Slate Auto, the Jeff Bezos–backed EV startup, has removed its claim that its upcoming electric pickup truck would cost “under $20,000,” following the Trump administration’s new tax legislation that will eliminate the federal electric vehicle tax credit.
The $7,500 federal EV incentive, which Slate had factored into its pricing strategy, is set to expire in September after President Trump signs the tax bill into law on July 4. Slate had used the credit to promote its affordable pricing since emerging from stealth mode in April. According to archived versions of the company’s website, the “under $20,000” messaging was still live as recently as yesterday.
The revision deals a potential setback to Slate’s pitch of delivering an ultra-affordable EV. At its launch event, the company did not specify a base price without the credit, and it still hasn’t disclosed what the truck will actually cost. A company spokesperson declined to comment on the pricing change.
Slate isn’t expected to begin production until late 2026, and its business model centers on offering a highly customizable vehicle—suggesting that relatively few customers would opt for the base version anyway.
The sub-$20,000 promise had been a central piece of the startup’s launch narrative.
“The auto industry has pushed prices beyond the reach of most Americans,” said Chief Commercial Officer Jeremy Snyder during the launch. “We’re here to change that.”
CEO Chris Barman echoed the sentiment, stating: “We are building the affordable vehicle that’s long been promised but never delivered.”
