Slate - Speeding Up to a 25K EV

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon (AMZN), is funding a secretive electric vehicle startup based in Michigan called Slate Auto that could start production as soon as next year, multiple sources told TechCrunch. Publicly-traded EV makers include Tesla (TSLA), Lucid Group (LCID) and Rivian Automotive (RIVN).

Launching an entirely new car company is no easy endeavor, but Slate reportedly has at least one very deep-pocketed investor: Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos. 

In an era where electric vehicles are often associated with premium prices, Slate Auto’s promise of a $25,000 electric pickup truck is a game-changer. With strong backing from notable investors, the venture aims to disrupt the market with its unique approach to practicality and affordability. In this article, we’ll delve into the broader implications, provide insights, address potential challenges, and explore the future landscape of affordable electric vehicles.

Since this new automaker(?) was seemingly founded relatively recently, there isn’t much background to share because, well, it doesn’t have a history… yet. According to Slate Auto’s LinkedIn page, which was verified on March 5, 2025, it is a motor vehicle manufacturer based in Troy, Michigan, that is “exploring opportunities in the electric vehicle space.”

In the vast landscape of electric vehicles, dominated by giants and the occasional daring newcomer, emerges Slate Auto—a name as enigmatic as its ambitions are bold. With a mission to disrupt the EV market, Slate aims to deliver a groundbreaking electric pickup truck priced at an astonishingly low $25,000. The prospect alone is enough to turn heads, but it’s the forces at play behind this nascent automaker that make the story truly intriguing.

Picture an electric pickup engineered for the everyday adventurer, embodying the spirit of simplicity and rugged reliability once personified by icons like the Ford Model T and the Volkswagen Beetle. This is the vision Slate Auto has for its inaugural release. The company, a quiet powerhouse, was founded within the ecosystem of Re:Build Manufacturing—a firm orchestrated by none other than Jeff Bezos. Slate’s early path is marked by a robust backing of $111 million in Series A funding and a formidable lineup of investors, including Bezos himself, alongside Mark Walter, owner of the LA Dodgers, and media mogul Thomas Tull.