Slate Auto: Everything you need to know about the Bezos-backed EV startup

In April 2025, a new company called Slate Auto came out of the blue and surprised the car industry. The startup not only focused on creating a low-cost, customizable electric car with money from Jeff Bezos, but also worked underground for three years in Troy, Michigan – behind automakers like Ford and General Motors.

TechCrunch was first to the story, reporting in early April about the company’s existence, its involvement with the founder of Amazon, and its ambitious and unique business model. The weeks between our report and Slate’s upcoming party at the end of April provided plenty of news, with hints of the concept car popping up around California.

The slate is a mess in the US EV sector, where bankruptcy, failed product launches, and pivots are common. And while its latest sponsors, high-profile orders, first sales, and business model provide a way forward, the road is still full of potential obstacles as it pushes for production by the end of 2026.

Here’s a timeline that shows everything you need to know about Slate Auto, from its history and sponsors to its products, business model, and plans.

Inside the EV startup with the secret support of Jeff Bezos

April 8 – After a year-long investigation, TechCrunch published an article revealing that a a private EV startup called Slate Auto he has been working for three years with the help of Jeff Bezos and the owner of the LA Dodgers Mark Walter.

Unlike other EV startups, Slate was working on a very affordable electric car that would start around $25,000. The car can be customized, based on the input of many former employees of Harley-Davidson and Chrysler, two companies that have extensive accessories and back-end businesses.

A Slate Auto pickup truck was spotted in the wild

April 10 – A day later, a photo of a nondescript electric car began to circulate r/whatisthiscar subredditand Redditors think it might be Slate’s mystery EV.

TechCrunch was able to confirm that the photo was of a Slate car parked outside the Long Beach, California manufacturing facility.

An EV that transforms like a ‘Transformer’

April 21 – Slate began to put concept versions of the Slate EV on public roads to create advertisements ahead of its launch event on April 24. Surprisingly, some of them looked like SUVs or hatchbacks, not pickup trucks.

TechCrunch was able to confirm that the company has developed an EV to own “Transformer-like” modular powerand that this perplexity was a way of amusing these customs.

An analog portable EV that rivals Tesla

April 24 – Slate made his first appearance at the launch event in Long Beach, California, where he revealed customizable electric pickup truck. Slate also announced that the car will be available for under $20,000 – with an EV tax credit of $7,500.

The car was bare bones, with only 150 kilometers on it, no electric windows, no infotainment screen, not even any paint. Slate promised that everything about the car could be changed, even the number of seats and the shape.

An old printing plant in Indiana is looking to make EV cars

April 25 – TechCrunch reports that Slate has identified a former publishing house in Warsaw, Indiana as a publishing location His place is a car factory. The 1.4 million-square-foot facility was built in 1958 and sat idle for two years.

Slate Auto passes 100,000 refund bookings in two weeks

May 12 – Slate confirmed to TechCrunch that it was already there exceeded 100,000 deposits for a $50 refund for its low-cost EV. It was proof that the company’s ideas caught on with a lot of people, even if no one knew about Slate two months ago.

Slate Auto drops prices ‘below $20,000’ after Trump ends EV tax credit

July 3- The Trump administration pushed through a major tax cut bill that, among other things, established a September deadline for the EV tax credit of $7,500. This means that the Slate car will not be able to lean on the loan to get there “Under $20,000” starting price the beginning was amazing. So, Slate released the language on its website before it was signed into law.

Why this LA-based VC firm was an investor in Slate Auto

July 8- Slate’s 2023 funding round included at least 16 investors — one of whom is Bezos. While many of the investors have yet to be identified, Los Angeles-based Slauson & Co spoke to TechCrunch about therefore it entered with the introduction of EV in its first round of funding, as well as Slate’s Series B.

Slate Auto is appearing on the TechCrunch Disrupt main stage

October 30 – Slate Auto CEO Chris Barman sat down for an interview on the main stage TechCrunch Disrupt 2025where he talked about Jeff Bezos’ involvement, the challenge of building an automaker from scratch, and how the company plans to create a custom-built market.

The slate spans over 150,000 locations

December 16 – Although EV growth is fading in the US, Slate Auto crosses 150,000 deposits refunded for his car and SUV, showing that the car still has great interest despite the loss of the federal tax credit. And with so few EVs slated to come to the US, it looks like the startup will have very little competition at the high end of the market.

2026

Amazing CEO exchange

March 9 – Slate draws a surprise and exchanges it in a The new CEO: former Amazon Marketplace VP Peter Faricy. Former CEO (and Slate’s first tenant) Chris Barman remains with the company, transitioning to “President of Cars”. Slate caught up with Faricy to prepare for the launch of his sales at the end of the year – starting with converting the reservation list into as many orders as possible.