Bezos-Funded Slate Auto Targets $25,000 Electric Truck Market Ignored by Ford and Tesla

Jeff Bezos is backing Slate Auto, a Michigan-based EV startup emerging from stealth with plans to build a two-seat electric pickup at $25,000—well below Ford's F-150 Lightning and Tesla's Cybertruck. Production near Indianapolis could begin late 2026. The company also plans accessories and apparel lines to supplement margins. Established automakers have ceded the sub-$30,000 truck segment entirely, leaving room for startups willing to accept thinner unit economics.