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.
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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.
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