The return of the econobox

Few people would disagree that electric vehicles, with an average price tag of $59,000, are too expensive.

• But do people really want a stripped-down EV for one-third the price?
• I'm talking no paint, crank-handle windows, no radio or infotainment system — just a couple of brackets to mount your phone or Bluetooth speakers on the dashboard.

Why it matters: If Jeff Bezos-backed Slate Auto is correct, there's a big market for such low-cost EVs, especially if buyers can customize them with add-on accessories.

Catch up quick: Slate rolled out a no-frills, two-door electric pickup last week in Los Angeles that will go on sale in late 2026 for under $20,000.

• The only choice: a 150-mile or 240-mile battery pack.
• Everything else is a la carte — from color wraps and decals to running boards and fancy wheels.
• Slate will offer more than 100 different accessories, including a DIY kit to turn the pickup into an SUV.
• At least there's a lot of standard safety equipment, including airbags, automatic emergency braking and a backup camera. More specs are here.

💭 My thought bubble: I don't have fancy tastes, but at this point, I've gotten used to creature comforts. Heated seats and a heated steering wheel are must-haves in Michigan.

• But I think Slate will find plenty of younger buyers — and even some fleet customers — who are eager to scoop up those bare-bones EVs.
• It's why Ford and Tesla, and perhaps others, are developing low-cost EVs, too.
• The bigger question is whether Slate, which has raised $111 million to date, will be able to survive while so many other EV startups have failed.
• Big money from the likes of Bezos helps, no doubt. But it's not guaranteed.