r/slateauto

I think REO is a fake company at the sole purpose of benefiting off of the people who don’t like the fact Slate is an EV.

Let me explain a little: So the Slate was first introduced back in April 2025 and only about a year later (June 2026), REO makes a resurgence out of thin air. Claiming they are going to be the cheapest truck built in America for only a price of $21,500 after the Slate just revealed their price.

This is obviously just a scam, REO claims they are making a gas truck for $4500 cheaper and the reservation is only half the price of Slate’s… like come on this is way to good to be true. I see their account posting often in Slate related videos saying like “we exist” or posting stories sharing people saying “sold I want my Slate deposit back” to make people believe they are the better option. But literally nothing even exists….

The owner of the company is Zach De Bernardi a real estate agent from TX, with absolutely no background in car manufacturing. We have absolutely no clue what the truck even looks like, what kind of engine, factory location, or really anything… just hype. And people are really buying into it, they already have over 20k reservations. Just really wanted to get this off my chest since I just passed by one of their billboards here in TX…. yes literally a billboard for a non-existent truck.

AI (an unreliable source at best) says the SUV squareback option won't reduce range. Is that true?

Adding the option of 17" all terrain tires, and a lift kit which is apparently required with this tire, reduces the range by up to 24% according to the robot. 180 miles range or thereabouts with big tires.

I went on A Better Route Planner (no idea how good this site is) and estimated a Slate trip from Missouri to Seattle. I used specs for the squareback SUV with regular street tires, 205 miles of estimated range. Several times the route planner showed I'd be down to 10% charge on such a trip, a white-knuckle amount of range anxiety. If I route through Laramie, Wy it goes down to 0%, dead on the side of the road. I never go below 20% charge in my current EV.

The AI says there might be an aftermarket mostly DIY air dam (EZ Lip) that could retrieve about half of the lost range. Does this make sense?

With the lift kit and all-terrain tires, 180 miles of estimated range, would I be out of luck trying to drive across sparse charging station areas like Kansas or Idaho?

Pulled from a Slate marketing email this morning.

How long until they have leasing options?

Since it seems all EVs have to make some sort of Jetsons type sound when driving, has anyone heard one of these yet? Do we know what weird sound they're going to make?

Looks like Slate represented well at Woodward Dream Cruise!

Pics at Slate Forums - https://www.slateforums.com/forum/threads/several-slate-trucks-wraps-at-woodward-dream-cruise-2026.16123/

At least 4 different Slate trucks were out cruising 🤩

Interested in whats the main thing other ppl would want. This isnt for what the cheapest or most feasible options would be- just most of the topics I’ve seen ppl discuss lately. (Not a 4 door sedan or a camper van that makes it a completely different vehicle). Also didn’t include a front bench seat because there’s only 6 spots allowed in the poll. (And anyone who says “jUsT bUy A fOrD blah blah” then yeah, if you ever leave your mom’s basement, go for it)

EDIT - sounds like they’re gonna be offering the hard tops without the roll cage/seats. so, some of you are getting your wish sooner rather than later

View Poll

I'm no car design expert but it has been suggested or implied that the reason Slate only went with 2-doors instead of four is because 4-doors would have increased the price (and possibly complexity) of the Slate and they wanted to keep costs down.

At the same time, some (not all) of those passing on the current first version of the Slate have stated they are doing so because of the lack of 4-doors (or, in essence, lack of easier access to and from the back seats of the SUV version).

Now if, in the future, Slate wanted to address the feedback of these potential buyers in the next design version of the Slate they would presumably create a version with 4-doors and, as a consequence, raise the price to accommodate the added two extra doors.

But I want to know is if it would be structurally sound and cost effective to instead not add two extra doors but simply elongate the existing two doors to accommodate the rear seats? So that when the doors were opened, full access to both the front and rear seats would be made available while keeping the Slate a 2-door. Obviously, that would require a bit more material for the doors to extend their length but two less latches and locking systems than would be necessary for a 4-door.

Is this a good idea or not recommended from a structural or cost effective standpoint?

I really like Slate and I really like wagons. With the amount of customization choices out there for this car, is it possible to turn the slate into a wagon in the future? Maybe lower the body, extend the bed if that is possible and give it a square end like the current one but longer?

Long time lurker finally decided to post. I test drove the blank slate and it was one of my most boring driving experiences ever. What is going to happen when the novelty wears off in a few hours of getting the new truck? I paid my $300 deposit, but now I’m having second thoughts.

I preordered as soon as it opened a year or two ago but canceled my order when I found out you don’t offer the ability to turn off one pedal driving. Other manufacturers have the ability to offer that and use the first bit of brake pedal travel as regen. Such and easy thing to include, massive oversight to not offer it. I hope you add it in the future, otherwise I hope your company fails :)

Edit: I’m doing this because I was a customer and don’t enjoy being lied to. When I spoke to the sales team initially, I was told the option for one pedal driving would be just that, an option, not the only way to do it. I paid my deposit and waited patiently only to find out I had been lied to. Therefore they can go f--- themselves :)