Slate Truck No Longer Priced Under $20K After EV Tax Credit Axed

Car and Driver

07-07-2025

The Slate Truck's starting price won't come in under $20,000 after all.
The automotive startup's website now lists the starting price in the "mid-twenties," instead of the previously advertised sub-$20K price that required the federal EV tax credit.
The change to Slate's website came as President Donald Trump's policy bill was passed last week, eliminating the federal EV tax credit starting on September 30.
Newcomer Slate surprised the automotive industry when it revealed its stripped-down electric pickup truck in April and touted a starting price of under $20,000. The number came with a caveat, however. The actual starting price is set at just under $27,500, and that sub-$20K price was with the expiring $7500 federal EV tax credit. So, the Slate Truck is looking like it will be less affordable than initially thought, with the automaker's website now showing an expected price in the "mid-twenties," as first reported by TechCrunch.
The change in price on Slate's website followed the passage of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill last week, which, among many sweeping changes, included a provision to eliminate the federal EV tax credit on September 30. An asterisk next to the expected price states that the EV's price is subject to change, with the Truck not due to reach customers until late 2026. There's also a note that state and local incentives might still be available that could further reduce the cost.
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Slate
The Slate Truck's eye-catching price tag was always going to be tenuous, relying on government incentives that were never guaranteed, especially after Trump took office earlier this year. Instead of undercutting the likes of the Nissan Versa and Hyundai Venue to be the most affordable vehicle in the United States, the roughly $27,500 price will see the Slate Truck compete more closely with the Ford Maverick, which starts at $29,840.
The Maverick comes standard with a sound system, power windows, and a central touchscreen, all things that are missing on the Slate. While the Slate Truck could get away with its bare-bones cabin with the initial sub-$20,000 price, the modular electric pickup could be less desirable to some customers with a mid-$20,000 starting price.
Caleb Miller
Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.