Slate Auto is giving shoppers a place to see its upcoming electric pickup in person, opening its first U.S. Experience Center in Chicago ahead of planned customer deliveries.
The Amazon-backed startup opened the location at 1053 W. Grand Ave. on October 15, moving beyond its online ordering model to let prospective buyers get a closer look at the truck, explore accessories and take a ride.
The location occupies a former Tesla showroom on Chicago's Near West Side. Slate held public demonstration events October 15–17, with appointments available for ride-alongs.
The two-door electric pickup is designed around a relatively simple, customizable platform. Slate has promoted a starting price of $24,950 before destination charges; the reported price including destination is $26,400. Buyers can add accessories and conversion options, including configurations that add rear passenger seating.
Slate is preparing to build the truck in Warsaw, Indiana, with customer deliveries expected before the end of 2026. Rather than establish its own network of service centers, the company plans to use RepairPal's network of independent repair shops for maintenance and warranty work.
Slate is testing whether an automaker can combine direct online sales with physical locations where buyers can examine an unfamiliar vehicle before ordering. Its approach also separates vehicle sales from the traditional franchised-dealer service model. Whether that translates into meaningful competition for established pickup brands will depend on pricing, production, customer demand and the ownership experience once deliveries begin.
