Thanks, Trump: Slate's Truck Probably Won't Cost Under $20,000

With Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' killing the EV federal tax incentive, the Slate Truck probably won’t start at under $20,000.

Slate Truck No Longer Under $20,000

Photo by: Slate

Jeff Perez

By: Jeff Perez

Jul 7, 2025 at 11:00am ET

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The Jeff Bezos-backed Slate Truck debuted in April with promises of 201 horsepower, 150 miles of range, and most importantly, a sub-$20,000 asking price. But thanks to President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," that affordable price tag may be out the door before the truck even hits the road.

The Trump Administration eliminated the federal EV tax credit with the signing of the "Big Beautiful Bill," which cleared the House and Senate before making its way to the president's desk on July 4. All new EVs—not just from Slate—will lose the maximum $7,500 federal tax credits that helped keep prices low. Buyers still have until September 30 to take advantage of them.

slate truck exterior under starlight

Photo by: Slate

Slate advertised a sub-$20,000 starting price for its base pickup with the caveat: "After federal incentives." As initially reported by TechCrunch, the company has since removed that pricing promise from its website. We've reached out to the automaker for confirmation.

Slate's sub-$20,000 asking price was for its most affordable bare-bones Truck; gray paint, two seats, a gauge cluster, and that's about it. Of course, buyers can still option things like cup holders and power windows if they so choose, with fancier features like an infotainment system, speakers, and an SUV conversion all available for an extra cost.

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No matter how you spec it, every version of the Slate Truck comes with the same 52.7-kilowatt-hour battery pack and promises 150 miles of range. An "accessory" 84.3-kWh pack increases the range to 240 miles.

Even with President Trump's EV tax credit reversal looming, buyers are seemingly still eager to get their hands on a new Slate Truck. The company racked up over 100,000 reservations for its pint-sized pickup within a week of its debut. Deliveries are scheduled to kick off sometime in 2026.