In a market saturated with electric vehicles boasting massive touchscreens and complex software, Slate is charting a different course. The startup recently unveiled its inaugural vehicle, a two-door pickup truck, designed with a focus on simplicity and affordability. Eschewing the trend of turning cars into smartphones on wheels, Slate aims to deliver a reliable, functional vehicle that prioritizes the driving experience over technological bells and whistles. If Tesla is the “iPhone” of cars, Slate is positioning itself as the durable, dependable “Nokia flip phone.”
The Slate truck features a minimalist design, evident in its index-card-sized display that provides essential information such as speed. In contrast to modern vehicles laden with infotainment systems, speakers, and internet connectivity for features like remote access and media streaming, the Slate truck strips away these extras. This aligns with the company’s mission to create a “back-to-basics” car, an affordable electric vehicle priced under $20,000 after federal EV incentives. To achieve this price point, Slate has trimmed everything deemed non-essential to the vehicle’s core functionality and safety.
Image of Slate Truck Exterior
While the Slate truck embraces a minimalist approach to in-car technology, the company has ingeniously integrated a familiar device to provide essential functionality: your smartphone. Slate’s solution leverages the technology most people already carry in their pockets to offer features like over-the-air (OTA) software updates and basic infotainment capabilities.
According to Christophe Charpentier, Slate’s head of mobile experience, the decision to forgo built-in connectivity was deliberate. “We didn’t want to force connectivity on everyone and raise the price because of connectivity for everyone, when you don’t actually need it,” Charpentier explained. Instead, Slate provides a phone mount that seamlessly connects the driver’s device to the truck. This connection enables basic infotainment functions and facilitates software updates through a dedicated Slate app.
The OTA update process, pioneered by Tesla, allows automakers to improve vehicle features and fix bugs remotely. In the Slate truck, updates are downloaded to the owner’s phone and then transferred to the vehicle via the phone connection. While the initial transfer takes only about a minute, the complete software installation may take up to 45 minutes. These updates will primarily focus on bug fixes and minor improvements, rather than significant feature enhancements.
Image of Phone Integration in Slate Truck
Slate’s mobile app serves as the central hub for features typically found in an infotainment system. The app allows drivers to locate charging stations and seamlessly navigate to them using their preferred navigation app, such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze. While route-planning isn’t integrated directly into the app, the focus remains on facilitating local trips, aligning with the Slate truck’s design as an “around-town” vehicle. Additionally, the app features a quick-access button for launching the driver’s favorite music app.
Charpentier emphasized that Slate is prioritizing “unique added value” while encouraging customers to integrate their existing digital lives into the vehicle. This strategy contrasts with automakers like General Motors, Rivian, and Tesla, who aim to create proprietary software ecosystems by excluding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
To address the absence of a built-in stereo system, Slate plans to offer a marketplace of accessories, including Bluetooth speakers, allowing owners to customize their audio experience. The company is also considering a connectivity accessory for commercial customers who require fleet tracking or remote update capabilities.
Mockup of Slate App Interface
