Watch Slate Auto's tallest employee try to fit into the tiny Bezos-backed truck
Slate's tallest employee sits in small electric truck to test cabin space.
- EV startup Slate Auto is developing the most affordable electric truck to date.
- The Slate truck will be one of the smallest trucks on the market, comparable to the Ford Maverick.
- The electric truck's front row is deceptively roomy based on video posted to X.
Slate Auto is developing the country's most affordable electric pickup truck model. The automaker has made headlines because of its affordable estimated starting price, powertrain, and customizability.
The electric pickup truck is expected to start under $28,000 before taxes and additional fees, which would make it the cheapest electric vehicle in the U.S. market (if pricing isn't modified). So what sacrifices, if any, does Slate have to make to design such an affordable electric truck? The company posted a video on X showing that the tiny truck is still large enough to fit its tallest employee.
Slate Auto's tallest employee tests truck's headroom
In an age of rising inflation, it’s common for Americans to second-guess anything labeled “affordable.” Whether you're buying a car or a jug of milk, if one option is significantly cheaper than the rest, it’s natural to wonder, “What’s wrong with it?”
Slate Auto clearly understands that its low pricing might raise eyebrows among potential buyers. After all, how can you possibly build an affordable electric vehicle in this economy without cutting corners?
The short video above addresses the concerns of folks interested in the electric pickup truck by having Cob, the company's tallest employee (6'9 inches) hop into the driver's seat. Cob also hops into the front passenger seat to ease any anxiety about passenger space.
Slate's employee even goes as far as laying down in the truck bed to contextualize the bed's length, though even the open bed leaves his feet dangling off the edge of the door.
Slate Auto dubs the upcoming electric truck "tall guy approved". The average height for men in the United States is 5'9 and the average height for women is 5'4, according to World Population Review. So, if the X post is any indication of the EV's true cabin dimensions, most American drivers and passengers should have no issue with head space or knee space. It's important to note that Cob towers over the Slate Truck, bringing its size to scale.
What is the Slate Truck?
The Slate Truck is an upcoming electric pickup truck that's being produced by American startup Slate Auto, which was founded in 2022. Slate raised $111 million in a Series A round in 2023 from 16 investors including Amazon's Founder Jeff Bezos, according to TechCrunch.
Bezos' investment has brought plenty of attention to the startup because the billionaire previously invested in budding EV companies like Rivian through Amazon. Jeff Bezos' status as the fourth-richest person in the world (according to Bloomberg) is also bringing eyeballs to the EV startup and its product.
The Slate Truck is different from other vehicles because it's expected to be the smallest and most affordable fully-electric truck once it arrives. Slate advertises the electric truck's starting price as "mid-twenties", meaning it will likely start at around $25,000 before state and local incentives. Notably, the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) is eliminating the federal electric vehicle tax credit ($7,500) so Slate buyers will lose out on that incentive.
The meaning behind the 'Slate' name
The Slate Truck is a blank slate, or "radically simple electric pickup truck that can change into whatever you need it to be - even an SUV" according to the brand. It's a no-frills truck where just about every nicety is an optional add-on or upgrade.
Slate creates a very personal design experience, offering a huge selection of colors and decals as options. It has the potential to be the most customizable vehicle on the market.