Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has been identified as a significant backer of Slate Auto , a Michigan-based electric vehicle (EV) startup operating under the radar since its inception in 2022. According to a report by TechCrunch, the company is developing a budget-friendly two-seat electric pickup truck, projected to cost around $25,000, with the goal of bringing EV technology to a wider market.
As per the report, Slate Auto has attracted top talent from major automakers, including Ford , General Motors , Stellantis, and Harley-Davidson, as it builds its team. The startup emerged from Re:Build Manufacturing, another Bezos-backed venture, and has raised substantial funding, including $111 million in a Series A round in 2023.
Additional investments were secured in a Series B round last year, with prominent backers such as Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners, and Thomas Tull, a lead investor in Re:Build Manufacturing.
The report also adds that the company plans to begin production by late 2026 at a facility near Indianapolis, Indiana, though it remains unclear whether this will involve an existing factory or a new construction. Slate Auto's innovative approach and focus on affordability come at a challenging time for the EV industry, as several startups have faced financial difficulties.
Over the years, Jeff Bezos has made investments in more than 30 companies through his family office, spanning diverse industries such as AI (Perplexity), robotics (Figure), defense (Anduril), and mobility (Uber). Slate represents one of his most direct ventures into the electric vehicle sector, apart from Amazon's partnership with Rivian.
As per the report, Slate Auto has attracted top talent from major automakers, including Ford , General Motors , Stellantis, and Harley-Davidson, as it builds its team. The startup emerged from Re:Build Manufacturing, another Bezos-backed venture, and has raised substantial funding, including $111 million in a Series A round in 2023.
Additional investments were secured in a Series B round last year, with prominent backers such as Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners, and Thomas Tull, a lead investor in Re:Build Manufacturing.
The report also adds that the company plans to begin production by late 2026 at a facility near Indianapolis, Indiana, though it remains unclear whether this will involve an existing factory or a new construction. Slate Auto's innovative approach and focus on affordability come at a challenging time for the EV industry, as several startups have faced financial difficulties.
Over the years, Jeff Bezos has made investments in more than 30 companies through his family office, spanning diverse industries such as AI (Perplexity), robotics (Figure), defense (Anduril), and mobility (Uber). Slate represents one of his most direct ventures into the electric vehicle sector, apart from Amazon's partnership with Rivian.
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