Slate Auto will announce pricing and take preorders for its EV on June 24
Source: TechCrunch
Slate Auto, the electric‑vehicle startup backed by Jeff Bezos and LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter, will announce pricing and start taking non‑refundable pre‑orders for its low‑cost EV on June 24, ahead of the first deliveries later this year.
Announcement Details
The company emailed prospective buyers on Thursday, encouraging a $50 reservation now ahead of the $300 pre‑orders that begin next month. Early reservers will receive a “delivery window before non‑reservers.” An FAQ on the pre‑order page confirms that pricing will be announced on June 24. Slate did not respond to a request for comment.
Company Background
Slate emerged from stealth in April 2025 after TechCrunch revealed its secretive plans to build a low‑cost, no‑frills, customizable vehicle TechCrunch article. The startup once touted a base model that could be converted from a two‑seat truck to a five‑seat SUV for under $20,000 with a $7,500 federal tax credit. That credit was eliminated by the Trump administration and Congress late last year TechCrunch article. Slate now says the vehicle will start in the mid‑$20,000 range.
Reservations and Pricing
More than 160,000 potential customers have made refundable $50 reservations since the EV was unveiled last year. Converting reservation holders into actual buyers has proven challenging for many EV startups.
Leadership Change
In March, Slate named a new CEO: former Amazon Marketplace vice president Peter Faricy TechCrunch article. Many of Slate’s leadership positions are filled by ex‑Amazon executives.
Funding
In April, Slate announced a $650 million Series C funding round TechCrunch article, bringing total capital raised to roughly $1.4 billion. Much of the funding appears to have come from Walter’s firm, TWG Global. While Bezos participated in Slate’s initial financing, his involvement in later rounds has not been detailed. In May, TechCrunch reported that his family office manager stepped down from Slate’s board TechCrunch article.
This story has been updated to reflect that Slate Auto will announce pricing on June 24.