The Slate Truck’s Real Base Price Has Finally Been Revealed

A few weeks ago, Slate Auto confirmed the base MSRP of its barebones electric pickup, but it held back an important piece of information: the mandatory destination and delivery charge. That information has now come to light thanks to InsideEVs, which says that Slate's head of public relations and communications, Jeff Jablansky, confirmed that the freight charge has been set at $1,450, which is the lowest destination fee of any pickup on sale in the U.S. Combined with the $24,950 starting price, and the least you'll pay for a new Slate truck is $26,400. At least, unless you find ways of getting the government to help.

Slate Truck's Pricing Swings Depending On Options And Rebates

While the starting MSRP has gone up considerably from the sub-$20k target set when the federal tax credit for EVs was still in place, numerous state incentives allow certain qualifying buyers to get rebates that can bring the overall cost back under $20,000. In California, bundled incentives can bring the price as low as $9,450 if this is your first EV purchase, your earnings are at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty line, and you scrap a running internal combustion vehicle. Other states offer less, and not everyone will qualify for all the rebates, but it's nice to know that affordable transportation can be a reality. For those with far healthier bank accounts, tacking on options can swing the price in the other direction, with a fully-loaded Slate truck costing almost $46,500. For a truck that prioritizes affordability and customization, this gulf in pricing is a pretty good advertisement. But Slate will have to make hay while the sun shines, because it won't have this corner of the market to itself for long.

Alternatives To Slate's Cheap Truck Are Coming

Slate's EV is expected to reach customers before the end of the year, and it will soon thereafter do battle with alternatives from both the old guard and the new on the way. Representing legacy automakers in the blue corner, Ford is working on a more practical four-door electric pickup that will cost under $30,000, while in the red corner, newcomer REO Industries says it will sell a small gas-powered truck called the Runabout, targeting a base MSRP of just $21,500 - no EV incentives necessary. Even after these debut, Slate's small electric truck won't have any direct rivals, but success depends on how many of the hordes of internet fans celebrating this truck's creation put their money where their mouths are and follow through on a purchase. For the sake of increased affordability and competition, we hope both buyers and alternatives grow with each passing year.

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