Jeff Bezos’ Slate EV Startup Rolls Out Of Stealth

An EV startup called Slate Auto, quietly backed by Jeff Bezos, is planning to start production next year on a low-cost pickup truck that grows with you and your budget.

The Big Race: Bezos is already facing off against Elon Musk on broadband satellites and is now stepping further onto his turf with EVs. With Tesla ditching its own low-cost EV plans and facing a major reputation hit, Slate could roll up on its market share once production commences by giving young people an affordable way to drive electric.

Under the Hood: Slate — which is based in Michigan, the heart of American car manufacturing — is an offshoot of the Bezos-backed manufacturing incubator, Re:Build Manufacturing.

• Although it has kept its existence under wraps, TechCrunch found that Slate raised a $111 million Series A in 2023 and brought in more funding last year from investors like LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter and former Legendary Entertainment CEO Thomas Tull.
• Slate’s CEO is longtime Chrysler exec Christine Berman, who oversaw vehicle lines like the Dodge Charger and Jeep Cherokee, most recently served as VP of electrical and electronics for the automaker, and worked on collabs with Android and Waymo.
• The company already has hundreds of employees who came from brands like Ford, GM, Stellantis, and Harley-Davidson. It’s hiring more employees to fill roles at a plant in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• The first Slate vehicle is expected to be a $25,000 two-seat EV truck. According to insiders, the “North Stars” for the project are the Ford Model T and Volkswagen Beetle. Intriguing.

The Future: Slate hopes that the truck will be people’s “first car.” Then, as a driver’s needs change and budget increases, they can upgrade the vehicle, add accessories, and even customize its look (a similar model, on a smaller scale, to Stellantis and Harley-Davidson). If it takes off, everyone’s Slate vehicle may be a personal statement on the road.