Electric vehicle startup Slate Auto may have grabbed headlines with its ultra-affordable electric pickup, but it doesn’t intend to stop there. In a recent interview with InsideEVs, CEO Chris Barman said that while the company’s first model, a stripped-down EV truck designed to cost in the “mid-$20,000” range, still needs a final price and production ramp-up, Slate aspires to build additional electric vehicles beyond its debut model.
The first Slate truck, a compact rear-motor, two-door electric pickup with an optional extended range battery, has quickly become one of the EVs to look forward to, which is expected to start production toward the end of 2026 at a Midwestern U.S. plant. Slate claimed more than 150,000 refundable reservations late last year, roughly matching the company’s targeted maximum annual output once production peaks in 2027.
Although the actual price tag is still being finalized, Barman told reporters that building tools to deliver the lowest possible MSRP remains a high priority. Even without final pricing, the Slate truck’s design philosophy is clear: less complexity and more customer-driven customization. Buyers can start with a bare-bones “Blank Slate” and add accessories like wraps, wheels, or even a kit to turn the truck into a five-seat SUV by paying extra.
That modular, customer-driven mindset may also inform the models Slate plans to explore next. Barman said Slate isn’t limiting its ambitions to just one electric vehicle: as the company learns from production, sales, and customer feedback, it hopes to expand its lineup. That could include other body styles or vehicle segments that maintain the startup’s focus on affordability and simplicity, although details and timelines remain unconfirmed.
Slate’s approach contrasts sharply with most mainstream EV makers, which often launch high-end models before trickling features down to cheaper trims. Slate flipped that script by launching a basic, minimal-feature truck first: a move that earned both attention and skepticism. If it succeeds, the startup could carve out a niche among buyers who prioritize price and practicality over luxury extras. Whether Slate will deliver on a broader vehicle lineup depends on production scale, supplier relationships, and demand consistency through the next few years. But the CEO’s public comments clearly signal that the company wants to be a platform for practical, low-cost electric mobility across multiple vehicle types.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.
Missing out on the self-driving future is a tough pill to swallow, especially as a car enthusiast. But that is what Tesla handed us on Wednesday, without a hint of mercy.
During its October 21, 2026 earnings call, Elon Musk told investors the Cybercab is meant mainly as a ride service. Further, nearly all of them will be owned and managed by Tesla.