Jeff Bezos-backed Slate Auto EV truck with no radio has drivers split: ‘That price is NOT it’

The new Jeff Bezos-backed Slate Auto’s bare-bones electric pickup truck is already causing quite the uproar online.

The Michigan startup is betting that Americans fed up with sky-high car prices will embrace a stripped-down EV truck with hand-crank windows, no radio, no touch screen and a starting price of $24,950.

But thrifty future owners are already at war with the red-blooded American truck-driver class who are trashing the “tiny” pickup as a waste of space.

The biggest complaint: the Slate may be cheap for an EV, but it still costs nearly as much as more practical small trucks once buyers start comparing options.

“You’re paying a similar base price to a Ford Maverick and are getting less all around,” one Reddit user wrote. “It’s a tough sell for someone that just wants a small truck.”

Another put it more bluntly: “Stupid. Why would you buy this over a Ford Maverick?”

The comparison came up repeatedly, with skeptics arguing that the Maverick offers more seats, more utility and a more familiar ownership experience for only a few thousand dollars more.

“The base model Ford Maverick is just over $27k,” one user wrote. “It runs circles around this in every utility aspect.”

Others said the Slate’s value starts to fall apart once customers add options.

“Sucks having the fastback SUV makes it $31K,” one commenter wrote. “That’s insanely overpriced for what you’re getting.”

Another said they loved the look and size, but “don’t love the price for how barebones it is.”

But others drivers love the back to basics approach.

“Crank windows, no touchscreen, knobs for AC,” one Reddit user wrote. “They got to $25k by putting an electric powertrain in a truck interior from 1995 and honestly that might be the selling point.”

Another said the Slate made their Ford Maverick hybrid — already considered one of the cheapest pickups on the market — look luxurious.

“Damn I bought a Ford Maverick hybrid because they cheaped out on features to keep the sticker price low, which was great for me,” one commenter wrote. “But this is next level. Makes my truck look like a luxury vehicle.”

Others praised Slate for ditching the bloated teach that has taken over modern cars.

“Knobs for the AC is awesome!” one user wrote. “I predict that this will be more prevalent on future cars.”

Another argued that critics are ignoring just how expensive new vehicles have become.

“People who see this and complain don’t realize how much inflation has hurt out pocket books in the last decade,” the commenter wrote, calling the truck “dirt cheap” compared with old compact pickups when adjusted for inflation.

Still, several critics said the truck should have been closer to $15,000 or below $20,000 to truly shake up the market.

“I absolutely love this truck,” one user wrote, “but that price is NOT it.”

Another declared the truck “DOA,” arguing that at $25,000, many buyers would rather shop for a certified pre-owned truck with more features.

The Slate is designed as a tiny two-seat pickup that buyers can customize with wraps, accessories and even a kit that turns it into a five-seat SUV.

But that customizable pitch is also part of the debate. To fans, it is a clever way to keep the starting price down. To critics, it means paying extra to add back features many buyers expect in a modern vehicle.

“No way I’m buying a Bezos-backed truck,” one Redditor wrote.

Still, Slate appears to have tapped into a real frustration: Americans miss cheap, simple trucks.

Whether they want one with a radio is another battle entirely.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters