Slate Auto's truck builder goes live for its $25k electric pickup

It has some interior trim that the bare-bones pickup did without, and it sports a fetching purple wrap to match my unicorn-servicing business’s uniforms, which admittedly adds $499 to the bottom line. But the rest is purely functional: a structural floor liner for the bed, a toolbox, a locking tailgate, and some MOLLE webbing into which I can strap things. There’s a tow hitch—rated for up to 2,000 lbs (907 kg), with up to 1,550 lbs (703 kg) in the bed, and a $275 telematics module because I do want to be able to track this truck online. Without this telematics module, you can’t connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth.

The off-road brodozer

For my final pickup variant, I wanted to build something for adventuring, and my selections came in at a total of $32,923.64… plus whatever the lift kit ends up costing. Almost $8,000 in add-ons is a lot—much of the money went to the various exterior lights—and I probably could have kept going with some gear to help get unstuck from sand or mud. The all-terrain tires were a significant cost; upgrading from the stock 17-inch wheels will add at least $1,000 to your Slate.

A fun fastback

Two of Slate’s three alternative body styles are available. There’s the $29,950 Squareback SUV and the $31,950 Fastback SUV. Both add rear bench seats but stick with two doors. You also get a roll cage and extra airbags. My build ended up at $35,299.85, plus the usual caveats. This time, I went for a $799 wrap called Sub Lime that, like my first build, matches my favorite pair of sneakers. (I’m not a complicated man.) I also paid a bit more for some interesting front and rear lamp plates—alternatives that don’t look like murdered cartoon characters are available—and some interior trim like floor mats.

However, upon digging through the interior options, it seems that the ability to add electric window controls, which we believed would be possible, has not made the cut. If you buy a Slate, you will roll your own windows.

This SUV is not for squares

Finally, I configured a Squareback SUV, which clocked in at $36,819.80. The full wrap costs $1,139.99, and I spent a similar amount on upgraded front and rear bumpers, as well as larger wheels on all-season tires. The rest of the options are mostly interior add-ons and storage, plus the telematics module and some in-car speakers, so up to four passengers and I don’t have to play “I Spy” the whole time we’re driving.