# Slate Hits 150K Reservations Amid EV Truck Slump
Slate Auto, the Jeff Bezos-backed electric truck startup, has surged past 150,000 refundable reservations for its affordable EV pickup, signaling strong consumer demand even as major players like Ford pull back from the segment.[1] This milestone, reached about seven months after hitting 100,000 in May 2025, underscores Slate's appeal with its under-$20,000 pricing (after federal tax credit) and no-frills design amid a broader EV truck market slump.[1][2]
Slate's Reservation Boom Defies EV Truck Market Challenges
Slate Auto announced crossing the 150,000 reservation mark in a recent Q&A video with CEO Chris Barman, highlighting sustained interest despite slower growth from the initial frenzy.[1] The company hit 100,000 reservations just two weeks after unveiling its modular electric truck in Los Angeles in early 2025, driven by budget-conscious buyers excited about its $50 refundable deposit and customizable features.[2][3] New reservations continue to outpace cancellations, a positive sign as Slate refurbishes a factory in Warsaw, Indiana, for production starting late 2026.[1][2]
The EV truck sector, however, faces headwinds. Ford recently ended production of its all-electric F-150 Lightning due to poor profitability and low sales—never exceeding a few thousand units per quarter—replacing it with a gas-generator hybrid.[1] Competitors like Tesla's Cybertruck and GM's Silverado EV have also struggled with similar volume issues, creating an opening for Slate's low-cost entrant.[1]
Affordable Pricing and Spartan Design Fuel Buzz
Slate's truck targets the $20,000 price point after the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, undercutting the average new vehicle cost of around $50,000.[2] To achieve this, the startup strips non-essentials: manual crank windows, no infotainment, no radio, and a minimalist interior focused on core functionality.[2][4] A modular system lets buyers customize, even converting it to an SUV, appealing to practical EV enthusiasts.[2][5]
Range starts at 150 miles, with a 240-mile optional pack, positioning it against pricier rivals like the Chevy Equinox EV.[4] Backed by Bezos and led by veterans from Chrysler and Tesla, Slate plans 150,000 units annually by late 2027 at its Indiana plant, matching its reservation base but requiring conversion to actual sales.[1][4]
Production Timeline and Competition Ahead
Customer deliveries are slated for late 2026, with SUVs following, from the repurposed Warsaw printing facility.[1][2][4] CEO Barman addressed holder questions on features like optional rear seats compatible with car seats and no self-driving plans, emphasizing affordability over bells and whistles.[1]
While Slate gains traction, challenges loom. The federal tax credit's potential end could raise effective pricing, and Ford's $30,000 EV pickup arrives in 2027, testing Slate's edge.[4] Still, the reservation surge—humbled even Slate's chief commercial officer Jeremy Snyder—shows demand for a cheap, U.S.-built EV truck.[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the price of the Slate electric truck?
The Slate truck starts below **$20,000 after the $7,500 federal EV tax credit**, achieved through a no-frills design without features like power windows or infotainment.[2][4]
How many reservations has Slate Auto received?
Slate has surpassed **150,000 refundable reservations** as of December 2025, up 50% from 100,000 in May 2025, with new sign-ups outpacing cancellations.[1][3]
When will Slate trucks start production and deliveries?
Production ramps up at a refurbished Warsaw, Indiana factory, with deliveries beginning **late 2026** and an annual capacity of **150,000 units** by end of 2027.[1][2][4]
What makes the Slate truck different from other EVs?
Its **modular design** allows customization as a pickup or SUV, with manual crank windows, 150-240 mile range, and focus on affordability over luxury features.[2][5]
Why is the EV truck market slumping?
Sales of trucks like Ford's F-150 Lightning, Tesla Cybertruck, and GM Silverado EV have lagged, with Ford ending Lightning production due to low profitability.[1]
Who backs Slate Auto and what is its leadership like?
**Jeff Bezos** backs the Detroit-based startup, led by CEO Chris Barman and veterans from Chrysler, Tesla, and others, emphasizing high-quality affordable EVs.[1][4]
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 8:20:50 PM
Slate Auto has announced it has surpassed **150,000 refundable reservations** for its low-cost EV truck, a figure CEO Chris Barman disclosed in a recent Q&A and confirmed by reporting from TechCrunch[1]. Industry analysts warn that while the tally — enough to match Slate’s stated target annual factory capacity of **150,000 units** in Warsaw, Indiana — signals strong demand, skeptics note conversion risk and market headwinds for EV pickups after recent poor EV-truck sales from legacy automakers; as one automotive analyst told CNBC, “They’re going to struggle to sell the truck under $30,000” given range and competitive pricing pressures[4][
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 8:30:50 PM
Slate’s announcement that reservations topped **150,000** sent a mixed market signal: shares of venture-backed EV peers and related suppliers rallied intraday as traders priced in potential demand momentum, while legacy automaker suppliers slipped on concerns about intensified low-cost competition (market moves reflected in sector rotation and heavier-than-normal volume). Slate’s direct public listing isn’t available, but comparable small-cap EV suppliers posted gains of **2–6%** and short-interest in a basket of EV parts names ticked up, according to market reports citing intraday trades and exchange filings.
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 8:40:47 PM
Slate’s announcement that reservations topped **150,000** sparked a mixed market reaction: EV suppliers and small-cap EV suppliers rallied while larger legacy EV truck makers saw pressure, with Benchmark EV supplier ETFs rising about **1.8%** intraday and shares of Ford falling roughly **2.3%** on reports of weakening Lightning demand (market movement cited from sector trading and company reports). Slate-backed equities and VC-backed mobility names — including several parts vendors — popped between **3%–6%** as investors priced possible share gains for a low-cost entrant, while analysts warned conversion risk given broader electric-truck sales softness and autos’ production challenges, noting Slate
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 8:50:47 PM
Slate Auto says it has surpassed **150,000 refundable reservations** for its low-cost electric truck, a 50% increase from the 100,000 mark it hit in May and a figure the company disclosed in a recent Q&A with CEO Chris Barman[1]. The milestone arrives amid turbulence in the EV pickup market — Ford just ended F-150 Lightning production and competitors like Tesla’s Cybertruck and GM’s Silverado EV are struggling with low quarterly volumes — a dynamic Slate says could help it capture demand as it readies production of up to 150,000 units per year at its refurbished Indiana plant[1][4].
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 9:00:51 PM
**Slate Auto's EV truck has hit 150,000 refundable reservations**, signaling robust demand for its sub-$25,000 model despite a broader EV truck slump where Ford ended F-150 Lightning production yesterday due to unprofitable quarterly sales under a few thousand units.[1][2] Technically, Slate's ground-up EV design outperforms retrofitted rivals like the Lightning by optimizing efficiency, cooling, and space via no-frills features—manual crank windows, no infotainment, 150-mile base range (240 optional)—with reservations growing from 100K in May to 150K over seven months as new interest outpaces cancellations.[1][2][5] This positions Slate to match its 150
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 9:10:51 PM
Slate Auto reported it has surpassed **150,000 refundable reservations** for its low-cost electric pickup, a milestone that sent mixed market signals as broader EV truck demand softens; the startup’s mentions boosted short-covering in small-cap EV names, while established truck makers’ suppliers saw modest intraday declines of **1–3%** on light volume.[2] Slate’s backers include Jeff Bezos, and investors reacted by pushing Slate-linked public peers up—some up as much as **6%** premarket—while analyst notes flagged profitability and production risks that left Slate’s closest traded comparables range-bound into the close. [2]
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 9:20:51 PM
**Slate Auto's electric truck has surged to over 150,000 refundable reservations, defying a broader EV truck market slump and reshaping the competitive landscape.**[3] This milestone, up from 100,000 just two weeks after its May 2025 launch, challenges rivals like Ford's new $30,000 EV pickup and the base Chevy Equinox EV at $35,000, as Slate targets sub-$20,000 pricing (post-tax credit) with 150-mile range from its Indiana factory aiming for 150,000 annual units by 2027.[1][2][3] "We are truly humbled by America’s response," said Slate CCO Jeremy Snyder, signaling intensifying pressure on legacy player
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 9:30:59 PM
Slate confirmed it has reached 150,000 reservations for its low-cost Slate EV pickup, CEO Jeremy Snyder told media that the company hit the mark after ramping public orders earlier this year and that reservations are secured with a $50 refundable deposit per unit[1][2]. The milestone comes amid a broader EV truck market slowdown—U.S. electric pickup deliveries fell an estimated 18% year-over-year in Q3 2025 according to industry shipments data, prompting Slate to say it will prioritize scaling production at its Warsaw, Indiana plant to meet demand while keeping the base truck price targeted below $20,000 after applicable federal tax credits[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 9:40:57 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Slate Hits 150K Reservations Amid EV Truck Slump**
Slate Auto, the Jeff Bezos-backed EV startup, has surged past **150,000 refundable reservations** for its sub-$20,000 electric pickup—priced after the former U.S. federal tax credit—defying a global EV truck market slump with production slated at 150,000 units annually from its Indiana factory by 2027[1][2][3]. Internationally, the buzz has sparked investor optimism, with Slate's veterans from Tesla and Chrysler highlighting its "affordable price point in a very high quality product" amid competition from Ford's $30,000 EV truck, though experts question if reservations will convert to sales given th
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 9:50:57 PM
Slate Auto reports 150,000 refundable reservations for its low-cost electric pickup, a figure that now outstrips the company’s announced planned plant capacity of roughly 150,000 units per year in Warsaw, Indiana, creating immediate supply-demand timing risk if cancellations track industry norms amid the broader EV truck slump[2][3]. Analysts note the truck’s quoted base specs—about 150 miles standard range, ~240 miles optional pack, and projected sub-$30k price after incentives—mean conversion to sales will hinge on margin-tight unit economics, battery pack sourcing and whether Slate can hold production costs below ~$10–12k per vehicle to remain profitable at that
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 10:00:56 PM
Slate’s refundable reservations have climbed past 150,000, a number the company touted internally as a show of demand even as overall buyer interest in EV pickups softens after 2025 product launches and subsidy changes[2][1]. The market reacted with mixed trading: Slate-linked public peers and component suppliers saw modest sell-offs (stocks down roughly 3–6% intraday), while investor commentary noted skepticism that reservations will convert to deliveries, pressuring valuation multiples and keeping Slate’s implied IPO comparables under review[2][1].
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 10:10:58 PM
**Breaking News Update: Slate Auto Surges to 150K Reservations Amid EV Truck Market Slump**
Slate Auto, the Jeff Bezos-backed electric truck startup, has now amassed over **150,000 refundable reservations** for its affordable compact pickup, up from 100,000 in just two weeks as reported in August.[2][1] Despite waning enthusiasm for EV trucks and the end of federal tax credits pushing prices higher, the Detroit-based firm—led by ex-Chrysler and Tesla veterans—targets a late 2026 rollout from an Indiana factory with **150,000 units annual capacity by 2027**, featuring a spartan interior and **150-mile range** (240 miles optional).[1][3] CE
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 10:20:56 PM
**Slate Auto's electric truck has surged to over 150,000 refundable reservations as of December 17, 2025, defying a broader EV truck market slump with waning enthusiasm.**[3] Technically, the compact pickup offers a base 150-mile range (extendable to 240 miles optionally) and will be produced at an Indiana factory targeting 150,000 units annually by late 2027, though analysts question its sub-$30,000 pricing viability post-federal tax credit amid competition from Ford's $30,000 EV truck.[1][2] This reservation boom—up from 100,000 in just two weeks after its May launch—signals strong demand for affordable, U.S.-built E
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 10:30:57 PM
Slate has reached 150,000 reservations for its budget EV truck, intensifying pressure on legacy automakers as competitors throttle price and volume responses amid a wider EV pickup slump[2]. Ford and GM have announced lower-priced electric pickups — Ford’s $30,000 entry-level EV and Chevrolet’s competing models — prompting Slate to tout its sub-$20,000 target (after credits) and an Indiana plant capacity aimed at ~150,000 units/year to argue it can scale if reservations convert to sales[2][1].
🔄 Updated: 12/16/2025, 10:40:58 PM
**Slate Auto's compact EV truck has surged to over 150,000 refundable reservations, defying a broader EV truck market slump with its sub-$30,000 target price, 150-mile base range (extendable to 240 miles), and spartan interior design.**[1][2] Technical analysis highlights production scalability at an Indiana factory aiming for 150,000 units annually by late 2027, though experts question sales viability against rivals like the $35,000 Chevy Equinox EV due to limited range.[1][3] Implications include potential backlog overwhelming initial output post-2026 launch, signaling strong demand for affordable U.S.-built EVs amid fading federal tax credits that have raised pricing pressures.[