The Slate Truck Can Transform into a Budget-Friendly SUV with an Optional IKEA-Style Kit
Slate
Receive The Drive’s daily newsletter
The new Slate electric pickup seeks to be a versatile option for everyone, with extensive customization—hence the name Slate, symbolizing a blank slate. This flexibility even extends to the truck’s body style. Priced under $20,000, the EV will offer an SUV conversion kit that transforms the two-seat pickup’s five-foot bed into an enclosed area for passengers and cargo. And the best part? You can do it all yourself.
Marketed as a “flat-pack accessory,” the SUV Kit includes all the essentials needed to convert your Slate pickup into a fully crashworthy five-seat Slate SUV. This includes a roll cage, airbags, and a single rear seat (suggesting it’s a one-piece, three-passenger bench). The announcement states, “Do it yourself or have it done for you.” It’s hard to believe we actually have DIY pickup trucks reminiscent of IKEA before GTA VI.
The company also shared an image of an open-air Slate with doors removed, similar to a Jeep Wrangler, although this specific kit wasn't mentioned in the official release.
SUV Slate!
Open-air Slate!
Fastback Slate!
For a visual comparison, consider the blocky-roof Slate that resembles a Land Rover Defender versus the slanted Fastback model.
Reportedly supported by billionaire Jeff Bezos, Slate aims to achieve what Tesla, Ford, and many startups have yet to accomplish: create an entry-level electric vehicle that is genuinely affordable. Priced under $20,000 after incentives, the truck is intentionally simple, featuring steel wheels, manual windows, a basic three-knob climate control system, and a phone mount instead of an infotainment display.
Slate
While the starting price of the base truck is said to be below $20,000, the cost of the SUV Kit remains unclear.
The Slate pickup is expected to be manufactured in the U.S. and will have a single electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, driving the rear wheels. It comes with a NACS charging port and a 52.7-kWh battery, targeting a range of 150 miles. An optional 84.3-kWh battery is said to offer 240 miles of range. It can charge at speeds up to 120 kW, reaching from 20% to 80% in under 30 minutes with DC fast charging. With a towing capacity of up to 1,000 pounds, the Slate accelerates from zero to 60 mph in eight seconds and attains a top speed of 90 mph.
If you have a tip or question for the author about the Slate SUV Kit, you can contact him here: [email protected]
Other articles
The Slate Truck is two feet shorter than the Ford Maverick, yet it features a larger bed.
The surprisingly compact size should categorize this small EV as unique.
The Charm of Land Rover’s New-Old Defender V8 Comes with a Price Tag That May Surprise You | Carscoops
It is pricier than a Bentley Bentayga, yet it's difficult to assign a value to something truly amazing.
Buyer Files Lawsuit Against Nissan for Concealed Issues with Rogue Door Locks | Carscoops
The lawsuit alleges that Nissan intentionally hid the existence of faulty door lock actuators in various model years.
Slate's Electric Pickup Signifies the Comeback of the Compact Single Cab Truck
Certainly, the Ford Maverick was compact upon its release, but the Slate is actually an inch shorter than the first-generation Ranger—and the similarities extend beyond that.
NHTSA Has Turned Musk's Robotaxi Vision Into Reality By Overhauling Crash Reports | Carscoops
Tesla and its competitors benefit as limits on exemptions and regulations for domestic autonomous vehicle testing are relaxed.
Slate Disrupts the EV Market with $28,000 Pickup that Transforms into an SUV | Carscoops
Slate has secured financial support from Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon.
The Slate Truck Can Transform into a Budget-Friendly SUV with an Optional IKEA-Style Kit
The modular truck can be transformed into a more streamlined Fastback or an open-air, doorless vehicle similar to a Wrangler.