Slate EV Truck: Early December Deliveries for Select Preorder Holders
Slate Auto, an emerging electric vehicle manufacturer, is poised to commence deliveries of its pickup truck as early as December, a notable acceleration from its initial projection of late 2026. This move positions the company to potentially disrupt the entry-level EV market with its affordable offering. While not all customers who placed preorders will receive their vehicles this year, a select group of early supporters, particularly those who made a non-refundable $300 deposit, have been given the option for expedited delivery. This development highlights Slate's ambition to overcome typical production hurdles faced by new automotive ventures and meet burgeoning demand.
It's uncommon for a nascent automaker to advance its delivery schedule, as establishing a car company and scaling manufacturing often encounter unforeseen logistical challenges. Many EV startups, and even established players like Tesla, have experienced delays in their launch timelines for new electric vehicles. However, a recent communication viewed by Business Insider indicated that Slate Auto extended an offer to certain preorder customers, allowing them to choose an earlier delivery slot, with December being the earliest available option. Previously, the company had only specified that sales would begin towards the end of the current year, without providing a definitive month.
Slate Auto initially attracted significant interest, with over 100,000 refundable $50 deposits placed. Following this, the company opened up non-refundable $300 preorders in June, securing an impressive 10,000 orders within the first few hours of availability. The recent email, specifically sent to these $300 preorder customers, sought to gauge their interest in an earlier delivery window. Reports suggest that interested individuals were presented with a dropdown menu, where December of this year was listed as the earliest possible delivery month. For customers preferring to wait, later delivery slots throughout 2027 were also provided, some with specific date ranges like "July-September 2027," while others were more general, such as "coming soon 2027." The exact number of customers eligible for a December delivery remains undisclosed.
With a starting price of $26,400, including destination fees, the Slate pickup truck is set to become the most affordable electric vehicle in the American market upon its launch, undercutting competitors like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt. It's important to note that this price point excludes various accessories that could increase the truck's overall cost. As the end of the year approaches, attention will be focused on Slate's ability to ramp up production efficiently and how its unique truck will perform in the competitive automotive landscape. The market is heating up, with new contenders emerging; for instance, preorders for the approximately $30,000 Ford Fathom are scheduled to open in early 2027. Unlike the Slate, which omits certain standard features, the Ford Fathom is expected to include amenities like power windows and a radio as standard. Furthermore, Ford has ambitious plans for its electric truck, aiming for 100,000 units in its first year, according to The Wall Street Journal. Slate, on the other hand, claims an annual production capacity of 150,000 trucks at its Indiana facility. The coming months will reveal how these low-cost electric trucks fare in the U.S. EV market.