Slate Auto’s $30K EV Pickup: Inside the 2025 Factory
▼ Summary
– Slate Auto provided travel and accommodation for Ars to visit its factory, though Ars does not accept paid editorial content.
– The Blank Slate pickup is an affordable, minimalist EV without modern features like infotainment screens or lane-keeping assistance.
– The vehicle is modular and unpainted, allowing post-production customization into various configurations.
– Slate Auto plans to start production in Q4 2026 at a repurposed former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana, using only 600 parts and no paint shop.
– The company is considering factory pickup for customers and estimates the vehicle’s price in the mid-$20,000s, likely around $27,500.
Slate Auto’s upcoming electric pickup is poised to shake up the market with a refreshingly simple and affordable approach. Designed for those who want electric propulsion without the complexity and high cost of modern vehicles, the Slate pickup strips away features like infotainment screens, driver-assistance systems, and connectivity modules. Instead, it offers a modular, unpainted design that owners can customize after purchase. With a starting price expected in the mid-$20,000 range, this no-frills EV aims to make electric trucks accessible to a broader audience.
The company recently hosted an open house at its new manufacturing facility in Warsaw, Indiana, a site with a rich industrial history. For years, the sprawling complex operated as a printing plant for RR Donnelley & Sons, producing iconic catalogs for retailers like JCPenney, Sears, and Radio Shack. The rise of the internet eventually led to the plant’s closure in 2023, but Slate Auto is breathing new life into the space.
During the event, one of the former print rooms served as a gathering place for local officials, journalists, and community members. Slate envisions this area eventually functioning as a customer center and possibly even a delivery location. The company is considering allowing buyers to pick up their vehicles directly from the factory, though it’s still unclear whether that would come with a reduction in delivery fees.
Slate Auto CEO Chris Barman addressed the crowd, outlining the company’s ambitious timeline. Production is slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the facility’s 1.4 million square feet providing ample room for assembly. Barman emphasized that the Slate pickup will be built using only around 600 parts, a fraction of the components found in conventional trucks, which can require up to 6,000 individual pieces. This streamlined approach eliminates the need for paint shops and large stamping operations, making the relatively compact facility ideally suited to Slate’s efficient manufacturing model.
(Source: Ars Technica)