You’ve probably seen the name popping up in local Michigan news or maybe caught a glimpse of a weird, blocky prototype wrapped in "fictitious company" decals around Venice Beach last year. Honestly, Slate Auto Troy MI is one of the most polarizing things happening in the car world right now. Some people call it the "anti-Tesla," while others think it’s a glorified golf cart that won't survive its 2026 production goal.
Basically, it's a startup that emerged from stealth mode about a year ago, backed by some of the deepest pockets in the world—we're talking Jeff Bezos and Mark Walter. They aren't building a luxury spaceship. They are building a $27,000 electric truck that has manual crank windows and no iPad-sized screens.
What is Slate Auto Troy MI actually doing?
Most EV companies try to out-tech each other. Slate is doing the opposite. Headquartered right in Troy, Michigan, they occupy two office buildings where they are engineering a vehicle that feels more like a LEGO set than a traditional pickup. The core idea? A "Blank Slate." You buy the base truck for a targeted price under $30,000, and then you add "kits" to turn it into whatever you need.
It’s weirdly refreshing.
The Troy team, led by CEO Christine Barman (a former Fiat Chrysler exec who knows her way around complex electrical systems), has grown to nearly 300 people. They’ve poached talent from Ford, GM, and even Harley-Davidson. They aren't just hobbyists; these are industry veterans who seem fed up with how expensive and over-complicated cars have become.
The "Anti-Tesla" Vibe
The name "Slate" is literally an anagram of "Tesla," which is a cheeky nod to their philosophy. While Tesla is all about sleek lines and "FSD" (Full Self-Driving), Slate is about "We Built It. You Make It."
📖 Related: Why Are Iowa Property Taxes So High? What Most People Get Wrong
The truck is a two-seater by default. Want an SUV? You buy a flat-pack kit—either the "squareback" or "fastback"—that adds a roll cage, airbags, and a rear bench seat. It transforms the vehicle from a work truck into a five-person family hauler. It’s a modular approach that hasn't really been tried at this scale since the days of the Saturn or the Scion accessory catalogs.
Why being based in Troy matters
Troy is the heart of Michigan’s "Automation Alley." Being based at 2600 Bellingham Road gives Slate access to a massive pool of engineering talent that understands how to actually mass-produce things. It’s one thing to build a cool prototype; it’s another to build 150,000 of them a year.
The manufacturing itself won't happen in Troy—they’re currently reindustrializing a massive 1.4-million-square-foot former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana. But the "brains" stay in Michigan. They’ve intentionally kept their footprint lean. Rumor has it they even used abandoned office furniture from neighboring companies in Troy just to keep overhead low.
👉 See also: Wendy's Com Contact Us: Why Getting a Real Person Is Harder Than It Looks
The Reality Check: Is it actually a good truck?
Let’s be real for a second. There are some serious trade-offs here that might make you think twice. If you're looking for a long-haul towing beast, this isn't it.
- Range: It’s targeted at about 150 miles. For a lot of people, that’s a non-starter.
- Power: The 150-kW motor is rear-wheel drive. It’ll do 0-60 in about 8 seconds. Peppy? Sure. A "rocket ship"? Definitely not.
- Creature Comforts: If you hate manual windows or physical A/C knobs, you’re going to hate the Slate. They removed the "tech bloat" to keep the price down.
There’s also the skepticism about their survival. We’ve seen plenty of EV startups like Lordstown or Fisker go belly-up once the reality of "serial production" hits. Building a car is hard. Building a cheap car is even harder because the margins are razor-thin.
The Service Problem
One thing most people get wrong is thinking they'll have to drive to Troy every time a light bulb goes out. Slate is partnering with RepairPal to create a nationwide network of 2,500 service locations. They also plan to launch "Slate University," an online portal with repair info for the DIY crowd. They want you to be able to work on your own truck, which is a total 180 from the "walled garden" approach of most modern car brands.
What’s next for the Troy team?
Right now, 2026 is the big year. CEO Christine Barman recently told Newsweek that they are on track for late 2026 deliveries. They’ve finished crash testing their impact vehicles and are now moving from the virtual world into "validation vehicles."
They are also doing a "Slate to State" tour, taking prototypes around the country to let people see the unpainted composite panels in person. These panels are a huge deal because they don't require a paint shop. Eliminating the paint shop at the Indiana factory saves millions in investment and speeds up the build process.
Should you put down a deposit?
If you’re looking for a simple, rugged, electric "runabout" that you can customize like a project car, the $50 refundable deposit is a low-risk gamble. But keep your expectations in check.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the specs vs. your commute: If you drive more than 100 miles a day or live in a very cold climate (where range drops), wait for the second-generation battery options.
- Follow the "Slate to State" tour: Don't buy this vehicle based on renders. The composite panels have a specific look and feel—some love the "industrial" vibe, others think it looks unfinished. See it in person.
- Monitor the Warsaw plant updates: The Troy office is the brain, but the Indiana plant is the heart. If equipment isn't fully set by late 2025, that 2026 delivery date will likely slide into 2027.
- Look into the fleet options: If you run a small business in the Troy area, Slate is leaning heavily into fleet sales with "Blank Slate" versions that are built for easy wrapping and branding.
At the end of the day, Slate Auto is a massive experiment in whether Americans actually want a "back-to-basics" vehicle. It’s a bold move, especially in a market obsessed with luxury EVs. Whether it’s a "game-changer" or just another footnote in Michigan’s automotive history depends entirely on if they can actually hit that $27,000 price point without the wheels falling off.