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.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story “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 h...