On April 24, 2025, Slate Auto, a Michigan-based electric vehicle startup, unveiled its game-changing Blank Slate pickup truck in Long Beach, California, promising to shatter the price barrier for EVs with a base cost of $20,000. Backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, this radically simple, customizable electric truck targets everyday drivers and fleet operators, offering a 150-mile range and an unpainted, modular design that transforms into an SUV. Slate Auto’s official reveal marks a bold challenge to an industry where the average EV costs $61,702, igniting hope for accessible electric mobility.

Slate Auto’s $20,000 Blank Slate Ev Pickup Redefines Affordable Electric Freedom

A Canvas for the Everyman

The Blank Slate is no ordinary pickup. Designed as a “vehicle in its essential form,” it strips away complexity with manual crank windows, no central touchscreen, and a single gray color. Buyers can personalize it with over 100 accessories, including wraps and an SUV conversion kit, making it a 1,400-pound payload truck or a five-seat family hauler. “It’s a Slate. A radically simple electric pickup truck that can change into whatever you need it to be – even an SUV,” Slate’s website declares. With a 52.7 kWh battery for 150 miles or an optional 84.3 kWh pack for 240 miles, it’s built for local commutes, not cross-country treks. Its 201-horsepower motor and 1,000-pound towing capacity prioritize affordability over heavy-duty tasks.

Rewriting EV Economics

Slate’s sub-$30,000 price—potentially $20,000 with a $7,500 federal tax credit—targets a market desperate for budget-friendly EVs. Unlike Tesla’s delayed affordable model or Rivian’s $69,900 R1T, the Blank Slate undercuts the cheapest EVs like the $28,000 Nissan Leaf. By skipping a paint shop and embracing a scalable “skateboard” platform, Slate slashes production costs. CEO Christine Barman, a Chrysler veteran, told TechCrunch, “We’re focused on making that easy, not expensive.” The strategy hinges on high-margin accessories, mirroring Harley-Davidson’s apparel success, with wraps and add-ons sold directly or via distributors.

Navigating a Charged Landscape

The Blank Slate arrives amid a U.S. EV market slowdown, with affordability and range anxiety curbing adoption. The Trump administration’s push to cut EV subsidies threatens the tax credit Slate’s pricing leans on. Yet, Slate’s guerrilla marketing—parking wrapped prototypes in Venice with fake ads like a “cat therapist” campaign—has sparked buzz on X, where users call it a “game-changer.” Production is slated for late 2026 at a new Indiana facility, backed by $111 million from Bezos and others. However, EV startups like Fisker have faltered, and Slate’s modest towing and range may deter traditional truck buyers.

Specs:

Price: $27,500 base, ~$20,000 with $7,500 tax credit (statute
Range: 150 miles (base), 240 miles (optional battery)
Battery: 52.7 kWh (base), 84.3 kWh (optional)
Motor: 150 kW (201 hp), rear-wheel drive
Payload: 1,400 pounds
Towing: 1,000 pounds
Charging: 120 kW DC fast charging, NACS port
Bed: 5 feet, 37 cubic feet (34 cubic feet as SUV)
Frunk: 7 cubic feet

EVXL’s Take

Slate Auto’s Blank Slate is a middle finger to bloated EV pricing, delivering a truck that’s as much a lifestyle statement as a vehicle. It’s not for gearheads craving Tesla’s tech or Ford’s towing might—it’s for the barista, the small-business owner, the dreamer who wants electric freedom without a six-figure loan. The customization angle feels like a love letter to Gen Z’s DIY ethos, but Slate’s success rides on nailing production and surviving policy headwinds. If they pull it off, this could be the Model T of EVs—simple, scrappy, and unmistakably American.