Slate's first showroom offers a preview of its $25,000 electric truck, which is nearing production. Visitors found only one vehicle on display, and it was not a production model. The truck on the floor was a hand-built, older prototype wrapped in black, while the Slate Truck's base color is gray. The bed and passenger sides were cordoned off, but the driver-side door was open so shoppers could look inside the cab.
The exterior looked well put together, with panels that sat flush and doors that closed neatly. The bed floor felt durable and the tailgate seemed sturdy, though visitors could not sit on it. The real test, however, will be consistent build quality on production models. Slate must deliver tight panel gaps, watertight seals, even door-to-fender transitions, and proper hood and frunk alignment across every truck. The Slate assembly line in Warsaw, Indiana, is still running prototype builds, and the company hopes to begin production models soon.
Inside, the cab is spartan, with a small instrument screen, a phone holder, physical climate controls, and manual window winders. The seats were supportive and comfortable, and there was ample legroom. One flaw stood out: the seatback recline lever did not work, though the seat slid smoothly.
Beyond the default Blank Slate body style, Slate offers two SUV options, the Squareback and Fastback, along with an open-air kit. According to Slate's Purdy, most customers are choosing the truck configuration and then personalizing their vehicles in the Slate Garage.
Source: Ars Technica · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing