by A Complex Market Entry
Entering the automotive market with a completely new vehicle is one of the most difficult tasks in the industry, especially for a company that has neither an established network nor prior manufacturing experience. However, Slate Auto continues to implement its plan to launch an affordable all-electric pickup truck.
Although key details about the production version, including price, are still being finalized, the company has shared progress from the plant where this vehicle will be built.
Made in the USA
Instead of building the pickup abroad, perhaps where labor costs are lower, Slate Auto will manufacture it right in the USA. The vehicle will come to life at a plant in Warsaw, Indiana, which for decades served as a large printing enterprise, employing up to 500 people.
Plant Transformation
As one might imagine, repurposing a site for electric vehicle manufacturing requires significant changes. Among them is laying down 630,000 square feet of anti-slip flooring to match the new plant layout and safety protocols.
Automation has already begun: robotic laser welders and large-format 3D laser scanners have arrived on site. According to Slate, production of their electric pickup is still planned to start by the end of this year.
Price and Tax Credit Questions
The pickup’s success will undoubtedly depend on its price. Initially, Slate Auto stated that the cost would be less than $20,000, factoring in the now-cancelled $7,500 federal electric vehicle tax credit. However, after the cancellation of this credit by the Trump administration, the electric vehicle will no longer be as cheap as initially promised.
A few months later, the company quietly updated its website, noting that “the Blank Slate is expected to be priced in the mid-twenties.” While no further details were provided, this update was widely interpreted as reflecting the anticipated changes at the time to the federal EV tax credit.
When asked about this change, Slate Auto CEO Chris Barman dismissed concerns, stating that “it doesn’t matter,” and insisting that the pickup remains affordable. She did not go into details.
Price Still Being Finalized
In a subsequent conversation with InsideEVs, Barman added that the company is still finalizing the pricing structure.
We are still working very closely with our suppliers to see what opportunities we have to continue to drive down costs, to understand what we can do to pass that on to the customer, before we announce a final price.
The Slate CEO also mentioned that price will be a central part of discussions at a meeting with the company’s suppliers scheduled for next week.
A big part of that will be dedicated to discussing whether there are more opportunities to drive down cost? And we look at it as: we want to pass that on to the customer.
Nevertheless, given that the production start date is rapidly approaching, the final figure will not remain a secret for long.
The emergence of a new player in the electric pickup market always raises questions about viability, especially when it comes to affordability. Experience shows that initial targets often collide with the harsh realities of supply chains, material costs, and the regulatory environment. Slate Auto’s success may depend significantly not only on the final price but also on their ability to effectively communicate to customers the value of a product that offers an alternative to existing, often more expensive, models. The focus on localizing production in the USA could become an additional advantage for a certain category of buyers who value domestic manufacturing.
