Jeff Bezos-Backed Tesla-Rival Launches an 'Affordable' and Customizable EV Truck. Here's What It Looks Like.

"Non-gearheads" now person the chance to creation their ain cars.

Last month, an image appeared connected Reddit of an unidentifiable mini motortruck successful a parking batch successful Los Angeles. The sighting was first noted by Carscoops conscionable aft TechCrunch reported that Jeff Bezos was making an "affordable" conveyance done a "secretive EV startup" called Slate Auto.

Related: I Tried Buying a Car connected Amazon. Here Are the Pros and Cons.

Internet sleuths quickly put together (and TechCrunch confirmed) that the motortruck successful the Reddit image was the existent Slate Auto conception car.

Now, the institution is fresh for reservations, and personalization is key. Everything is customizable, from the exterior look to the colour to the interior knobs.

"We deliberation everyone should beryllium capable to personalize their car," the website says. "But vehicles aren't built to beryllium customized by non-gearheads (we emotion you, gearheads). So, we changed that."

Provided by Slate Auto

In a video announcing the caller "radically simple, radically affordable Slate truck" connected X, CEO Chris Barman said the value starts successful the "mid 20s," though it will beryllium person to $20,000 (after national EV taxation credits). The single-cab electrical motortruck is group to beryllium delivered to customers successful precocious 2026. The institution is based successful Troy, Michigan.

The group spoke. We built. Meet the radically simple, radically affordable Slate. Reserve yours astatine https://t.co/Y5RkOIFCRo pic.twitter.com/uvSZVpdkWv

"There's a monolithic organization of group retired location erstwhile it comes to safe, reliable, affordable transportation; location conscionable really aren't galore alternatives for them," CEO Chris Barman told Business Insider up of the charismatic unveiling.

Related: The 'Secretive' Electric Vehicle Affordable Truck Was Just Spotted successful Los Angeles

One measurement the institution is keeping it affordable is done its customization options. For example, the trucks are wrapped, not painted, and tin beryllium changed astatine a customer's whim.

"With different cars, you prime your colour erstwhile you bargain it, and that's it," the website says. "With a Slate, you tin prime your colour whenever—and alteration it whenever. It's the first conveyance of its benignant designed to beryllium easy wrapped."

Wrap kits will commencement astir $500, according to the company. (Though keeping it the elemental gray—as per the Reddit reveal—will still guidelines out.)

Amazon laminitis Bezos, Mark Walter (Los Angeles Dodgers mostly proprietor and CEO of Guggenheim Partners), and investor Thomas Tull person helped the caller car institution raise astatine slightest $111 million, per TechCrunch.

NBC reports that, according to a document revenge pinch the Securities and Exchange Commission, Melinda Lewison, the caput of Bezos' family office, is the caller Slate Auto director.