Details of $2.8B battery deal between Slate Auto and SK On

[cvollers]

Interesting. The article says that the "battery" will be made in Georgia, but the Slate employee I talked to when I took these pics said the "battery cells" will be made there. Maybe just a detail left out?

Maybe Slate meant the battery pack and not the cells.

 

[evtruth]

Maybe Slate meant the battery pack and not the cells.

Yeah, that's what the Slate guy meant. The article didn't specify cells though, it just said "batteries" instead of "battery cells."

 

[cvollers]

Add electronics to your list.

AI query:

What percentage of the cost of a new car is electronics?​

Response:

According to various analyses, electronics account for approximately 40 percent of the cost of a new car. This significant increase from 18 percent in 2000 highlights the growing importance of electronic systems in modern vehicles.​

Electronics is a group of components. For the Slate, I wonder what percentage electronics entails? Probably a lot less than 40%.

 

[AZFox]

Interesting. The article says that the "battery" will be made in Georgia, but the Slate employee I talked to when I took these pics said the "battery cells" will be made there. Maybe just a detail left out?

Good catch. I think "batteries" should be "cells" a couple of places in the article.

 

[Dorbiman]

This is the most detail I've seen so far on the battery deal between Slate Auto and SK.

SK On seals $2.8 bn battery deal with Bezos-backed US EV start-up Slate

Slate Auto CEO Chris Barman (left) and SK On CEO Lee Seok-hee pose for a photo at a Slate electric pickup truck unveiling event in Long Beach, California


SK On Co., the battery subsidiary of South Korea’s energy conglomerate SK Group, has signed a supply agreement worth an estimated 4 trillion won ($2.8 billion) with US electric vehicle start-up Slate Auto, which has drawn attention after it was known to have secured Amazon founder Jeff Bezos among its backers.

The agreement marks another significant milestone for SK On, coming just weeks after the battery maker signed a 15 trillion won deal with Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor Co.

The latest contract with Slate reinforces SK On’s aggressive push into the US market, positioning itself as a key supplier not only to legacy automakers but also to next-generation EV players.

Under the deal announced on Friday, SK On will supply 20 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery capacity to Slate between 2026 and 2031 – enough to power around 300,000 midsize electric vehicles.

Though financial terms were undisclosed, industry officials estimate the deal’s value at close to 4 trillion won, citing recent battery prices.

The two companies have also agreed to explore scaling up supply volumes should Slate’s vehicle production increase.

SLATE TRUCK BATTERIES WILL BE MADE AT SK’S US PLANT

Founded in 2022 in Michigan, Slate plans to launch a compact two-door electric pickup truck next year priced under $30,000 – a segment largely overlooked by incumbent EV makers.

To keep costs low, Slate has streamlined the vehicle’s manufacturing process and design, offering just a single exterior color. Buyers can then personalize their vehicle using a range of modular DIY kits, including options to upgrade the trim, install a roof rack or convert the pickup into a five-seater SUV.

The upcoming electric pickup will be equipped with SK On’s high-nickel NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) battery cells, known for their superior energy density and safety – attributes considered crucial in the long-range US EV market.

SK On is the battery unit of energy conglomerate SK Group


The batteries to be supplied to Slate will be manufactured at SK On’s US production facilities.

SK On, an affiliate of Korea’s top energy company SK Innovation Co., began investing in US production capacity in 2019 and started mass production in 2022.

It now operates one fully operational plant in Georgia and is building four additional facilities in Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee in partnership with automakers through joint ventures.

By the end of 2026, half of SK On’s global production capacity is expected to be based in the US, with US output likely exceeding 180 GWh annually once all plants reach full capacity.

SK On's prismatic EV battery


STRATEGIC SHIFT

The deal with Slate marks a strategic shift for SK On as sales of its batteries expand beyond premium electric vehicles to more affordable models – a move that could help accelerate EV adoption among mass-market consumers.

At a product unveiling event in Long Beach, California, on Thursday, Slate Chief Executive Chris Barman described the start-up as “more than a car company,” calling it “a flexible truck platform built for customization.”

SK On CEO Lee Seok-hee, who attended the launch, said the partnership reaffirmed “trust in SK’s technology and manufacturing capabilities in the US.”

“The US is a core strategic market for us,” Lee said. “We’re committed to delivering high-quality, locally made batteries that meet the needs of a rapidly evolving EV landscape.”

https://www.kedglobal.com/batteries/newsView/ked202504250003

Is it just me or are the side mirrors on the prototype slate behind SK On's CEO different than what's in the Maker? I kinda dig it; more truck-style mirrors vs traditional car style. I wonder if that's just for prototyping or if there will be add ons for different mirrors as well.

 

[AZFox]

Is it just me or are the side mirrors on the prototype slate behind SK On's CEO different than what's in the Maker?

Good catch! Didn't notice that.

TL;DR: I expect aero mirrors because side-views create significant drag.

I remember seeing in a video where Tesla spent a lot of time designing their sid-view mirrors to be aerodynamic. The upshot was that side-view mirrors impose a lot more aerodynamic drag than you might expect.

For this reason "drag-and-drive" racers have removable mirrors so they can have them off to drag race and put them on for driving to the next track.

Mirrors shaped like the ones you spotted in the photos would work as little parachutes.

Here's a mirror on the prototype that was spotted in Indiana.

Swoosh.

 

[cvollers]

Good catch! Didn't notice that.

TL;DR: I expect aero mirrors because side-views create significant drag.

I remember seeing in a video where Tesla spent a lot of time designing their sid-view mirrors to be aerodynamic. The upshot was that side-view mirrors impose a lot more aerodynamic drag than you might expect.

For this reason "drag-and-drive" racers have removable mirrors so they can have them off to drag race and put them on for driving to the next track.

Mirrors shaped like the ones you spotted in the photos would work as little parachutes.

Here's a mirror on the prototype that was spotted in Indiana.

Swoosh.

Since a Slate is unlikely to be towing anything, having tow-visibility side mirrors is not really necessary.

 

[AZFox]

Since a Slate is unlikely to be towing anything, having tow-visibility side mirrors is not really necessary.

And there could be some sort of snap-on mirror for towing.

 

[cvollers]

And there could be some sort of snap-on mirror for towing.

Another accessory option...boom!