Slate opens its first showroom for its $24,950 electric truck

The Slate Truck is a bare-bones electric pickup with a $24,950 price tag. Ars Technica says it has plastic body panels, a minimalist interior, actual window winders and a projected range of 205 miles.

It is designed for the American love of pickups, but it skips most of the frills. There is a small screen for the instrument panel, a phone holder and physical climate controls.

Why it matters: there are plenty of electric pickups on sale, but very few cheap ones. Ars notes that at $25,000 the Slate costs far less than a Rivian R1T, Tesla Cybertruck, Chevy Silverado EV or any other battery-electric truck currently shipping.

The Experience Center opened on October 15 in the Fulton Market District, just northwest of the Chicago Loop. It sits in a former Tesla store and some of the staff are former Tesla employees, according to Ars.

Bangeman describes the vibe as "industrial-barn-chic-meets-SoHo-loft." A marquee-style sign on the wall acts as the price tag for the truck in the middle of the room.

Shoppers can do four things there:

• Look at a prototype: one truck is on display, and the driver-side door is open so you can climb in.
• Check the options: a wall of removable dashboard panels in many colors, plus small interior models with colored panels.
• See the lights: every headlight and taillight option is on display.
• Pre-order: a $300 deposit reserves a truck, and staff will help you configure it.

The showroom launched with a three-day event that offered ride-alongs. Manager of Customer Experience Steve Purdy told Ars that interest has been strong, though he could not share sales numbers.

In real life Think of it as a car showroom that feels more like a paint-chip aisle. You pick colors and accessories first, then think about the truck.

Bangeman says the truck is bigger than he expected, roughly the size of a Hyundai Santa Cruz. The door closed with a solid "thunk," and the seats were supportive and comfortable, with plenty of legroom.

The tailgate felt reassuringly sturdy, and the 5-foot-long (152.4 cm) bed floor looked and felt durable.

A few things did not work out as hoped:

• The recline lever: the seatback recline lever on the side of one seat did not work.
• No second truck: Bangeman wanted two trucks to compare panel gaps and window operation, but only one was there.
• Cordoned off: the bed and passenger side were roped off, so no jumping on the tailgate.

The exterior panels looked well fitted and the doors sat flush. But Ars points out that this is a hand-built, older prototype in a black wrap, since the base Slate color is gray. It says little about how a production truck will look.

Not yet. Purdy told Ars the Slate assembly line in Warsaw, Indiana is still making prototyping runs, and the company hopes to start on production models "soon."

The catch: Ars warns that the hard part is consistent build quality at scale. That means minimal panel gaps, watertight seals and aligned hoods and doors on every truck.

The article points to Tesla as a reminder. Early Model Ys reached customers with loose seats and broken seatbelts, and some Cybertrucks shipped with misaligned panel gaps.

Slate is keeping the $24,950 sticker price. Purdy said the company will ship some trucks by the end of the year, but those go to investors and employees.

What's next: early orderers should receive theirs in early 2027, according to Purdy. Ars also says Slate could have a breakout hit on its hands, especially if it beats Ford's sub-$30,000 Fathom pickup to market.

Service will go through RepairPal, which gives owners a choice of 4,000 shops. Some can work on the high-voltage systems and others are limited to body damage.

For scratches or minor dings, owners can replace the exterior body panels themselves. Slate is confident the plastic panels will handle climate extremes. "We're a Michigan company," Purdy reminded Bangeman. Replacement part prices are not final.

The $24,950 is the price of the plain truck. Engadget built what it called the perfect throwback version, with a 1970s Ford Bronco theme, and the total looked very different.

The Slate ships from the factory as a two-seat pickup in a single gray color, and there is a catalog of more than 200 add-ons. Engadget picked the squareback SUV body, which starts at $29,950 and adds a roll cage, extra airbags and a bench seat for three.

Here is a sample of what Engadget added:

Engadget puts its accessories at about $6,518, and adds the $1,450 destination fee for a total of $37,918. That is without the lift kit and other items Slate has not priced yet. The outlet says the final tab could approach $8,000 in accessories.

The big picture: the low sticker price gets you in the door, and the options are where the bill grows. Engadget's point is fair both ways: you can stop at the base truck for under $25,000 before taxes and fees, or keep clicking.

Plenty, on purpose. The Slate ships with no screen or stereo, and the idea is to use your phone for both jobs. Accessories fill some gaps, including a mount for Bluetooth speakers and a tablet mount.

Power windows are the other gap. Engadget says Slate once listed them, then pulled them, and a spokesperson said they could return.

The truck is also rear-wheel drive. Engadget says that makes it better suited to dirt roads and snowy driveways than steep trails or deep mud.

On charging, the home charger lets you fully charge the truck in five to eight hours, according to Slate. The truck is designed for Tesla's plug, and the company has said it will sell adapters for older public chargers.

• Shoppers in Chicago: you can sit in a prototype and talk through options in person before paying the $300 deposit.
• Everyone else: you can configure and order online, so the showroom is a nice extra and not a requirement.
• Budget watchers: the base price is $24,950, but a fully dressed squareback can pass $37,000 by Engadget's math.
• Anyone who wants a truck soon: early orders are expected in early 2027, so plan on waiting.