Earlier this week, TechCrunch reported that Jeff Bezos is backing a “secretive EV startup” known as Slate Auto that intends to launch a $25,000 single-cab electrical truck in late 2026. The corporate’s LinkedIn says it’s based mostly in Troy, Michigan.
Then, the following day, a photograph appeared on Reddit of an unidentifiable small truck in Los Angeles, first reported by Carscoops. The outlet famous that the “absence of a grille opening on the entrance suggests [it’s] electrical, strengthened by what seems to be a charging port close to the rear nook. A fast picture search would not match it to something at present in the marketplace, although admittedly, that is removed from definitive.”
One commenter cited TechCrunch‘s report and famous some Rivian-looking similarities.
“No pictures but, however utilizing the EV supply automobile designed by Rivian for Amazon for instance, it follows the very clean-&-simple aesthetic – spherical headlights, metal wheels, plastic cladding, upright B-pillar,” the commenter wrote. “Not saying they appear the identical, or like they share a platform, but when the identical design workforce was used for each, it could make sense that they may share some imprecise aesthetic components.”
Associated: Rivian Announces New Electric Vehicles That Will Cost a Lot Less — and Are ‘Bursting With Personality’
Then, on Thursday, TechCrunch confirmed that the truck within the Reddit picture is the precise Slate Auto idea automotive, in accordance with “an individual with direct information of Slate Auto’s automobile design, who spoke on the situation of anonymity.”
TechCrunch, which stories that the manufacturing facility with be “someplace close to Indianapolis, Indiana,” spoke to “a number of sources” and examined in depth paperwork and filings, together with job listings, state lobbying information, and past interviews.
The supply stated it’s possible an idea automobile to indicate to traders. The design studio is reportedly in Lengthy Seashore, California.
Extra information is anticipated on April 23, per CarScoops.
