{"id":3489293,"date":"2026-04-12T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/12\/slate-auto-all-you-should-understand-regarding-the-bezos-supported-ev-startup\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T14:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T14:00:00","slug":"slate-auto-all-you-should-understand-regarding-the-bezos-supported-ev-startup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/12\/slate-auto-all-you-should-understand-regarding-the-bezos-supported-ev-startup\/","title":{"rendered":"Slate Auto: All you should understand regarding the Bezos-supported EV startup"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

In April 2025, a new venture named Slate Auto emerged from secrecy, making waves in the automotive sector. This startup aimed to develop an affordable, highly customizable electric pickup truck, backed by Jeff Bezos, while secretly operating for three years in Troy, Michigan\u2014the domain of significant automakers like Ford and General Motors.<\/p>\n

TechCrunch was the first to report on this revelation, sharing details in early April regarding the company’s existence, its connections with the Amazon founder, and its intriguing business model. The period between our initial report and Slate’s official unveiling in late April was filled with activity, as prototypes of the startup’s truck started appearing across California.<\/p>\n

Slate represents a deviation in the U.S. electric vehicle landscape, where failures, bankrupted companies, and product revisions have become prevalent. Although its current investors, leadership team, initial offering, and business plan present a persuasive future, the path ahead is still fraught with possible challenges as production aims for a late 2026 rollout.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here is a timeline detailing everything essential about Slate Auto, from its inception and financial backers to its product offerings, business strategy, and production goals.<\/p>\n

Inside the EV startup secretly backed by Jeff Bezos<\/h2>\n

April 8 \u2013<\/strong> Following a year-long investigation, TechCrunch published an article disclosing that a clandestine EV startup, Slate Auto, had been functioning for three years with the financial support of Jeff Bezos and LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In contrast to other electric vehicle startups, Slate focused on creating a remarkably low-cost electric pickup truck priced around $25,000. This vehicle would offer significant customization, utilizing the expertise of numerous former employees from Harley-Davidson and Chrysler, both of which have considerable accessory and aftermarket parts segments.<\/p>\n

Slate Auto\u2019s pickup truck spotted in the wild<\/h2>\n

April 10 \u2013<\/strong> The following day, an image of an unremarkable electric truck began circulating on the r\/whatisthiscar subreddit, with Reddit users speculating it could potentially be Slate\u2019s secret EV.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Techcrunch event<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSan Francisco, CA<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 13-15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

TechCrunch confirmed that the image depicted a prototype of Slate\u2019s truck parked outside the company’s design center in Long Beach, California.<\/p>\n

An EV that can change like a \u2018Transformer\u2019<\/h2>\n

April 21 \u2013<\/strong> Slate began showcasing conceptual versions of their EV on public roads to create marketing excitement prior to its anticipated launch event on April 24. Interestingly, some models seemed to resemble SUVs or hatchbacks, rather than solely pickup trucks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TechCrunch confirmed that the company designed the EV to possess \u201cTransformer-like\u201d modular features, and that this initiative served as a promotional tease of such customization.<\/p>\n

The analog EV pickup truck that is decidedly anti-Tesla<\/h2>\n

April 24 \u2013<\/strong> Slate officially introduced its customizable electric pickup truck at a launch event in Long Beach, California. During this event, it was also disclosed that the truck would be priced below $20,000 when factoring in the $7,500 federal EV tax rebate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The entry-level model of the truck was disclosed to be quite basic, featuring just 150 miles of range, no power windows, a lack of a central infotainment display, and even no paint. Slate pledged that virtually every aspect of the truck would be customizable, including the seating arrangement and overall design.<\/p>\n

A former Indiana printing plant eyed for EV truck production<\/h2>\n

April 25 \u2013<\/strong> TechCrunch reported that Slate had pinpointed a former printing facility in Warsaw, Indiana as the site for its truck manufacturing. The 1.4 million-square-foot plant was constructed in 1958 and had remained inactive for approximately two years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Slate Auto crosses 100,000 refundable reservations in two weeks<\/h2>\n

May 12 \u2013<\/strong> Slate informed TechCrunch that it had surpassed 100,000 refundable $50 reservations for its budget-friendly EV truck. This indicated that the company\u2019s concept resonated with a broad audience, despite most people being unaware of Slate just two months earlier.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Slate Auto drops \u2018under $20,000\u2019 pricing after Trump administration ends federal EV tax credit<\/h2>\n

July 3 \u2013<\/strong> The Trump administration pushed through significant tax legislation that, among other changes, established a September expiration for the $7,500 federal EV tax rebate. Consequently, Slate\u2019s truck would no longer be able to utilize that rebate to achieve the \u201cunder $20,000\u201d pricing that the startup had been promoting. Thus, Slate removed that phrasing from its website before the legislation was officially signed.<\/p>\n

Why this LA-based VC firm was an early investor in Slate Auto<\/h2>\n

July 8 \u2013<\/strong> Slate\u2019s 2023 funding round included at least 16 investors, with Bezos among them. While most of these investors remain unnamed, Los Angeles-based Slauson & Co. discussed with TechCrunch the reasons behind their early investment in the EV startup during that initial funding stage, as well as Slate\u2019s Series B.<\/p>\n

Slate Auto appears on the TechCrunch Disrupt main stage<\/h2>\n

October 30<\/strong> \u2013 Slate Auto\u2019s CEO Chris Barman participated in an interview on the main stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, addressing Jeff Bezos\u2019 involvement, the obstacles of establishing a new automaker, and how the company intends to create a marketplace for customization.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Slate passes 150,000 reservations<\/h2>\n

December 16<\/strong> \u2013 While the growth of EVs has slowed in the U.S., Slate Auto has reached 150,000 refundable reservations for its truck and SUV, demonstrating substantial interest in the vehicle in spite of the loss of the federal tax incentive. Furthermore, with fewer EVs anticipated to enter the U.S. market, it seems that the startup will face limited competition at the lower end of the segment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2026<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n

A surprise CEO swap<\/h2>\n

\u00a0March 9<\/strong> \u2013 Slate executed an unexpected move, appointing a new CEO: former Amazon Marketplace VP Peter Faricy. Chris Barman, the former CEO and Slate\u2019s first employee, will remain with the company, transitioning to a \u201cPresident of Vehicles\u201d position. Slate selected Faricy to prepare the startup for its year-end commercial launch, beginning with the conversion of the reservation list into as many completed orders as feasible.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/div>\n

In April 2025, a new venture named Slate Auto emerged from secrecy, making waves in the automotive sector. This startup aimed to develop an affordable, highly customizable electric pickup truck, backed by Jeff Bezos, while secretly operating for three years in Troy, Michigan\u2014the domain of significant automakers like Ford and General Motors.<\/p>\n

TechCrunch was the first to report on this revelation, sharing details in early April regarding the company’s existence, its connections with the Amazon founder, and its intriguing business model. The period between our initial report and Slate’s official unveiling in late April was filled with activity, as prototypes of the startup’s truck started appearing across California.<\/p>\n

Slate represents a deviation in the U.S. electric vehicle landscape, where failures, bankrupted companies, and product revisions have become prevalent. Although its current investors, leadership team, initial offering, and business plan present a persuasive future, the path ahead is still fraught with possible challenges as production aims for a late 2026 rollout.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here is a timeline detailing everything essential about Slate Auto, from its inception and financial backers to its product offerings, business strategy, and production goals.<\/p>\n

Inside the EV startup secretly backed by Jeff Bezos<\/h2>\n

April 8 \u2013<\/strong> Following a year-long investigation, TechCrunch published an article disclosing that a clandestine EV startup, Slate Auto, had been functioning for three years with the financial support of Jeff Bezos and LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In contrast to other electric vehicle startups, Slate focused on creating a remarkably low-cost electric pickup truck priced around $25,000. This vehicle would offer significant customization, utilizing the expertise of numerous former employees from Harley-Davidson and Chrysler, both of which have considerable accessory and aftermarket parts segments.<\/p>\n

Slate Auto\u2019s pickup truck spotted in the wild<\/h2>\n

April 10 \u2013<\/strong> The following day, an image of an unremarkable electric truck began circulating on the r\/whatisthiscar subreddit, with Reddit users speculating it could potentially be Slate\u2019s secret EV.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Techcrunch event<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSan Francisco, CA<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 13-15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

TechCrunch confirmed that the image depicted a prototype of Slate\u2019s truck parked outside the company’s design center in Long Beach, California.<\/p>\n

An EV that can change like a \u2018Transformer\u2019<\/h2>\n

April 21 \u2013<\/strong> Slate began showcasing conceptual versions of their EV on public roads to create marketing excitement prior to its anticipated launch event on April 24. Interestingly, some models seemed to resemble SUVs or hatchbacks, rather than solely pickup trucks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TechCrunch confirmed that the company designed the EV to possess \u201cTransformer-like\u201d modular features, and that this initiative served as a promotional tease of such customization.<\/p>\n

The analog EV pickup truck that is decidedly anti-Tesla<\/h2>\n

April 24 \u2013<\/strong> Slate officially introduced its customizable electric pickup truck at a launch event in Long Beach, California. During this event, it was also disclosed that the truck would be priced below $20,000 when factoring in the $7,500 federal EV tax rebate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The entry-level model of the truck was disclosed to be quite basic, featuring just 150 miles of range, no power windows, a lack of a central infotainment display, and even no paint. Slate pledged that virtually every aspect of the truck would be customizable, including the seating arrangement and overall design.<\/p>\n

A former Indiana printing plant eyed for EV truck production<\/h2>\n

April 25 \u2013<\/strong> TechCrunch reported that Slate had pinpointed a former printing facility in Warsaw, Indiana as the site for its truck manufacturing. The 1.4 million-square-foot plant was constructed in 1958 and had remained inactive for approximately two years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Slate Auto crosses 100,000 refundable reservations in two weeks<\/h2>\n

May 12 \u2013<\/strong> Slate informed TechCrunch that it had surpassed 100,000 refundable $50 reservations for its budget-friendly EV truck. This indicated that the company\u2019s concept resonated with a broad audience, despite most people being unaware of Slate just two months earlier.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Slate Auto drops \u2018under $20,000\u2019 pricing after Trump administration ends federal EV tax credit<\/h2>\n

July 3 \u2013<\/strong> The Trump administration pushed through significant tax legislation that, among other changes, established a September expiration for the $7,500 federal EV tax rebate. Consequently, Slate\u2019s truck would no longer be able to utilize that rebate to achieve the \u201cunder $20,000\u201d pricing that the startup had been promoting. Thus, Slate removed that phrasing from its website before the legislation was officially signed.<\/p>\n

Why this LA-based VC firm was an early investor in Slate Auto<\/h2>\n

July 8 \u2013<\/strong> Slate\u2019s 2023 funding round included at least 16 investors, with Bezos among them. While most of these investors remain unnamed, Los Angeles-based Slauson & Co. discussed with TechCrunch the reasons behind their early investment in the EV startup during that initial funding stage, as well as Slate\u2019s Series B.<\/p>\n

Slate Auto appears on the TechCrunch Disrupt main stage<\/h2>\n

October 30<\/strong> \u2013 Slate Auto\u2019s CEO Chris Barman participated in an interview on the main stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, addressing Jeff Bezos\u2019 involvement, the obstacles of establishing a new automaker, and how the company intends to create a marketplace for customization.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Slate passes 150,000 reservations<\/h2>\n

December 16<\/strong> \u2013 While the growth of EVs has slowed in the U.S., Slate Auto has reached 150,000 refundable reservations for its truck and SUV, demonstrating substantial interest in the vehicle in spite of the loss of the federal tax incentive. Furthermore, with fewer EVs anticipated to enter the U.S. market, it seems that the startup will face limited competition at the lower end of the segment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2026<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n

A surprise CEO swap<\/h2>\n

\u00a0March 9<\/strong> \u2013 Slate executed an unexpected move, appointing a new CEO: former Amazon Marketplace VP Peter Faricy. Chris Barman, the former CEO and Slate\u2019s first employee, will remain with the company, transitioning to a \u201cPresident of Vehicles\u201d position. Slate selected Faricy to prepare the startup for its year-end commercial launch, beginning with the conversion of the reservation list into as many completed orders as feasible.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3489294,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3489293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3489293"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3489293"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3489293\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3489294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3489293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3489293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3489293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}