicle into an SUV.

Slate is currently building its first manufacturing facility in Indianapolis in the USA, with first deliveries scheduled for late 2026. The company is aiming to sell 150,000 units per year, a bold number for a startup, even one with Bezos money behind it.

Reservations are open now, and US customers can secure a build slot with a US$50 deposit.

So no, this isn’t a luxury EV trying to out-Tesla Tesla. Instead, Slate is swinging at the opposite end of the market with an affordable, simple, functional vehicle with some innovative ideas to make it interesting.

Whether it comes to Australia through official channels is not yet known.

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