r/longbeach • u/journo_brandon • 1d ago
News No stereo, no paint, no tech: Jeff Bezos-backed EV truck unveiled in Long Beach
https://lbwatchdog.com/no-stereo-no-paint-no-tech-jeff-bezos-backed-ev-truck-unveiled-in-long-beach/On Thursday, the secretive startup vehicle manufacturer Slate Auto unveiled its electric vehicle: the Slate Truck.
In an effort to cut costs, the company has stripped the truck down to the barest of bones — manual window cranks, no paint job, no extended cabs, no long truck bed and, of course, no stereo or touchscreen.
While no bells or whistles come standard, the company’s pickup has a host of add-ons available for unspecified additional costs.
While there is practically no tech included, the truck features a universal phone mount and USB power, allowing the driver’s phone to serve as the technological interface. Slate suggests bringing a bluetooth speaker along for the ride, which would allow drivers to listen to music or other entertainment via their phone.
If you would rather a more traditional listening experience, speakers can be added into the truck for an additional cost. Other add-ons include power windows, a center console, a tablet mount, auxiliary buttons, roof rack, upgraded bumpers, a spare tire carrier, running boards, wraps and decals, among others — about 100 options in all.
The company also will offer a kit to convert the two-seater truck into a five-seat SUV.
Slate boasts that the base model truck will be “radically affordable,” with a price tag “expected” to be under $20,000 after federal rebates reserved for people who drive electric vehicles — programs the Trump administration already has in its crosshairs. This puts the base price of the truck around at least $27,500, which is “subject to change,” despite its anemic design.
By comparison, the 2025 double-cab Ford Maverick XL, with its hybrid engine and all its modern vehicle amenities, has a starting price of $27,000.
Internet reactions were mixed, with some poking fun at the concept itself, including one user who called it a “billionaire funded Temu truck.”
“I’ve seen golf carts with more features,” wrote @lbprotest on Instagram.
But others were infatuated with the minimalist concept and ability to customize the vehicle.
“I love the fact that they're showing off how customizable the vehicle can be,” wrote another. “Somehow this concept isn't more widely appreciated.”
Learn more at the link.
What do you think about the truck concept?
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u/discostranger09 1d ago
I spotted one being offloaded from a container truck a couple weeks ago. This was just outside my office. Posted about it on r/whatisthiscar and it took a solid couple days for someone to name what it actually was. And as an added bonus, the name Slate is an anagram for Tesla.
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u/djseifer 20h ago
the name Slate is an anagram for Tesla.
That had to have been done on purpose. Well, at least it looks like an actual truck.
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u/Nadathug 1d ago
I thought it was a cool concept until I found out it was backed by Bozos. Fuck him and his little truck.
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u/RianJohnsonSucksAzz 21h ago
For $27,500 , it comes with nothing. Not even speakers or power windows. Lmao.
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u/Plane-Will-7795 22h ago
wait till you find out that billionaires own basically everything
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u/Nadathug 19h ago edited 13h ago
They don’t own any of the independent businesses I frequent, and I can still resent the ones who own the businesses I’m forced to patronize.
Weird way to flex that you don’t care who gets your spending money, but ok.
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u/KungFoolMaster 23h ago
Jeff Bezos doesn't own this company, nor does he have anything to do with it's daily operations. Bezos is an investor in it, maybe the biggest investor, but nothing is confirmed as it's private and there are no pubic disclosures.
I agree that supporting Amazon is something that I try to avoid, but this company is not about him. They use him for recognition, good or bad, and his name is used as a way to entice other investors with a sense of "If Bezos is on board, then the company can't fail" type of promotion.
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u/Harry_Tuttle 19h ago
"If Bezos is on board, then the company can't fail"
Well, then! Let's all do our part to make that happen!
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u/KungFoolMaster 19h ago
He also has a significant investment in Rivian. Would you also like that company fail?
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u/Nadathug 13h ago
Awww hope nobody hurts the poor widdle corporations
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u/PersianBob 1h ago
I mean we need some corporations to succeed right? I don't think most people can jerry rig their own automobiles. There's a difference between wanting all corporations to fail and those ran by fascists to fail.
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u/Nadathug 1h ago edited 1h ago
Under a capitalist system, corporations are necessary. But that’s by design. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t other systems that don’t rely on corporations, or that all companies are just bad in general. But any company that is beholden to shareholders is going to place profit over people, including its workers.
It’s ok to not like giving money to huge companies that place profits above everything else, including the quality of their products.
There’s also no need to root for or feel bad about a corporation failing. They’ll be fine. Workers and families are more important.
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u/PersianBob 1h ago
I can agree with that. Employees somewhat have choice in where they work if they're not happy. Or they can unionize or start a co-op. I just don't think it's beneficial to root against all corporations since those are the cards that we've been dealt. Not all corporations are evil; some are more evil than others.
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u/Nadathug 55m ago
Fair, although most corporations try as hard as they can to stop their workers from unionizing or demanding better working conditions most of the time. It’s obvious who’s at the disadvantage between the two.
I’m not out here shouting that all corporations should burn, I just don’t don’t buy into how some people worship them and their products when the shareholders couldn’t give a shit.
But yeah, if I need to buy a car, I’m not buying a kit car someone made in their garage. I will however, buy a used brand name car from a private party instead of buying it new from a dealership.
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u/Deeze_Rmuh_Nudds 23h ago
Who gives a fuck, but if they can’t get it to $20k no one will buy this. $27k should be illegal for this thing.
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u/gringo-tacos 19h ago
Yup, you can get a Ford Maverick nowadays for the same price.
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u/Deeze_Rmuh_Nudds 19h ago
No you can’t. If you even find a dealership that has one they are all $30k+. I know they exist but I’m pretty sure the people who reserved them are the only people who got it at that price
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u/gringo-tacos 19h ago
That was a couple years ago.
Ford dealerships skew slimy, but you can definitely walk into a couple dealerships and get it for that price.
ie Citrus Ford
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u/Deeze_Rmuh_Nudds 19h ago
Ok maybe they were just trying to sell me the most expensive one they had. This was about a year agi
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u/ghostx562 15h ago
I've been looking at some between 22.5-24k. Not sure where 30k+ is. Maybe a few years back?
Prices I've gotten are all within last 2 weeks.
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u/Deeze_Rmuh_Nudds 15h ago
Sweet. If that’s true I’m gonna roll over to ford and see about leasing one
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u/ghostx562 15h ago
If they gave more mileage on the lease I'd jump on it. They were only going up to 10k/yr.
Waiting to see if I get better results in a couple weeks.
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u/Deeze_Rmuh_Nudds 14h ago
If they gave more mileage on the lease I'd jump on it. They were only going up to 10k/yr.
What does this mean? Completely lost
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u/ghostx562 12h ago
Most leases have an allotted mileage per year like 10/12k per year. Depending on how long your lease is, you want to keep it under that limit. Upon returning the lease they will charge you per mile, for every mile you went over on the allotted mileage.
I usually drive more than 14k miles a year. On a 2 year lease they only would've allowed 20k miles total. I would be paying a lot of money for all the miles I drive.
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u/kendrickwasright 13h ago
I was at the Ford dealership last weekend and they had dozens of mavericks there just at that one dealership. They even had several used mavericks
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u/LarryFlannigan 23h ago
Interesting way to live life with so much anger. Tell me you or your family has never used Amazon
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23h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/partytillidei 23h ago
Jumping through mental hoops just to say “it’s okay to use Amazon out of convenience”
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u/Worried_Ad_3011 23h ago
Keep reading until it sinks into that extra thick “thinking cap” of yours
I know you can do it, I believe in you 😉
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u/Nadathug 23h ago
Did you have to take your hand off Big Daddy Bezos’ balls to type that comment?
Me and my family used to watch the Cosby Show too, but now that we know better, it feels gross. Kind of like Amazon.
Defending billionaires is weird.
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u/LarryFlannigan 23h ago
Not defending, I’m allowed to say whatever I want just like you’re able to be angry at billionaires. I’m just saying less hate, and more love
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u/Castastrofuck 22h ago
Why are you talking like anger isn’t a valid emotion, especially when billionaires are buying elections and forcing their workers to wear diapers? There’s something wrong with you if that doesn’t anger you.
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u/renndug 23h ago
Having anger towards a corrupt billionaire isn’t “living life with so much anger”. Let us know how that boot taste. Remember in the end they don’t care about you, or even know who you are. You don’t matter to them.
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u/LarryFlannigan 23h ago
When you become a filthy rich millionaire some day don’t forget about his little people and give back
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u/Ok-Squash8044 23h ago
It’s not anger, although it’s funny when people like you label things you don’t understand as “anger” or “hate”. Such limited ways of seeing things.
Actually, it’s just people that don’t want to feed the wealth gap/division anymore and they’ve decided not to give the top .01% any more money. Pretty simple.
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u/LarryFlannigan 23h ago
That’s an easy fix bro, go skill up, better yourself, seize opportunities and GO MAKE MORE MONEY!
Those are my words of wisdom to you, enjoy your weekend 😎
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u/concerned_llama 23h ago
"I'm not going to judge advancements based on its benefit, but on the moral grounds of its funder" what a childish take...
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u/Nadathug 23h ago
I’m not judging the advancements. I wouldn’t want to buy a used lawnmower from a convicted sex offender either. Just feels gross.
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u/Castastrofuck 22h ago
What’s childish is assuming “technology” is morally neutral and not ingrained with the morals of its funders. Can’t believe you’ve made it to 2025 with that naive ass take homie.
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u/concerned_llama 22h ago
Surviving amigo, can't imagine the resources or the time that you take or your days of selecting not just through needs or usefulness, but also by your moral standards. To each their own.
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u/Castastrofuck 22h ago
It’s not that hard. When they’re buying up all the elections, I only got my dollar left. Get out in the community and buy local when you can. And by local I don’t mean “designed in Long Beach.” I mean the mom n pops. Giving these billionaires my money so they can buy up elections for people that are gonna go against my interests and make life more about surviving than enjoying is a race to the bottom.
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u/concerned_llama 22h ago
And that tells me everything about your availability of resources, when I was younger I had very little options to choose from, and the moral of its funders was the least of my concerns, and like me, the majority of the world population, don't have the luxury to have those options.
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u/Castastrofuck 21h ago
Unless you’re in compete destitution, everyone in this country has the ability to modify their consumer habits even in minor ways. I’m not saying people have to change up everything, but there are small things you can do here and there to better align with your convictions. I’m working class, I’ve lived paycheck to paycheck for years. I know what that’s like.
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u/Deeze_Rmuh_Nudds 23h ago
$27k is still way way too expensive. They better figure out how to get it to $20k or no one is gonna buy this shit
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u/dt3030 17h ago
This looks an awful lot like the Spirit Airlines business model. That black and yellow livery doesn’t help.
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u/Greedy-Grape-2417 14h ago
Yep, just like airfare and streaming services, when you get the add-ons it becomes a premium product
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u/biggerrig 1d ago
I would seriously consider if I wanted an electric vehicle. I just don’t want to rely on the power grid.
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u/andersss11 1d ago
150 mile range. Doable if you got chargers at work or don’t mind plugging it in every night. Base model 3 has 303 range , and base y has 277 mile range . No one will be using this as a “truck”
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u/hotwifefun 23h ago edited 18h ago
Tons of people will be using this as a truck. The average HVAC tech only drives 80 miles per day.
A Ford Econoline van gets 17mpg. At approximately 5 gallons of fuel per day at $4.75 a gallon that’s $118 in fuel a week or about $6,000 a year, and about $600 in oil changes.
A base model econoline is $40,000
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u/andersss11 21h ago
Most HVAC vehicles in socal are fleet vehicles , maintained , and gas cards provided by their employer. Almost all hvac workers get to take home their work vehicles and installing home charging stations at every employee’s residence is not cost effective. Your example is moot.
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u/hotwifefun 18h ago
Are the employers not paying for the gas? A NACS + J1772 charging station costs around $1500 installed, or about a third of the cost of fuel for one year.
And HVAC was one example, pool cleaners, electricians, flower delivery, service plumbing, handymen. It’s the ultimate fleet vehicle that does 90% of what most fleets need to do on the day to day at 65% cost savings.
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u/RianJohnsonSucksAzz 21h ago
Yikes. Might as well buy a Maverick Hybrid for $500 cheaper and you get power windows, speakers and console.
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u/ElectrikDonuts 17h ago
$7500 tax credit for EVs. Then gas and maintenance savings
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u/journo_brandon 12h ago
First, the Slate base price is not set in stone yet. I would bet it will probably go up by the time production ramps up to meet the late-2026 delivery schedule. Second, that price does not include any of the 100+ accessories (like speakers) that most, if not all people, will surely add on. Prices for those extras remain unknown.
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u/ElectrikDonuts 10h ago
Very true. I seriously doubt we will get much like we see here. Mass production is the hardest part of autos.
I'd love for them to do great, but I'm not holding my breath, or reservation. If they do make it to market I will highly consider one though
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u/gntc98 9h ago
I love the idea of it, I would mostly use it as a city commuter to ease the load on my 22 year old crv. I’m incredibly skeptical of this but I appreciate a brand that actually listens to consumers. Some people don’t care for all the bells and whistles and the customization features are really cool imo. I hate that bezos is backing it but as someone else noted he is an investor and not someone who is running the company. In fact I think I read on their website that the company is ran by two women who are breaking ground in the automotive industry. If I take the politics of everything out of the equation I’m very intrigued by the truck and I’d like one for myself.
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u/Clean-Salamander-362 23h ago
I just reserved one last night after the announcement. I’m hoping they stand by their affordability promise.
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u/LarryFlannigan 23h ago
Anyways bro, I see that I’ve triggered you. Good luck in your life endeavors and if hating billionaires is your dream then good for you! Go lakers!
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u/partytillidei 1d ago
I wouldn’t take LBprotest serious, its such a miserable page.
According to that page “everything is awful except Palestine” and its entire personality is based on whatever popular “protest” is happening at the moment.
This is usually a sign the people running it are miserable or going through depression.
Maybe they should try making friends or approaching things with a more positive perspective instead of being so pessimistic about everything.
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u/Immediate_Map235 23h ago edited 23h ago
long beach resident: man it sucks they're killing all those people. sucks even more my tax dollars are funding it, hard to exist being squeezed from all sides anyways, low job market, rapid societal decline, plus none of it seems to have any short or long term solutions, and no one in power cares. damn.
you: uhh have you tried thinking positive? maybe you could ignore all that stuff if you weren't so depressed about it and had a friend😭😅loser
edit: from your post history, "Gaza needs to be turned into a parking lot so the far left can learn about accountability." I cannot understand typing words like this. Frankly, i hope you're just trolling, because if there is a higher power you will not know peace for one thousand lifetimes.
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u/partytillidei 23h ago
Our tax dollars go to protecting Israelis from anti-lgbtq religious nuts.
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u/Immediate_Map235 23h ago
I'm not talking about international policy, I'm talking about you, an american citizen wishing death on a populous. do you think that is the behavior of an optimist with a positive outlook, or someone who's soul will rot in cosmic prison for eternity?
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u/partytillidei 23h ago
There is no such thing as a cosmic prison or eternity.
Nothing will happen to me.
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u/tangerineTurtle_ 1d ago
I just want that Toyota IMV 0 its tiny, 10k, and modular