Slate crosses 150,000 reservations despite waning EV truck enthusiasm
Overview
Slate Auto, the electric truck startup backed by Jeff Bezos, has now collected more than 150,000 refundable reservations for its low-cost EV due out at the end of 2026 The company shared the figure in a new Q&A video with CEO Chris Barman, where she answers questions from those reservation holders about the company’s plans for self-driving (there are none), or whether owners will be able to affix a car seat to the optional rear seats (they will) Reservations are a somewhat helpful metric for gauging general interest in a new car, but they are by no means a signal of sure success
Why This Matters
Time and again over the last few years, we have seen EV companies tout reservation figures only to go bust, either because they weren’t able to get through the difficult process of standing up production, or because they weren’t ready to have cars on the road For Slate, it’s promising that the number has continued to climb, meaning that new reservations are coming in faster than any attrition the company might be seeing That said, Slate crossed the 100,000 reservation mark all the way back in May, right after it came out of stealth, so it took a good seven months to grow the list by 50%
Key Insights
And looking forward, Slate plans to make 150,000 of these EVs per year at the factory it’s refurbishing in Warsaw, Indiana, so it will need to attract far more buyers if it plans to succeed in the market
Inside the EV startup secretly backed by Jeff Bezos Any continued enthusiasm for Slate’s EV has to be a reassuring sign for the company, given the state of electric trucks overall these days
Industry Impact
This development is expected to influence the technology industry, highlighting ongoing changes in innovation, competition, and adoption.
Final Thoughts
As the technology landscape continues to evolve, stories like this demonstrate why staying informed is increasingly important.
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