This new sub $25,000 EV pickup is backed by Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos-backed startup Slate Auto just fired a major shot across the bow of the electric vehicle market, officially launching preorders for its bare-bones EV pickup truck, 'The Blank Slate,' at an eye-popping $24,950. Revealed on June 24, 2026, this disruptive price point, significantly undercutting the industry average, aims to crack the code on EV affordability and could reshape consumer expectations for electric workhorses. Deliveries are slated to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, with the company betting on a stripped-down, customizable approach to win over cost-conscious buyers. This aggressive entry comes as the broader EV market faces headwinds from cooling demand and stubbornly high prices, with the average new electric vehicle costing around $57,000. Slate, which has secured approximately $1.46 billion in funding including a recent $650 million Series C round in April 2026, aims to challenge established players and even other EV startups like Rivian, which recently faced layoffs amid profitability struggles. CEO Peter Faricy, a former Amazon executive, touts a 'gross-margin positive' strategy from day one, focusing on a modular design with manual features and extensive post-purchase customization via its Slate Marketplace to keep initial costs low. With over 180,000 reservations already in the bag, Slate is now converting these to $300 non-refundable preorders, signaling strong initial interest despite the federal EV tax credit having ended in September 2025. The Warsaw, Indiana manufacturing facility is gearing up for normal production by August, targeting 150,000 vehicles annually, though federal vehicle validation and certification remain critical next hurdles for the Q4 2026 delivery timeline. The success of 'The Blank Slate' will offer a crucial test of whether an ultra-affordable, no-frills electric truck can genuinely expand EV adoption and prove profitable in a challenging automotive landscape.