Slate Auto
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive, Electric vehicles |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Founder | Miles Arnone, William Barker, Jeff Wilke |
| Headquarters | Troy, Michigan , United States |
Key people | Miles Arnone, William Barker, Jeff Wilke |
| Products | Electric vehicles (Slate Truck) |
| Owner | Jeff Bezos, Mark Walter, Re:Build Manufacturing |
Slate Auto is a U.S.-based startup company specializing in the creation of electric vehicles. Established in 2022 as part of Re:Build Manufacturing by founders Miles Arnone, William Barker, and Jeff Wilke, the company’s main office is located in Troy, Michigan. Its backers include Jeff Bezos, Mark Walter, and Re:Build Manufacturing.[1] The company's initial offering is the Slate Truck, an electric pickup truck that can be converted into an SUV.
History
Founded in 2022, Slate operated quietly in stealth mode until it revealed the Slate Truck on April 24, 2025.[2] Initially called "Re:Car" under the umbrella of Re:Build Manufacturing, Slate’s founders—Miles Arnone, William Barker, and Jeff Wilke—also hold leadership roles at Re:Build. The early team comprises industry veterans from companies such as Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, and Harley-Davidson.[1] With headquarters in Troy, Michigan, and a design facility situated in Long Beach, California, Slate intends to manufacture vehicles at a repurposed printing factory in Warsaw, Indiana,[3] aiming for an annual output of up to 150,000 units.[4]
Slate secured over $111 million during its Series A funding round, with contributions from Bezos. In 2024, it raised $600 million from investors including Mark Walter (owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and CEO of Guggenheim Partners), Jeff Bezos, and venture capital firm General Catalyst.[5] By mid-2025, the company announced plans for a Series C financing round.[4]
Vehicles
The debut vehicle from Slate is a battery-electric pickup truck, introduced on April 24, 2025, with an anticipated price point below $28,000. Customers can convert this pickup into a five-passenger SUV using an aftermarket kit sold separately.[6]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Ahead of its official launch, Slate deployed at least three prototype models on the streets of Venice, Los Angeles. These non-operational design mock-ups featured fictional branding and mimicked various truck and SUV designs, attracting considerable media coverage and online buzz.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Prior to the public reveal, Slate registered trademarks such as "Blank Slate" and "We Built It. You Make It." The vehicle has been characterized as an "anti-Tesla" and "anti-Cybertruck," with its name recognized as an anagram of "Tesla."Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid
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- Battery electric vehicle manufacturers
- Car manufacturers of the United States
- American companies established in 2022
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2022
- 2022 establishments in Michigan
- Electric vehicle manufacturers of the United States
- Car brands
- Companies based in Troy, Michigan
- Truck manufacturers of the United States
- Jeff Bezos
- American brands