There’s just something about mini‑trucks, those small and efficient pickups of yesteryear that were fun to drive, easy to customize, and affordable to almost anyone. They were simple, practical, and easy to make your own, which is why they developed such a loyal, dare we say cult, following. So why aren’t modern versions of these trucks available today? That’s the question emerging automaker Slate is working to answer with its coming Slate EV pickup.
As we’ve seen over the years, new vehicles tend to grow with each generation and pickups are no different. Each redesign gets a little longer, a little wider, and a little taller in the name of comfort, capability, and competitive advantage. Trucks are larger than ever, and even midsize models can feel oversized in tight urban spaces. For drivers who want the utility of a pickup without the bulk, the market has offered few real alternatives. Ford does sell a smaller and more affordable answer in the form of its Maverick, a compact pickup available with hybrid or combustion power, though it’s not available as an electric like the Slate.
More Small Pickups on the Horizon
Other automakers are also exploring smaller pickups for the U.S. market. Toyota is reportedly developing a compact model positioned below Tacoma, Ford is working on an all‑new compact electric pickup targeted at about $30,000, and RAM is developing a smaller truck to slot beneath its full‑size offerings. Startups are active here as well, including Telo, which is creating a very compact and kind of quirky electric pickup aimed at urban users.
Slate is taking a different approach. Backed by major investors including Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, the company is developing a compact electric pickup built around simplicity, affordability, and customization. The minimalistic Slate Truck is just a bit larger than the mini‑trucks of the 1970s and 1980s like the Toyota HiLux, Chevy LUV Truck, and Ford Courier. Slate expects about 150 miles of range in standard form with an expected starting price likely to begin in the high $20,000s. Reservations are a mere $50, and production, if planning holds, is planned to begin later this year.
Back‑to‑Basics Slate EV Pickup
The Slate Truck keeps things at a strictly fundamental level. It comes with manual cloth seats, crank windows, and steel wheels. There’s no built‑in infotainment screen. A driver’s smartphone mounts to the dash instead. The truck uses composite body panels molded in slate gray to eliminate the need for paint. Partial wraps, decals, and full body wraps in 100 different colors are available for those who want something more distinctive and personal.
This approach is intentional. By avoiding paint shops and large metal stamping operations, Slate reduces factory costs that help keep the truck’s price within reach. The company’s philosophy centers on delivering a simple, durable platform that owners can personalize rather than a feature‑heavy vehicle that drives up cost. If you want to spend more, you can. You just don’t have to.
Modern Echo of the Mini-Truck Era
The Slate Truck fits neatly into the lineage of the compact pickups that defined the 1970s and early 1980s. Trucks like the Toyota HiLux, Chevy LUV, and Ford Courier became popular because they were inexpensive, easy to modify, and sized for everyday use. Slate mirrors those proportions closely. At 174.6 inches long, it’s nearly identical in length to the originals, though wider and taller to meet modern preferences. The resemblance is intentional. Slate is reviving a format that disappeared as trucks grew larger and more complex, and not inconsequentially, priced out of many buyers’ budgets.
Affordability was central to the mini‑truck boom. Most entry‑level models sold for $3,000 to $5,000 in the late 1970s, equal to roughly $14,000 to $23,000 in today’s dollars. Slate’s pricing in the high $20,000s places it slightly above that inflation‑adjusted range but still well below the cost of today’s full‑size and midsize pickups. In a market where trucks often exceed $60,000, Slate’s pricing strategy feels like a return to fundamentals.
Capable and Adaptable
Capability also aligns with the past. Classic mini‑trucks typically offered payload ratings between 1,000 and 1,500 pounds. Slate matches that with a 1,433‑pound capacity and adds a 1,000‑pound tow rating. Despite the added weight of its electric powertrain, the Slate Truck delivers the same practical utility that made the originals popular with tradespeople, small business owners, and everyday drivers.
Customization is where Slate most clearly channels the earlier era. The mini‑truck movement, which peaked by the mid‑1980s, was defined by personalization. Lowered or raised suspensions, bright graphics, fastback cargo shells, and custom interiors were common. Custom wheels were a given. Aftermarket support with customizing parts, graphics, and systems was far-reaching to optimize uniqueness. Slate revives that spirit with more than one hundred planned accessories, support for 3D‑printed parts, and modular kits that can even transform the truck into an SUV. It’s a modern interpretation of the same idea of starting with a simple, affordable platform and letting owners make it their own.
Slate EV Pickup Support
Capability remains modest but functional. The Slate Truck is designed to tow 1,000 pounds and haul just over 1,400 pounds in its five‑foot bed. Its compact footprint makes it maneuverable in tight spaces while still offering meaningful utility for daily tasks and carrying goods.
Slate is also building the support structure around the truck. A national network of service centers, powered by RepairPal, will handle accessory installation and maintenance. The use of a NACS chargeport means Slate customers will also have access to the expansive Tesla Supercharger network, which gives the truck reliable fast charging access in many parts of the country.
A Practical New EV Option
Production will take place in a repurposed 1.4‑million‑square‑foot facility in Indiana. Slate has been installing automated body shop robotics, trim‑line equipment, and inspection systems as it prepares the plant for full production. The company’s progress is backed by significant financial support. Slate recently closed a $650‑million Series C funding round led by TWG Global. The investment’s intended to accelerate production and help the company scale its operations as it moves toward launch.
In a market dominated by ever-larger and ever more expensive trucks, the Slate Truck stands out by going small, staying simple, and giving owners the freedom to build what they want. It’s a fresh take on the electric pickup, one that doesn’t chase excess or status. For drivers who pine for the honesty of earlier mini‑trucks, missed that era entirely, or simply want an EV that isn’t trying to be everything at once, Slate’s compact pickup isn’t just a practical new option. It’s a reminder that not every good idea needs to be supersized.