Jay Leno Takes First Drive in Slate's New Electric Pickup Truck

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Jay Leno, the host of the popular YouTube series "Jay Leno's Garage," was given the opportunity to be the first to drive Slate's new electric pickup truck prototype. The Slate truck is aimed at the lower end of the truck market, with a target price in the mid-$20,000 range, even after the $7,500 federal EV tax credit was eliminated. While Leno doesn't provide a definitive verdict on the truck, he notes that it is "able to do what a lot of electric vehicles can do, just for half the price."

Why it matters

Slate is positioning its new electric truck to fill a gap in the market for more affordable, no-frills pickup options. As legacy automakers have focused on higher-end, more expensive trucks, Slate sees an opportunity to cater to buyers who want the functionality of a truck at a lower price point. Leno's first impressions of the prototype provide early insight into how this new player in the EV truck space is shaping up.

The details

The Slate electric pickup truck was officially unveiled to the media last April. The basic, two-seater model is meant to address a segment of the truck market that Slate says has been abandoned by major automakers. While the original pricing goal was under $20,000, that has had to be adjusted upward due to the elimination of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. Even so, Slate is aiming to offer the truck in the mid-$20,000 range. One of the Slate's key selling points is its customizability, with the ability to add on kits to turn it into an SUV-style vehicle.

• The Slate electric pickup truck was officially unveiled to the media last April.
• The Slate truck is slated to be released to the public later this year.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Slate electric pickup truck is expected to be released to the public later this year, providing more opportunities for reviews and assessments of the vehicle's capabilities and value proposition.