Not long ago, Slate Auto promised the public that its electric pickup, the Slate Truck, would cost under $20,000.
Not long ago, Slate Auto enticed buyers with the promise that its electric pickup, the Slate Truck, would be priced under $20,000. In reality, that figure included the federal EV tax credit of $7,500. With the credit now gone, as one might expect, that low price point is no longer attainable.
The company is not abandoning the idea of an affordable electric pickup and is continuing preparations for U.S. production. Assembly is planned at a facility in Warsaw, Indiana, which was formerly a large printing plant employing up to 500 people at its peak. Today, the site is effectively experiencing a second life—this time as an automotive production hub.
Repurposing is in full swing. Across the 630,000-square-foot facility, anti-slip flooring is being installed, shop floors are being reconfigured to meet new layouts and safety standards, and automation is being added. Robots for laser welding are arriving, alongside large-format 3D laser scanners to monitor geometry and quality.
Slate maintains that production is still scheduled to begin by the end of the year. But the main concern for buyers now centers on pricing. Several months after the initial announcements, the company quietly updated its website to say that sales are expected “in the mid-$20k range,” without specifying exact figures. Many observers tied the adjustment directly to the loss of the federal tax credit.
CEO Chris Barman has publicly downplayed the issue, stating that the removal of the credit “does not matter” and insisting the pickup will remain affordable. She later clarified, however, that the final pricing structure is still under development. Slate is actively working with suppliers to identify cost-saving opportunities and determine how best to pass those savings on to customers. In addition, next week the company has meetings planned where cost reduction will be a central topic. Time is running out: with production approaching, final pricing is expected to be announced soon.