‘There’s This Little Detail That I Love’: Man Checks Out New Custom EV Truck by Jeff Bezos’ Slate. Then He Spots a New Feature
No paint, no problem. A man who got up close with the new Slate Truck says the vinyl wrap option is quite impressive.
A man who reviewed the upcoming Slate Truck detailed how devoted the Jeff Bezos-backed electric vehicle maker is to DIY repairs and customization.
The TikToker, who goes by Molesrcool (@molesrcool), recently highlighted a variant of the car that came outfitted with specific options—all of which are able to be easily accessed, swapped out, and fitted to the vehicle by the driver themselves.
It’s a difference he seems to believe will grab the attention of commuters. Additionally, he spoke about the car’s use of materials for its body panels. It’s a choice that he thinks consumers will likely appreciate, given its purported resistance to cosmetic damage.
How The Slate Truck's Vinyl Wrap Really Looks
The TikToker begins his video with a recording of one of the company's upcoming EV pick-up trucks. However, this unit appears to feature some of the customer-added modifications advertised by the brand. It sports a roof rack along with a frame attached to the vehicle’s bed door.
Other add-ons to its grill are also immediately visible. Yellow inserts appear to have been fitted into the bumper, along with larger, light gray panel blocks. Furthermore, its unpainted gray de-facto paint job has been covered with a blue wrap.
Additionally, he points out the staggered-line silhouette sunset aesthetic created over the headlights. It’s something fans of 1980s-themed art will more than likely appreciate. “There’s this little detail I love on the front with this little sunset design on the headlight," he said. "And that classic yellow racing stripe looks so good with the blue and black two-tone,” he states. Indeed, that similar style is emblazoned on the side of the truck as well in the form of yellow stripes, which also feature the silhouette of palm trees.
Slate Truck Off-Road Tires and Trim Accents
There’s also a more practical modification to the vehicle he directs his attention toward, too. “And then it has these chunky off-road tires, which I don’t think I’ve seen on a Slate yet," he said. "And they look so good. I thought it looked cool in pictures, but it looks even better in person."
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He added, "This is a very rugged-looking small truck. And there’s this really cool design language throughout with the exposed screws that really emphasize how easy it’s gonna be to change out parts. Or make repairs, if you need to,” he said.
Moreover, he remarks that this perceived self-repairability and self-modification philosophy is what’s going to appeal to many potential buyers. “Something really cool that I think Slate is going for is not only offering an affordable truck. But also a truck that’s affordable to own and repair. Which is something really underrated about car ownership.”
Slate Truck: How It's Built
Like the oft-discussed Tesla Cybertruck, the Slate only comes in one unpainted color off the production line. Unlike its more expensive EV counterpart, however, the Slate isn’t made of stainless steel. In fact, the TikToker said, despite this gun-metal hue, the Slate’s panels aren’t metallic at all. “One thing that I haven’t seen talked about is the material that the truck is made of. It’s not metal, it’s actually kind of polycarbonate plastic. But it does not feel like plastic. That is very sturdy.”
The Slate Truck uses polypropylene composite body panels. The company's head of engineering told Composites World that they are highly dent-resistant and very strong, and mounted to a high-strength steel chassis frame. The Slate Truck aims for a five-star safety rating.
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Slate: Small Truck, Big Interior?
During his video, @molesrcool had some praise for the capaciousness of the Slate’s cabin. “And while it is a small two-door truck, the inside does not feel small,” he opines. Next, he cracks open the Slate’s side passenger door in order to support visual evidence for this claim. Several decorative decals can be seen affixed to the car’s dash.
There’s a phone holder affixed near the steering wheel, along with several soft panels decorated with numerous tiny holes, resembling speakers. Three separate knobs are featured beneath these gray grills, and there is a large, bifurcated cubby space separating the truck’s seats. “Like this is a very nice, roomy interior,” he says after stepping inside of the Slate. “I’m 6'3’’ and it has a ton of headroom. Which I love to see,” he said, waving his hand above his noggin to demonstrate how capacious its inside is.
How Slate Made Such a Cheap EV
The Michigan-based electric car manufacturer is having a Henry Ford Model T moment with its aggressively priced vehicle. Or, at the very least, channeling the U.S. transportation tycoon’s production philosophy. Ford once famously said that Model T buyers could get the car in any color they like, as long as it was black. Furthermore, Ford is largely credited with pioneering assembly line production for cars.
While electric vehicles are becoming more affordable, the Slate truck’s $20,000 entry-level market point effectively prices the vehicle against budget internal combustion engine vehicles.
Similarly, the Model T is largely cited as the first truly affordable car available to U.S. consumers. Thus, popularizing it en masse and reshaping the country as a result. Prior to their release, automobiles were considered by many to be aspirational, luxury vehicles that couldn’t fit into most people’s lifestyles due to the fact that they cost so much to purchase. Then, there are other operational costs associated with purchasing a bespoke vehicle.
Tesla captivated people’s attention by creating a sexy EV. Leonardo DiCaprio famously visited a Tesla gigafactory and spoke with Elon Musk on camera about the brand’s EVs. In 2017, Larry David was seen driving Ted Danson’s red Model S in Curb Your Enthusiasm, further highlighting the brand.
Slate: A DIY EV
And while it can be argued that a Model 3 with tax incentives is much cheaper than base MSRP offerings from luxury manufacturers, there’s the question of longevity. Of course, there’s been tales of Tesla road warriors going hundreds of miles without needing major repairs. But horror stories of control arm faults and battery fires have given potential EV buyers pause. It doesn’t help that the brand has become the most recalled automaker in recent years, either. Other EV manufacturers are churning out vehicles that are too rich for their blood, even if their designs invoke more wallet-friendly options. Specifically, the Volkswagen ID Buzz.
If Tesla was the brand to convince people that EVs can be viable daily drivers, then Slate’s pickup is the Model T bringing all-electric driving to the people. Because the brand seems to be honing in on fears that owning and operating an EV can be a costly endeavor.
Streamlining production costs, like cutting out a $350 million investment for paint jobs alone, is a big deal. Plus, allowing Slate owners to trick out their car incrementally with DIY-friendly kits, may convince more folks to make the jump. It doesn’t hurt that public EV charging has seen massive improvements in the last year, giving drivers more peace of mind when they’re out and about. And since they’re outfitted with North American Charging Standard ports, Tesla Supercharging functionality is likely in the cards. Which means that the Slate will have plenty of options for fast charging, too.
You can reserve one today. The trucks are expected to be available in late 2026.
InsideEVs has reached out to @molesrcool via email for further comment.
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