Bezos Backed Startup to Build Under $20K Electric Truck, But There’s a HUGE Problem

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Small, affordable electric trucks are coming — or at least that’s the promise from Jeff Bezos-backed Slate Auto, aiming to sell a no-frills, American-made EV pickup by late 2026. However there’s a big problem, its affordability heavily depends on federal subsidies that may soon disappear.

Key Facts:

  • Slate Auto plans to launch an American-made, electric pickup truck priced under $20,000 with federal subsidies.
  • The truck is a two-seater with a range of about 240 miles, using a battery supplied by SK On Co.
  • Slate Auto is based in Troy, Michigan, employs about 400 people, and will assemble the trucks in Indiana.
  • First deliveries are expected in late 2026, and kits will be available to modify the truck into an SUV.
  • The truck’s low price relies on federal EV tax incentives that former President Trump intends to eliminate.

The Rest of The Story:

Slate Auto is banking on two big promises: affordability and patriotism.

The company, with backing from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, wants to shake up the electric vehicle market with a bare-bones, $20,000 truck aimed at cost-conscious buyers.

CEO Chris Barman criticized current EV prices as unaffordable and said Slate’s new model will deliver the long-promised low-cost EV.

However, the truck’s advertised price depends heavily on current federal EV tax credits.

Without them, Slate has not clarified what the actual cost would be.

The truck will feature only basic options — no power windows and a modest 240-mile range — and the company says kits will be available to convert it into an SUV.

Production will occur in Indiana with deliveries starting in late 2026.

Commentary:

On the surface, a brand-new, made-in-America electric truck for under $20,000 sounds like a dream come true.

For years, automakers have promised affordable EVs, only to deliver luxury-priced models out of reach for everyday Americans.

Slate Auto is smart to target the working-class buyer with a simple, practical design.

But there’s a catch — a big one.

The price tag Slate boasts about depends on federal subsidies.

Without taxpayer help, we don’t know what the real price will be, and that’s a serious red flag.

When asked, the company spokesman couldn’t or wouldn’t provide a straight answer about what buyers will pay without government support.

This is even more concerning given that the Trump administration is actively working to cut federal EV incentives.

If those subsidies vanish, will Slate’s truck still be anywhere near $20,000?

Or will it quietly creep back toward the bloated $50,000+ EV price point we see today?

Americans deserve vehicles they can afford without needing federal handouts.

While we appreciate Slate’s ambition and like the idea of a no-frills, affordable truck, we’re skeptical that they can actually deliver without massive government assistance propping them up.

We’ve heard promises like this before — and most ended up disappointing.

The Bottom Line:

Slate Auto’s plan for a sub-$20,000 American-made EV truck is exciting, but the dream relies heavily on federal subsidies that may soon disappear.

Without them, the truck’s true affordability is in serious doubt.

Cautious optimism is warranted, but buyers should prepare for a different reality than the marketing promises suggest.

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