The Full Timeline of Slate Auto: The Secret Bezos-Backed EV Startup Shaking Up The Auto Industry
When new automotive startup Slate Auto emerged from stealth mode in April 2025, it sent immediate shockwaves across the global car industry. The upstart wasn’t just developing an ultra-affordable, fully customizable electric pickup backed by Jeff Bezos—it had already operated in total secrecy for three years in Troy, Michigan, the literal backyard of Detroit auto giants Ford and General Motors.
TechCrunch was the first outlet to break the story, revealing the startup’s existence, ties to the Amazon founder, and one-of-a-kind unusual business model in early April. In the weeks between our initial scoop and Slate’s official public debut at the end of the month, updates came fast and furious, with working prototypes of the brand’s truck spotted popping up across California.
Slate stands out as a rare outlier in the U.S. EV sector, where bankruptcies, botched product launches, and last-minute business pivots have become the norm for new startups. While the company’s current roster of backers, leadership team, debut product, and unique business model outline a promising path forward, the road to mass production (targeted for late 2026) is still littered with major potential obstacles. Below is every key milestone you need to know about Slate Auto, from its origins to its launch plans.
Full Timeline of Key Events
April 8, 2025: TechCrunch Exposes The Stealth Startup After A Year-Long Investigation
After 12 months of reporting, TechCrunch published an exclusive revealing that Slate Auto had operated under the radar for three years with financial backing from both Jeff Bezos and Mark Walter, owner of the LA Dodgers.
Unlike most new EV makers that target premium price points, Slate set out to build an extremely low-cost electric pickup with a starting price of roughly $25,000. The truck was designed from the ground up to be fully customizable, leaning on expertise from dozens of former Harley-Davidson and Chrysler employees—two brands with decades of experience building extensive accessories and aftermarket parts ecosystems.
April 10, 2025: Slate Prototype Spotted By The Public
Just two days after our initial scoop, a photo of an unmarked, unrecognizable electric truck began circulating on the r/whatisthiscar subreddit, with users quickly speculating it was Slate’s long-rumored mystery EV. TechCrunch later confirmed the photo showed a Slate prototype parked directly outside the startup’s Long Beach, California design center.
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Find Your Next Big Break at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
Your next funding round, your next key hire, your next game-changing opportunity is waiting at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. More than 10,000 founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ hands-on tactical sessions, high-impact introductions, and market-shaping innovation. Register today to save up to $410 on your pass.
April 21, 2025: Startup Teases "Transformer-Like" Modular Capabilities
Ahead of its planned April 24 debut, Slate began driving concept versions of its EV on public roads to build marketing hype. Observers noticed a surprising detail: many test vehicles weren’t pickup trucks at all—some were styled as SUVs, others as hatchbacks. TechCrunch confirmed the public test was a deliberate tease of the EV’s "Transformer-like" modular customization capabilities that let owners reconfigure the vehicle’s core shape.
April 24, 2025: Slate Debuts Its Analog, Anti-Tesla EV Pickup
Slate made its official public debut at a launch event in Long Beach, California, where it pulled back the curtain on its customizable electric pickup. The startup also announced a shocking pricing claim: the truck would start at under $20,000 after factoring in the $7,500 U.S. federal EV tax credit.
The base model is intentionally stripped-down, with just 150 miles of range, no power windows, no central infotainment screen, and not even standard factory paint. Slate promised buyers could customize nearly every part of the truck, from the number of seats to the vehicle’s overall body shape—an approach deliberately positioned as an alternative to Tesla’s minimalist, tech-heavy EVs.
April 25, 2025: Shuttered Indiana Printing Plant Tapped For Production
One day after launch, TechCrunch reported that Slate had selected a dormant former printing facility in Warsaw, Indiana to host its first truck factory. The 1.4 million-square-foot plant was built in 1958 and had sat vacant for roughly two years before Slate secured the site.
May 12, 2025: Slate Tops 100,000 Refundable Reservations In Two Weeks
Slate confirmed to TechCrunch that it had already surpassed 100,000 refundable $50 reservations for its affordable EV truck. The milestone proved the startup’s value proposition had resonated with mainstream buyers, just two months after the brand was completely unknown to the public.
July 3, 2025: Slate Removes "Under $20,000" Pricing After Trump Administration Eliminates Federal EV Tax Credit
The Trump administration passed a sweeping new tax cut bill that included a provision ending the $7,500 federal EV tax credit by September. The change meant Slate could no longer rely on the credit to hit its advertised "under $20,000" starting price, so the startup removed the pricing claim from its website even before the bill was officially signed into law.
July 8, 2025: LA VC Firm Opens Up About Its Early Investment In Slate
Slate’s 2023 funding round included at least 16 investors, one of which was Jeff Bezos. While most backers remained unnamed at the time, Los Angeles-based venture firm Slauson & Co. spoke exclusively to TechCrunch about why it backed the EV startup in both its initial funding round and subsequent Series B.
October 30, 2025: Slate CEO Joins The Main Stage At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Slate Auto CEO Chris Barman sat for an on-stage interview at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, where she discussed Bezos’ involvement with the company, the unique challenges of building an automotive brand from scratch, and Slate’s plan to build a full marketplace for third-party custom parts and modifications.
December 16, 2025: Reservations Cross The 150,000 Mark
Even as overall EV sales growth slowed across the U.S., Slate Auto hit a new milestone of 150,000 refundable reservations for its pickup and SUV variants. The strong reservation count proved ongoing consumer demand for the brand’s offering even after the loss of the federal tax credit. With fewer new EVs planned for the U.S. market in the low-price segment, Slate is set to face very little competition at the entry level.
2026 Milestones
March 9, 2026: Surprise CEO Swap
In an unexpected leadership shakeup, Slate announced a C-suite change: Peter Faricy, former vice president of Amazon Marketplace, would take over as the company’s new CEO. Former CEO Chris Barman, who was Slate’s very first hire, will remain with the company, shifting into the newly created role of President of Vehicles. Slate brought on Faricy to prepare the startup for its end-of-year commercial launch, with a core focus on converting its massive reservation list into finalized paid orders.
The Full Timeline of Slate Auto: The Secret Bezos-Backed EV Startup Shaking Up The Auto Industry
