The Super Cheap, DIY Electric Truck
In a Nutshell
The video tours Detroit's electric vehicle innovation scene using a borrowed 2026 GMC Sierra AT4, spotlighting Slate's affordable, customizable electric truck starting under $20,000 after incentives (100,000+ orders, production ramps to 150,000/year by 2027 in Warsaw, IN) and Grounded RVs' customized GM BrightDrop vans like electric campers and mobile clinics built with recycled materials. Slate revives entry-level vehicles with plastic panels, manual windows, and modular SUV/truck kits via an open-source accessories platform. Detroit's revitalization shines through incubators like New Lab, Ford's $1B Michigan Central restoration, and talent drawing hardware startups from across the U.S.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
In Detroit, using a 2026 all-electric GMC Sierra AT4 with Max range, about 500 miles on a charge. Truck has more cameras than ever seen on a car. Shooting entire episode using only the truck's cameras. Truck belongs to GM, borrowed for the week. GM hopes to prove it knows how to make electric vehicles. Demonstrates hands-free lane changing.
GM's loaner agreement did not anticipate their creativity. Turned truck over to Rap Detroit. They transformed it into Sexy Brexy, the intelligent finance vehicle.
Truck not the main point; checking Detroit's technology state. First stop: Slate, hottest automotive startup. Revealed electric truck in April, no-frills, partially plastic, very customizable, meant to start at less than $20,000. Over 100,000 orders. Run by Chris Barbin, longtime auto industry exec.
Walk me through why you thought the world needed this type of vehicle.
It was about what if somebody made an affordable vehicle again... basic vehicles that people had and loved that were very durable and very affordable... entry level brand... Plymouth is gone. Pontiac's gone. Saturn's gone. Scion's gone. Average cost of a new vehicle is about $50,000. It's left a lot of people where their choice is to buy a used car cuz they just can't afford a new car.
Slate costs in the mid-20s, brand new; under $20,000 after current incentives. Like a Mr. Potato Head or chameleon of trucks and SUVs; add SUV kit for three configurations. Business model: accessories on open-source platform with mechanical electrical API. Change into 5-passenger SUV; buy as 2-passenger initially. Wrap for color; designed for wrapping, no complex curvature, few hours, few hundred dollars.
Body in white receives parts. Harkens back to Saturn with plastic body panels, crank windows, no displays or infotainment. Windows manual standard; power windows as accessory. Puts cost into appreciated features: standard cruise control, air conditioning.
Trump administration tariffs and scrapping of EV sales credits affected pitch. Previously: starting below $20,000 with federal incentives. Some states offer attractive incentives; can start at less than $20,000 in right state. No drive allowed for host; watched Chris Barbin drive.
100,000+ orders; trucks start arriving late 2026. Prototypes made in Detroit; final production at Warsaw, Indiana plant. Built 74 beta prototypes; more than half for crashing to confirm virtual design, simulation, CAE modeling before production. Warsaw starts customer vehicles Q4 2026; ramp to 150,000 units/year by end 2027.
Customizing EVs is rage in Detroit. Met Sam Shapiro of Grounded RVs in Corktown neighborhood, oldest in Detroit with original cobblestone streets. Grounded RVs takes base GM BrightDrop truck, customizes for consumers or businesses. 13,000 sq ft facility, fabricating up to 4 vans/month. Started as world's first fully electric camper van; now builds mobile women's health clinic, pet grooming studio, podcasting studio.
Processes raw materials: foam insulation, floor material, composite panels, recycled sheets for cabinetry. Own house electrical system powers interior; computer for customer usage history, fleet patterns, remote diagnostics.
Grounded started at New Lab/The Book Depository. New Lab is startup incubator with R&D hardware access. Variety of startups: autonomous drones, boats, manufacturing. General shop space, Digifab room (3D printers), electronics prototyping lab, wood shop, metal working shop. Built first three vans there.
Next to old Detroit train station (now Michigan Central), massive facelift by Ford. $600-700 million on building, $300 million on Book Depository. Next: hotel on top two floors, courtyard.
Anecdote: Historic gold clock stolen for safekeeping during abandonment. In 2018, Flavor Flav contacted Ford: took clock to protect it, now returning it. Left wrapped in furniture bags at specified location; now on display.
It's a feel-good story and it's really emblematic of the Detroit culture that somebody would care that much and want to see it sort of saved.
286-mile range electric camper van. 5-foot pull-out drawer. 100% recycled materials. Seating for 3-4. Shower, indoor kitchen (induction stove, microwave, fridge, sink, hot water), overhead storage, closet, sliding pantry, spice rack. Convertible bed or bunk beds.
Sam drawn by New Lab in summer 2022; nearly signed lease in Austin, switched to Detroit within 48 hours, first time in Michigan.
Couldn't be happier. There's just so much talent here and physical resources, capex, shops, factories... one of the best places imaginable in the country right now to build a hardware startup.
Keep Core Memory in your library
Save the videos and channels worth coming back to, and find them again in one place.
