Opinion: The New Slate Truck is the Meme Coin of the Automotive World. While many of my automotive colligues are sold on it, I am skeptical. Let us know what you think in the comments.

If you’ve spent even five minutes on automotive social media this past week, you’ve probably seen a barrage of TikToks, Instagram Reels, and YouTube shorts breathlessly praising the new Slate Auto Truck/SUV. Nearly every influencer was parroting the same magic phrase: “Starting Under $20,000!” It sounds incredible until you sit down and actually run the numbers.

Oddly, none of these creators disclosed that they were flown out, hosted, and likely paid to attend the Slate launch event. Strange, considering how unlikely it would be for dozens of content creators to voluntarily spend their own money to travel across the country just to gush over a bare-bones electric pickup. A truck that no one can even buy until late 2026.

Let’s cut through the buzz: The Slate Truck is not the revolutionary bargain people are pretending it is.

The Myth of the “$20,000 Truck”

First off, the Slate only comes in “under $20,000” if you qualify for the full $7,500 federal EV tax credit—and that’s a big “if.” Senator John Barrasso recently introduced the ELITE Vehicles Act, which, if passed, would eliminate EV tax incentives entirely. If that happens, buyers will be paying $27,000+ for a truck that doesn’t come painted, doesn’t have an infotainment system, doesn’t have power windows, and doesn’t even come with a Bluetooth speaker to play music.

By comparison, for around the same money, you could walk into a Ford dealership today and drive home in a Ford Maverick Hybrid—a five-passenger truck with power everything, a touchscreen, modern safety features, a real warranty, and a range of over 500 miles on a single tank.

Slate Didn’t Invent Customization: They Just Monetized It

A lot of the excitement around the Slate comes from its modularity. TikTokers were gleefully pointing out how you could “convert” your Slate into a small SUV if you want to haul more friends… but they forgot to mention it costs you another $5,000 for the SUV kit, and you lose your truck bed in the process.

Want a real paint job? That’ll cost you about $2,000–$3,000 for a vinyl wrap.
Better wheels instead of basic steelies? Expect to spend around $1,500.
Want the larger battery to get a range closer to a real-world daily driver? Pricing hasn’t been announced, but it will likely add several thousand dollars more.

Instead of selling you a complete car with a roof, color options, and basic comforts, Slate is offering an à la carte menu—all the parts a regular vehicle would already include, just sold separately.

Fully equipped, the Slate will easily climb to $37,000 or more—all to end up with a basic EV SUV that still won’t match the comfort, features, or performance of something like a 2025 Hyundai Venue SE (starting at around $21,000) or even a used Honda Ridgeline or Nissan Frontier.

The Biggest Competition: Used Trucks

Everyone’s so eager to pitch the Slate as the “cheap truck solution” that they ignore a very obvious fact:
There are hundreds of thousands of used trucks on the market right now.

For under $15,000, you can find a low-mileage Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, or even Ford Ranger. These trucks offer:

• Real four- or five-passenger capacity
• Proven drivetrains
• Full-size truck beds
• Towing capabilities that eclipse the Slate’s paltry 1,000-lb rating
• Immediate availability without the risks tied to unproven startups

In the real world, a used small to midsize gas truck is Slate’s biggest competitor—and one Slate likely can’t beat.

Who Slate Might Actually Work For

The Slate does have a narrow use case, fleet delivery service leases.

Think NAPA Auto Parts, Pizza Hut, or local government fleets. A cheap, modular EV that spends most of its time parked on a charger, only traveling short distances across a limited service area? That could actually make sense. Think of the Slate as the Cushman Truckster Metermaid Cart of the 2020s. Businesses willing to overlook creature comforts in favor of simple utility might find a place for the Slate.

But for average consumers who think they’re buying the next cool lifestyle vehicle for weekend adventures? They’re in for a massive disappointment once they realize the true cost of upgrading it to the basic expectations of a modern vehicle. It’s not available with AWD, so you aren’t going off-road. With its limited range, you aren’t going far. It might look like a baby Bronco or Suzuki Jimny, it’s not, and unless it has a range extender gas option, you won’t be going on too many adventures outside of the neighborhood.

The Early Deposit Mirage

Finally, let’s talk about the “deposit culture” that’s exploded in the EV world. It’s easy to collect deposits when they’re fully refundable and only cost $50 to $100. It’s a cheap dopamine hit for social media clout. “Look at me, I reserved one!” But statistically, most refundable-deposit reservations never actually convert into sales.

I personally know at least a dozen people who placed deposits on early Tesla Model S builds, Lucid Airs, Lordstown Endurance pickups, and Bollinger B1s. Guess how many of those people actually took delivery? Zero. Either the vehicles didn’t materialize, or the buyers backed out once the real pricing and specs were revealed. Expect Slate’s conversion rate to be similar—especially once the real-world costs pile up.

Final Verdict: Buyer Beware

The Slate Truck is being sold on a dream: a cheap, customizable EV pickup that brings simplicity back to motoring. The reality is far more complicated and expensive.

If you really need an affordable, practical truck, your best bets are still the Ford Maverick, Hyundai Santa Cruz, or a good used midsize pickup. If you want to be an early adopter for the bragging rights, know that you’re buying into a promise that may never fully deliver. Sometimes, the cheap truck isn’t the one you haven’t seen yet—it’s the one sitting on the used lot down the street.

Photos Courtesy of Slate