Slates $20K made-in-America electric truck is the opposite of a Cybertruck

New automaker Slate has revealed the Slate Truck, a $28,000 customizable electric truck coming in late 2026.

Apr 25, 2025 - 16:00

Slates $20K made-in-America electric truck is the opposite of a Cybertruck

slate electric truck and suv inside industrial building

New U.S. automaker Slate has introduced a customizable electric truck that could cost as little as $20,000 after applying the federal electric vehicle tax credit. The stripped-down two-seater has manual roll-down windows, no screens, and a 150-mile range.

“The definition of what’s affordable is broken,” Slate CEO Chris Barman said in a press release. “Slate exists to put the power back in the hands of customers who have been ignored by the auto industry. Slate is a radical truck platform so customizable that it can transform from a 2-seat pickup to a 5-seat SUV.”

slate electric truck in industrial building

The truck has distinctly European proportions. Credit: Slate

the interior of the slate electric truck

Instead of a screen, the truck comes with a universal device holder. Credit: Slate

Slate is leaning heavily on the EV's customization options. Not only does a "flat-pack accessory SUV Kit [turn] the truck into a 5-seat SUV," but customers can choose from "Three levels of vehicle wrapping," interior accents, and over 100 accessories. Instead of high-tech bells and whistles, the Slate EV will feature crank windows and old-fashioned knobs on the dashboard.

gif showing customization options for the Slate electric truck

Some of the different personalization options for the front grille. Credit: Slate

four images of the Slate electric truck with different colors of vehicle wraps

Customers will be able to choose a variety of wraps to customize the electric truck. Credit: Slate

Despite the distinctly European size of the petite EV, it's a Made-in-America vehicle. The design also reminds us of Toyota's compact pickup trucks, including the bare-bones $10,000 truck that's gotten so much attention online. (It's also giving old-school Land Rover vibes.)

In so many ways, the Scout electric truck is the opposite of the Tesla Cybertruck, with its America-sized proportions, distinctly sci-fi aesthetic, and emphasis on the latest technology. Amid Elon Musk's hard-right turn into politics, many Tesla drivers are reportedly ditching Tesla, and record numbers of Teslas are now on the resale market. Tesla reportedly had to stop accepting trade-ins for the Cybertruck altogether.

Plus, now that Tesla has once again delayed production on its long-rumored affordable Model Y EV, there could be a gap in the market. So, for customers interested in a more-affordable electric vehicle, the Scout EV could be an attractive option. The first models could ship as soon as late 2026, according to Car and Driver, which puts the full price for the truck at $27,500.

According to the press release, the Scout EV will have a 1,400-pound payload. Some key specifications include:

Motor: Single motor, RWD
Top speed: 90 miles per hour
Miles per gallon: 96 mpg
Range: 150-240 miles
Battery pack: 52.7-kWh battery pack, 150 kW
Fast charging: Fast-charge to 80% at 120-kW in under 30 minutes
Size: 174.6 inches length, 108.9 inches wheelbase, 70.6 inches width, 69.3 inches height
Interior volume: 55 cubic feet
Weight: Curb weight 3,602 pounds
Max payload: 1,433 pounds
Max towing: 1,000 pounds

Interested customers can pay $50 to register for early access to the new truck at the Slate website.