Slate Auto, a startup backed by Jeff Bezos and LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter, announced that it will officially begin accepting orders for its affordable electric vehicles starting June 24. The company plans to make its first deliveries by the end of this year. In messages sent to potential buyers on Thursday, it was recommended to book now to secure a spot in line. This is reported by Techcrunch.com .
Slate Auto has not yet disclosed the final price of its electric vehicle, but has promised to provide specific pricing information throughout June. The four-year-old company unveiled its project for a simple, affordable, and customizable vehicle in April 2025. Initially, the base model was expected to cost under $20,000, but following the removal of tax incentives, prices are now estimated to be in the mid-$20,000 range.
The concept of a simple construction, manual windows, and an unpainted body has sparked significant consumer interest. So far, over 160,000 customers have placed a reservation via a $50 refundable deposit. However, the experience of other EV startups shows that converting reservations into actual buyers is not easy. For this reason, former Amazon Marketplace VP Peter Faricy was appointed as the company's new CEO in March.
The company has secured significant financial resources to tackle the complex task of manufacturing and delivering electric vehicles. In April, Slate Auto closed a $650 million Series C funding round, bringing its total funding to $1.4 billion. While the majority of the funds were provided by Mark Walter's firm, TWG Global, Jeff Bezos is also one of the project's early investors.
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