Slate Auto does not plan to sell its cheap electric pickup in Canada
If you were hoping that Slate’s affordable electric pickup would save the Canadian market for accessible EVs, we have bad news. The startup has confirmed that its compact pickup will not head north, leaving Canadian buyers with only the option to admire it from across the border.
Slate appeared on the scene in 2025, promising a truly affordable electric pickup, and kept its word. With backing from Jeff Bezos, the startup recently confirmed prices starting at $24,950 USD for a two-seat pickup, while its Squareback and Fastback versions start at $29,950 and $31,950, respectively. Deliveries are scheduled for late 2026.
Related: Slate bets its electric pickup is so cheap it will be profitable
The company offered a radically simple formula. Forget giant touchscreens, power seat adjustment, keyless entry, and even power windows. Buyers get a basic electric pickup with manual windows, space for two, a projected range of 205 miles (330 km), and the ability to add accessories later, instead of financing equipment they may never need.
Unfortunately, Canadian customers won’t get the chance to decide if this minimalist philosophy makes sense. Speaking to Automotive News Canada, Slate representative Jeff Yablanski confirmed that the company’s strategy stops at the U.S. border, simply stating:
“We do not plan to sell vehicles in Canada.”
Yablanski did not explain this decision, but economics likely played a major role. Since Slate plans to produce its pickups in Indiana, they would face a 25% Canadian retaliatory tariff on vehicles made in the U.S. Add these import duties to exchange rates, and the attractive U.S. price suddenly loses much of its magic, potentially rising to a level that no longer looks like an incredible bargain.
Thousands of reservations
This is particularly unfortunate because affordability has been one of Slate’s biggest advantages. The startup reportedly has around 180,000 reservations, though converting refundable deposits into actual sales remains one of the biggest hurdles for any new automaker. Whether buyers will actually accept manual windows and almost no standard equipment is an entirely different question.
However, Canadian buyers looking for an affordable electric pickup are not entirely left without options. Ford has already started teasing its own compact electric pickup, which is expected to start below $30,000 in the U.S., where it will also be built. Unlike the Slate, the new Ford is planned for Canadian dealerships as well, although exactly how tariffs and exchange rates will affect prices north of the border remains unknown. For now, the cheapest new electric pickup in America will remain just that — a U.S.-only offering.
Slate Auto
Thus, the Canadian market for affordable EVs remains without one of its most intriguing players. Slate’s decision not to export its pickup across the border demonstrates just how complex trade barriers are for new, low-margin companies. While Ford promises an alternative, it is unknown whether it can offer an equally aggressive price in Canada after accounting for all additional costs. For consumers, this means the era of truly cheap electric pickups in Canada is likely delayed until at least 2027, when Ford’s model arrives, and even then its cost could be significantly higher than expected.