Jeff Bezos Backs Slate Auto to Mass Produce $25,000 Electric Pickup Truck, Echoing Ford's Model T Vision

Jeff Bezos is reportedly backing Slate Auto, a Michigan-based EV startup, to mass-produce an affordable, two-seat electric pickup truck priced around $25,000. This initiative, drawing inspiration from Henry Ford's Model T, aims to make electric vehicles accessible to a broader market. Slate Auto, founded in 2022 out of Re:Build Manufacturing, is targeting production by late 2026 at a facility near Indianapolis, Indiana. The company has attracted talent from major automakers like Ford, GM, Stellantis, and Harley-Davidson. Slate Auto secured $111 million in a Series A funding round in 2023, with Bezos' family office participating. A Series B round followed in late 2024. The startup plans to compensate for lower profit margins on the truck itself by offering customizable accessories and apparel. While Bezos has invested over $1.3 billion in Rivian, Slate Auto represents a more direct venture into the EV sector. The company's strategy focuses on affordability and mass-market appeal, potentially disrupting the EV landscape by offering a low-cost option. The design is reportedly inspired by the Ford Model T and VW Beetle, aiming to bring EV technology to a wider audience.