Slate Truck's low price comes with no built-in infotainment
The Slate Truck, backed by Jeff Bezos, starts at $24,950 and relies on drivers' smartphones or tablets for its center console. It offers three body styles and optional add-ons like a tablet mount and speaker mount. The base model includes a small LCD for the backup camera, but no traditional infotainment system.
The Slate Truck’s base trim, “The Blank Slate,” omits a traditional infotainment screen entirely, instead offering a built-in phone mount and USB port as the default interface. Buyers can add a separate tablet mount, a Bluetooth steering-wheel control button, and a subscription-based telematics module for remote features like door unlocking. The vehicle also includes a small LCD solely for the backup camera, required by law, while optional integrated speakers cost extra and require a front-center unit before side speakers can be added.
This “bring your own tech” strategy mirrors budget airlines’ à la carte pricing, letting Slate undercut all rival pickups and EVs. The truck’s three body styles—pickup, SUV, and fastback—plus an open-air kit with removable roof panels and a bench seat, allow further customization. However, the final price can nearly double from the $24,950 base, depending on chosen add-ons.
This pricing model could reshape buyer expectations for entry-level EVs, normalizing the idea that core convenience features are optional upgrades. It may appeal to cost-conscious consumers and tech-savvy owners who already own smartphones and speakers, but could frustrate those expecting a complete vehicle. The approach might pressure competitors to offer more modular or stripped-down trims, potentially lowering EV adoption barriers—while also raising questions about safety and driver distraction when using personal devices as primary controls.