Slate Auto’s $25k EV Truck Moves Forward With Amazon Veteran as CEO

Slate’s Leadership Reset

With Slate Auto nearing the debut of its all-electric vehicle, the startup has appointed Peter Faricy as its new Chief Executive Officer. According to Newsweek, Chris Barman, who served as CEO when the brand launched in 2022, remains with the company and moves into the role of president of vehicles.

Faricy has worked at several companies, including Ford, early in his career. However, his most notable stint was at Amazon, where he spent 13 years, first as vice president of music and movies and later as vice president of Amazon Marketplace. For context, Slate is backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who is a key investor in bringing affordable EVs to the market.

Meanwhile, as president of vehicles, Barman — who previously worked at Chrysler — now oversees manufacturing, engineering, and design.

Inside Slate’s Big Idea

Slate co-founder William Barker told the publication, “Slate was built with an obsessive, heads-down focus on reinventing the vehicle by rethinking the product from the ground up.” Barker also commended the new CEO, adding, “He is a pioneer of marketplace businesses and a highly strategic leader, and his experience will help us build not just a great vehicle, but a great long-term company.”

The brand aims to introduce an all-electric truck priced in the mid-$20,000 range. That would undercut some of the most affordable EVs in the U.S., including the Nissan Leaf and the new Chevrolet Bolt EV. The pricing was even more attractive when the $7,500 EV tax credit was still in place, with the company previously touting a sub-$20,000 EV. The incentive ended in September 2025, a change that has had a significant impact on the broader EV market.

The Affordable Electric Truck Race

Aside from regulatory challenges, Slate will also face competition from brands like Ford, with the Blue Oval aiming to build an all-electric pickup priced at around $30,000. While Slate’s upcoming EV may be more affordable based on currently available information, Ford is a far more established brand, which could make it difficult for the startup to compete.

What we know for now is that Slate EVs — scheduled to launch later this year — will be produced at a former printing facility in Warsaw, Indiana. The vehicles will feature several stripped-down elements to help achieve the affordable price target, including manual windows and the absence of the large screens that have become common selling points in today’s EVs.

View the full article