Slate truck price leaked at $24,950, undercutting Ford by $5K

Key Takeaways

• A developer's code comment revealed Slate's price as $24,950, labeled 'CONFIDENTIAL' in the source
• The leaked figure undercuts Ford's expected budget EV pickup by roughly $5,000
• Slate opens official preorders June 24 with over 150,000 $50 reservations already placed

A developer left the quiet part in the code. The Slate truck price, which the Jeff Bezos-backed startup had called confidential, sat in a comment on the company's preorder page: $24,950. The Autopian and other car enthusiasts spotted it before Slate pulled the page down, but the number was already out.

If confirmed when preorders open June 24, that price makes the Slate the cheapest new pickup sold in the United States. It also undercuts Ford's upcoming budget electric pickup, expected near $30,000, by about $5,000.

What exactly did the leaked code say?

The Autopian co-founder Jason Torchinsky reported that the price appeared in metadata comments on Slate's preorder page, not anywhere a typical visitor would see. The text marked the figure 'CONFIDENTIAL' and noted the team remained under NDA. A second page on Slate's retail site briefly showed the same $24,950 number before someone deleted it.

Two separate pages, same figure, same company. That's why most observers are treating this as an official number that slipped out early rather than a placeholder or typo.

Slate's own FAQ still describes the Blank Slate as priced 'in the mid-twenties.' After the federal EV tax credit disappeared last year, Slate added language promising to hold that mid-$20K target instead of raising prices. The leaked $24,950 fits that commitment exactly.

What do you actually get for $24,950?

The leaked price applies to the 'Blank Slate' base configuration. This is a stripped-down truck by design. It ships with unpainted composite body panels, manual crank windows, no stereo, and no infotainment screen. Instead, there's a mount for your phone. Heating and air conditioning are standard, controlled by analog knobs.

Under the body, a single rear-mounted motor produces 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. Slate says that's good for 0-60 mph in about eight seconds and a top speed near 90 mph. The standard battery delivers 150 miles of range. An upgrade to an 84.3 kWh pack stretches that to 240 miles. Fast charging maxes out at 120 kW, enough to go from 20% to 80% in roughly 30 minutes.

Slate's pitch is that the truck is a platform, not a finished product. Every unit leaves the factory as a two-seat pickup. From there, owners can add a Squareback SUV Kit, a sportier Fastback Kit, an Open Air Kit that removes the hardtop and rear windows, or a Cargo Kit that converts the bed into covered van-style storage. The SUV kits seat five. Buyers can even order the truck without doors.

How does this compare to Ford's EV pickup?

Ford has been teasing a budget electric pickup expected to start near $30,000. The company has struggled with F-150 Lightning pricing. The base Lightning Pro started at $39,995, which priced out many traditional truck buyers who saw it as a premium product rather than a workhorse.

A $5,000 gap matters in the truck market. Buyers choosing between two similar-capability vehicles often decide on monthly payment differences. At current financing rates, $5,000 translates to roughly $90-100 per month over a five-year loan. That's real money for the budget-conscious buyers both companies want to reach.

The tradeoff: Ford's truck will almost certainly come with more features out of the box. Slate's base model is deliberately bare-bones. The question is whether price sensitivity outweighs feature expectations for first-time EV truck buyers.

150,000 reservations and counting

More than 150,000 people have already placed refundable $50 reservations for the Slate. That's a strong signal of demand at the rumored price point, though reservation-to-purchase conversion rates vary wildly across EV startups. Many early Tesla Cybertruck reservation holders, for example, never converted when final pricing came in higher than expected.

Slate raised $650 million to get the truck into production. The company opens official preorders and reveals final pricing on Wednesday, June 24. If the leaked figure holds, Slate will have achieved its stated goal of building the most affordable new pickup in America.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I officially preorder a Slate truck?

Slate opens official preorders on Wednesday, June 24, when the company will also reveal final confirmed pricing.

How much range does the Slate truck have?

The standard battery provides 150 miles of range. An upgraded 84.3 kWh battery pack extends range to 240 miles.

Is the Slate truck price of $24,950 confirmed?

Not officially. The figure appeared in leaked source code comments. Slate's FAQ still describes pricing as 'in the mid-twenties,' which aligns with the leaked number.

Can you customize the Slate truck?

Yes. Slate sells conversion kits including SUV, Fastback, Open Air, and Cargo configurations. You can even order the truck without doors.

How long does the Slate truck take to charge?

With 120 kW fast charging, the battery goes from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes.

Source: How-To Geek