Slate Auto, the electric truck startup backed by Jeff Bezos, has opened its first physical "experience center" in Chicago's Near West Side. The location is a former Tesla store on Grand, which Slate chose partly because the building was already laid out for a small showroom and garage and was wired for NACS EV charging. The company is aiming the space at Midwest fleet buyers and anyone curious about what it says will be the most affordable new vehicle in America: a compact electric pickup starting at $24,950 with 205 miles of range.
Electrek's Jo Borrás got an up-close look and a test ride, though he was not allowed to drive. He reported that the truck's door handles, steering wheel, tailgate latch, and charge port cover all felt solid and expensive, and the center console felt rigid despite its shiny plastic appearance. The ride itself was quiet, smooth, and free of squeaks and rattles on Chicago's rough roads, and acceleration felt more than adequate from the passenger seat.
Slate's team also told Borrás the company is trying to use the same fasteners throughout the vehicle wherever possible, which he speculated could lead to a lively 3D-printed tuner culture around the truck. He cautioned that Slate's overall success is far from guaranteed, but said the company is starting to feel "really, really real" now that customers in Chicago can see the truck in person.