Slate, the Modular, Customizable EV Starts at $25K

EVs have often chased the latest technology—from app and software features to comfort upgrades and AI such as FSD. Pushing in the opposite direction, Slate Auto has introduced a highly modular EV with a starting price of $24,950.

That figure excludes taxes, destination charges, documentation fees, and any optional equipment, keeping the base model just under the $25,000 mark.

Rather than serving as a low-cost EV for its own sake, the vehicle rethinks ownership, maintenance, and amenities by stripping away nonessentials and offering a modern platform that owners can customize extensively. It also invites the question: What is the minimum viable EV, and who is it for?

Prices for Other Models

At its foundation, the platform defies traditional categories. The base configuration, called the Blank Slate, is a pickup, but the design is modular. Using specialized structural kits from the Slate Shop, owners can convert it into a five-seat SUV, a fastback-style SUV, or an Open-Air Truck.

The Blank Slate starts at $24,950. The SUV setup begins at $29,950, and the fastback variant is priced at $31,950. Pricing for the forthcoming Open-Air version has not been announced; unlike the two SUV options, it is a DIY kit.

Every vehicle leaves the factory with the same unpainted gray plastic exterior. For color, buyers turn to the accessory shop, where finishes are applied exclusively via vinyl wraps.

Specs: Acceptable, Not Exceptional

The vehicle emphasizes affordability and mod-ability over headline specs. It uses a 65kWh LFP battery pack with an estimated 205 EPA miles of range.

A single rear-mounted motor delivers 181 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, resulting in an estimated 0-60 mph time of about 8 seconds. The pickup variant is rated for a payload of roughly 1,550 lbs and a towing capacity of about 2,000 lbs.

The bed measures 5 feet with a volume of 35.1 cubic feet, and there is a 7.0-cubic-foot frunk. The wheelbase is 108.9 inches.

The vehicle uses a NACS connector positioned on the rear driver’s side and can charge from 20% to 80% in approximately 30 minutes at a DC fast charger. The LFP chemistry allows daily charging to 100% with minimal degradation, and given the limited range, the platform is best suited to local use.

Specs at a Glance

Official, finalized specifications are pending, as EPA testing has not yet been completed.

Hardware-as-a-Service Accessory Model

The interior is intentionally sparse. While Tesla popularized minimalism, this approach goes further.

The base setup omits features long considered standard, including an infotainment system, integrated speakers, and power windows. Instead, these are offered through an accessory ecosystem.

Buyers can purchase optional speakers, climate control knobs, and door armrests from the Slate shop. The vehicle follows a Bring Your Own Device approach: a smartphone mount is standard and a tablet mount is optional, with the owner’s device serving as the primary interface for media and navigation. Even the telematics module required to link the vehicle to a mobile app is a post-purchase add-on. This model enables the sub-$25,000 headline price while shifting revenue to accessories as owners assemble their preferred cabin.

Designed for Modularity

Modularity extends to common components. Many parts, such as headlights and taillights, are off-the-shelf items widely available. The headlights, for example, are standard Jeep Wrangler units that can be found for less than $500 each.

Customization spans the interior and exterior, including interchangeable “Slatelets” for the dashboard as well as grille plates and bumper options.

The company plans to release a full set of training videos under the “Slate University” banner to help customers maintain, modify, or upgrade their vehicles. A library of 3D files will also be provided with the first customer deliveries to facilitate 3D printing or part fabrication.

Tesla vs Slate

Compared with Tesla’s entry-level lineup—specifically the Model Y Standard and the Cybertruck All-Wheel Drive—this vehicle targets a different audience. The Model Y showcases deep vertical integration and a software-defined experience out of the box, including FSD, a polished infotainment system, and a refined cabin.

The Cybertruck AWD, despite its unconventional structure, is a high-performance product featuring steer-by-wire, an 800-volt architecture, and very rapid acceleration. By contrast, Slate positions its vehicle for budget-conscious buyers, DIY tinkerers, and fleet users who see a vehicle primarily as a configurable tool.

Outfitting the platform with an SUV conversion kit, a wrap, armrests, and audio accessories can quickly push the transaction price well past $30,000. At that level, the Model Y Standard is a serious alternative, but Slate is banking on customers who don’t want to pay for features they consider unnecessary.

Whether this bare-bones, modular strategy can be scaled remains uncertain, but it brings pronounced utilitarian focus to an EV market that increasingly skews toward luxury.

Because the vehicle just barely meets NHTSA safety requirements, sales are currently planned only for the United States. The company has stated it does not intend to expand internationally except for Canada and Mexico.