EV Startup Slate Auto Hits 100,000 Reservations for Low-Cost Pickup Truck

Electric vehicle startup Slate Auto has secured over 100,000 reservations for its newly unveiled, customizable low-cost electric pickup truck, the company told TechCrunch, marking a significant early milestone just weeks after its public debut.

The reservations, each backed by a refundable $50 deposit, were collected in the two weeks following the truck’s launch event in Los Angeles. Slate says the vehicle will start at under $20,000 after factoring in the U.S. federal EV tax credit of $7,500. The company plans to manufacture the vehicle at a former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana.

“We are truly humbled by America’s response to Slate’s brand launch and the launch of our truck,” said Jeremy Snyder, Slate’s chief commercial officer. “We are excited for what the future holds.”

While the surge in reservations signals strong initial interest, it remains uncertain how many will convert into firm orders. Similar EV startups have touted high reservation figures in the past but failed to deliver on production. Fisker, which claimed over 60,000 reservations for its Ocean SUV, filed for bankruptcy after limited deliveries. Lordstown Motors faced SEC charges over misleading preorder figures and also declared bankruptcy.

Slate’s ambitions extend beyond the pickup. The company says the truck can be converted into an SUV for an as-yet undisclosed price. It plans to scale manufacturing capacity to 150,000 vehicles annually by the end of 2027. Backed by investors including Jeff Bezos’ family office, Bezos Expeditions, Guggenheim Partners CEO Mark Walter, and venture capital firm General Catalyst, Slate is aiming to carve out a niche in the affordable EV market — a space largely underserved by current offerings.