16:37 08-02-2026

Slate electric pickup test drive by Jay Leno

Jay Leno test drives the Slate electric pickup, an affordable EV priced around $25,000, with U.S. production planned for 2026. Learn about its specs and features.

The Slate electric pickup, positioned as an affordable EV priced around $25,000, has undergone one of its first public test drives. Jay Leno took the prototype for a spin in a new episode of Jay Leno's Garage.

Leno praised the project's core idea: a simple electric pickup without excessive options, to be assembled in the U.S. Production is planned in Warsaw, Indiana, at a former printing facility. To reduce costs, all vehicles will roll off the line in identical configurations, with accessories and additional elements installed later. Among the project's investors is Jeff Bezos, which adds credibility to the young brand.

So far, Slate has built 78 prototypes, most of which have already been used for crash tests. The company aims to earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. Leno noted that the test vehicle had some interior rattles, but emphasized that this is expected for a prototype and should be fixed in production models.

In terms of dimensions, the Slate Truck measures 174.6 inches in length, features a five-meter cargo bed, a payload capacity of 650 kg, and a towing capacity of up to 450 kg. Buyers will be offered battery options of 52.7 and 84.3 kWh, an NACS connector with access to the Tesla Supercharger network, and charging from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. First customer deliveries are scheduled for late 2026, with Slate targeting the affordable electric pickup niche in the U.S. market.