The Slate Truck is great

Slate’s build-a-truck model aims to keep costs low by only including features you’ll use. But it won’t be popular outside the U.S. The Slate Truck is great, but this one problem may stop a lot of folks from buying it.

News EVs and Transportation The Slate Truck is great, but this one problem may stop a lot of folks from buying it Slate’s low-cost electric truck is US-only, and taking it across the border could get expensive. It’s a small, electric pickup that starts at $24,950, plus a $1,450 destination charge, with a projected range of 205 miles and a minimal interior designed around the phone you already own. Preorders are now open for a $300 non-refundable deposit, with first deliveries expected to take place in late 2026.

The company’s FAQ states that the Slate "will only be available for purchase in the United States, for now," and the preorder terms require the customer to live in the US. This means that Canada and all other international markets are off the table, at least initially. Geography may be as important as the price tag for a truck that’s selling on the basis of low cost.

Staying in the US keeps Slate’s first rollout simpler Slate Auto Slate ( which came out of stealth in 2025) is still a very young automaker. It was established in 2022 and has attracted about $1.4 billion in funding, including from Jeff Bezos’ family office, and is spending heavily to transform a former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana, into its production facility.