Electric vehicle startup Slate Auto is nearing a deal to lease a 1.4 million-square-foot former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana, as it prepares to launch production of its low-cost electric truck, according to a review of public records and local economic development statements.
The facility, once home to R.R. Donnelley’s printing operations, has sat idle for nearly two years. Slate Auto is expected to repurpose the site to manufacture an EV priced under $20,000 after U.S. federal tax credits. While the company has not publicly confirmed the site, it showed an aerial photo of the factory during a recent event, which matched images of the Warsaw plant listed on the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s website.
“Our truck will be made here in the USA as part of our commitment to re-industrializing America,” CEO Chris Barman said during the event, as the image of the factory appeared on screen behind her.
Local officials have signaled that the project could bring significant employment to the region. Economic development authorities previously told media the unnamed company behind the project could hire up to 2,000 people. The county has offered an incentive package, though specific terms have not been disclosed.
“I am under a strict non-disclosure agreement with the project,” Peggy Friday, CEO of the Kosciusko County Economic Development Corporation, said in an email response when asked to confirm Slate’s involvement.
Slate Auto emerged from stealth mode this week with financial backing from high-profile investors, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Guggenheim Partners CEO Mark Walter, and venture capital firm General Catalyst. The company has raised over $100 million to date and aims to lower production costs by forgoing conventional car painting in favor of interchangeable truck wraps — a move that could eliminate the need for a costly paint shop and save hundreds of millions in facility investment.
Founded inside Re:Build Manufacturing, a Massachusetts-based industrial firm focused on revitalizing U.S. production capabilities, Slate Auto has positioned its domestic production strategy as a core element of its brand identity.