This 12 months has been filled with surprises, and we aren’t even midway by April. But, I guess none of you studying this had what I’m about to inform you in your bingo sheet. Jeff Bezos, the mastermind of Amazon and the man I’m shocked doesn’t stay in a volcano, is funding an electrical pickup truck. However he isn’t funding simply any truck, as he desires to see a two-seat pickup truck that’ll price round simply $25,000 turn into actual. These vehicles would be the product of a secret firm that no one’s even heard of till now.
We all know in regards to the existence of this firm, Slate Auto, due to the tech publication TechCrunch. I’ll warn you proper from the leap, Slate Auto remains to be a really secretive entity. It has launched no sketches, no ideas, or no photographs of any sort. Should you go to Slate Auto’s web site, you’re introduced with a single black web page with only a type to fill out to get extra info sooner or later.
Nonetheless, due to TechCrunch, we now have a ok concept of what’s happening to start out dreaming a couple of actually low-cost solution to get round. Is Bezos engaged on the Amazon Prime of EVs?
A Firm No one’s Heard Of
In keeping with the TechCrunch report, Slate was based in 2022 and has hyperlinks to Framingham, Massachusetts-based Re:Construct Manufacturing, a Bezos-connected firm that sees itself reinventing American trade with its manufacturing incubator enterprise technique. Principally, in the event you run a startup and want manufacturing assist, that’s what Re:Construct says it helps with. Slate Auto was reportedly born out of an early 2022 challenge inside Re:Construct referred to as Re:Automotive.
Slate resides in David Tracy’s outdated stomping grounds of Troy, Michigan, and it has been working silently since its founding. It additionally has a presence in Los Angeles, California, too. Nonetheless, regardless of the silence, TechCrunch was capable of finding out that the agency has been gathering a whole lot of employees from main names, together with Ford, Basic Motors, Harley-Davidson, and Stellantis.
Along with funding from billionaire Jeff Bezos, Slate Auto has additionally attracted funding from Mark Walter, the controlling proprietor of the LA Dodgers and CEO of Guggenheim Companions. TechCrunch notes that Thomas Tull makes an look, an individual notable for being the lead investor in Re:Construct Manufacturing. Each of those guys are additionally board members.
Slate Auto has since gathered at the least $111 million in a single spherical of funding and extra money in one other spherical. TechCrunch was not in a position to verify how a lot Bezos has put in, however the report notes that Melinda Lewison, the one who manages the Bezos Expeditions household workplace, is famous as a director in state and federal paperwork.
Low cost Truck
However the true meat and potatoes right here is that it seems that Slate Auto desires to upset the EV market. However as a substitute of launching a luxurious flagship like nearly each different EV producer since Tesla, Slate Auto desires to cater to the underside of the market. From TechCrunch:
Slate Auto is tackling an enormous purpose: an inexpensive two-seat electrical pickup truck for round $25,000, in line with two sources who had been granted anonymity to discuss the corporate’s inner discussions. Leaders inside the corporate have talked about the Ford Mannequin T or Volkswagen Beetle as a North Star for the challenge, in line with the individuals.
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Slate plans to complement the small margins of its low-cost truck by constructing out a line of equipment and attire that homeowners can use to customise their automobiles and their seems, in line with the sources and varied job listings. It has stuffed its govt ranks with former Harley-Davidson and Stellantis staff – two corporations which have traditionally leaned on these sorts of ancillary companies (the previous with attire and the latter with MoPar components and equipment).
As TechCrunch studies, present plans name for the truck to be constructed someplace close to Indianapolis, Indiana, as quickly as late 2026. This truck may very well be pitched to be a driver’s “first automobile,” as TechCrunch studies. Apparently, a proof of idea automobile for this truck does exist and it has been proven to the agency’s rich buyers.
If it weren’t for the TechCrunch report, there could be nothing however breadcrumbs on the market. Electrek printed a report final week, however even they discovered precisely nothing.
What’s additionally fascinating about that is one thing that TechCrunch may need missed. Will this automobile have some open-source software program and be simply repaired by homeowners? From the report:
One (job itemizing) posted in 2024 hinted the corporate will dub the client customization course of “Slate College.” The itemizing was initially titled “College Lead” and was renamed to “Head of Buyer Training Restore & Upkeep” earlier than the startup stopped accepting functions.
“We search an enthusiastic, skilled Chief of Slate College to construct and lead our game-changing method to open-source content material for purchasers to boost their possession expertise,” the itemizing reads. “Because the Lead, you’ll drive the technique and ecosystem growth for the academic content material and supply for Slate consumers, clients, technicians, and companions.”
Nonetheless Mysterious
Should you’re searching for the Amazon Prime of vehicles, it’s too early to say, however which may not be the case right here. Reportedly, Bezos is usually simply placing a ton of cash into this challenge, not operating it.
As of now, there isn’t a lot else recognized. It seems that Slate could be trying to outsource main elements just like the battery and motor, which is smart. It additionally is smart to lean on merch gross sales to earn cash. Should you, like me, have been to a Harley-Davidson seller in any respect prior to now a number of years, you’ve undoubtedly seen extra T-shirts, decals, and knick-knacks on the market than precise bikes. Some Harley-Davidson shops don’t even have any bikes to promote!
I’m fairly excited to be taught extra about this factor. If what TechCrunch came upon turns into actuality, we’ll see if a brand new automaker can come out of the gate swinging for the fences with an affordable truck, not some luxurious automobile solely the few can afford. After all, a two-seat electrical truck for simply $25,000 could have some kind of compromises happening, as do all low-cost automobiles. What is going to this factor be like? Will it’s like a two-seat Ford Maverick? Will it’s like a Kei truck? Or possibly will it’s just like the candy Toyota Hilux Champ? We simply don’t know but, however we will dream!
Possibly Jeff Bezos of all individuals will assist give America a mainstream, low-cost EV pickup truck.
(Topshot: Toyota/Amazon/depositphotos.com)
