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Slate Auto: Everything you need to know about the Bezos-backed EV outfit
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In April 2025, a new company called Slate Auto came out of stealth and shocked the car industry.
Key facts
- May 12 – Slate confirmed to TechCrunch it had already surpassed 100,000 refundable $50 reservations for its affordable EV truck
- July 3 – The Trump administration pushed through a massive tax-cut bill that, among many other actions, set a September end-date for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit
- July 8 – Slate’s 2023 funding round included at least 16 investors — one of them being Bezos
- April 8 – After a year-long investigation, TechCrunch published a story revealing that a secretive EV startup called Slate Auto had been operating for three years with the financial backing of Jeff
Summary
TechCrunch was first to the story, reporting in early April about the company’s existence, its involvement with the Amazon founder, and its curious and unique business model. Slate is an aberration in the U.S. EV sector, where bankruptcies, failed product launches, and pivots have become commonplace. Here’s a timeline that charts out everything you need to know about Slate Auto, from its origin story and backers to its product, business model, and production plans. April 8 – After a year-long investigation, TechCrunch published a story revealing that a secretive EV startup called Slate Auto had been operating for three years with the financial backing of Jeff Bezos and LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter.