Toronto, Ontario — Electric vehicle company Slate Auto, which is backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has unveiled a new truck it expects to be the least expensive EV available in North America.
An electric vehicle startup backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos says it will sell a truck for US$27,000. Based in Troy, Michigan, Slate Auto was founded in 2022.
The low-cost model, which has a two-seat configuration, aims to cut costs by eschewing modern conveniences like electric windows, a built-in infotainment system. It will also only be available in a gray colour.
The company says it can also be converted into a five-seat SUV or hatchback. It will be equipped with a 52.7-kWh battery providing a 240 km range, with an optional 84.3-kWh battery extending the range to 384 km. The vehicle supports home charging via a standard household outlet.
Despite the cost-cutting approach taken by the auto startup, the company plans to build the vehicle in the U.S. In manufacturing the new truck, Slate Auto expects to employ 2,000 people at a repurposed printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana.
