The $25,000 Slate truck is proudly bare-bones. I think these add-ons are worth the extra money.

The Slate truck doesn't person a emblematic key.

Unlike today's cars — which battalion proximity sensors wrong a small integrative container that runs tech that allows drivers to commencement the motor via a push-start fastener — the Slate has a elemental solution.

Drivers put a quadrate cardinal into a quadrate slot. The instrumentality show flicks on. A azygous doorbell chimes.

That's it. There is nary theatrical lighting sequence, symphony-like entranceway music, aliases tremendous touchscreen springing to life.

Even the windows are simpler. They're controlled by manual manus cranks. In my test, it took six aliases 7 spins earlier the solid vanished into the doorway panel.

The deliberately plain interior captures Slate's full pitch: Modern cars are excessively complicated, excessively expensive, and excessively eager to make each market travel consciousness for illustration a Silicon Valley hype cycle.

Slate's $24,950 electrical motortruck (a small complete $26,000, aft transportation fees) starts pinch the basics. Buyers tin past usage the company's accessory marketplace to adhd backmost the features they attraction about, including speakers, upgraded upholstery, colorful assemblage wraps, retention accessories, and towing equipment.

It is simply a very different measurement to make money aft trading a car. While different automakers progressively trust connected package subscriptions and features delivered done updates, Slate wants customers to bargain beingness upgrades.

I drove a prototype connected Tuesday and came distant pleasantly surprised. The inexpensive motortruck was roomy, balanced, and genuinely nosy to drive.

But the acquisition besides showed maine which modern conveniences I would miss.

These are the add-ons I'd bargain to make the bare-bones Slate motortruck livable — positive the options I'd take if money were nary object.

My non-negotiables

I recovered 5 add-ons connected Slate's marketplace that I'd need.

More seats

The guidelines Slate is simply a two-seat pickup, which could beryllium cleanable for a mini business hauling products astir town. It would beryllium considerably little useful for my life, unless I abruptly decided to extremity driving my friends anywhere.

So my first upgrade would beryllium Slate's squareback SUV kit. It adds a second-row bench, increases capacity from 2 group to five, and raises the value from $24,950 to $29,950.

Speakers

My friends would beryllium huffy if that car were silent.

I walk excessively overmuch clip successful cars listening to podcasts and Beyoncé to trust connected the earthy symphonies of the roadway, truthful I would adhd Slate's $250 integrated speaker system. Buyers committed to the stripped-down manner tin alternatively take a cosmopolitan speaker mount, though Slate has not yet announced its price.

Extra locks

I would besides walk $100 connected a locking tailgate. Leaving the contents of the furniture disposable to anyone stepping past feels a small excessively bare-bones, moreover for Slate.

Accessories for a motorcycle rack

Finally, I motorcycle capable that I would request a rear-mounted bearer and a tow hitch to clasp it. Together, those adhd different $700.

That brings my supposedly bare-bones Slate to astir $31,000 earlier taxes and destination fees.

At that price, it starts bumping into vehicles for illustration the guidelines Ford Maverick and Nissan Leaf — some of which get pinch powerfulness windows, infotainment screens, and less decisions to make earlier leaving the dealership.

If money didn't clasp maine back…

OK, but what if I decided to scatter out?

My dream Slate would see a bevy of wildly unnecessary (but fun!) upgrades.

I would commencement pinch a bluish assemblage wrap, a achromatic roof, matching instrumentality covers, and yellowish accents. Who needs that $1,056 anyway?

Naturally, the yellowish would proceed inside. And because I would besides want to task outdoorsy ruggedness, I would adhd a rear-mounted spare tire, an upgraded bumper, fender flares, moving boards, and a tile rack that I perfectly do not cognize really to use.

That adds different $2,374.94.

By the clip I finished, my dream Slate had 28 accessories, including 5 that Slate has not priced yet. The moving full reached $34,949 earlier those last bits and bobs.

That excess is portion of Slate's appeal.

Automakers person spent years filling parking tons pinch crossover SUVs that progressively blur together. It tin beryllium difficult to separate a Toyota RAV4 from a Honda CR-V aliases Mazda CX-5 waiting successful the schoolhouse pickup line.

The era of the affordable characteristic car — think the Volkswagen Beetle aliases Chrysler PT Cruiser — has mostly faded.

Slate gives buyers an different magnitude of state to make the motortruck look for illustration their own, correct down to a caller partnership pinch Crayola.

Whether that is capable to create a mass-market deed remains to beryllium seen. But aft years of progressively interchangeable cars, it is astatine slightest nosy to build 1 pinch a small imagination.