The Slate Truck is more of an upsized BEV Kei Truck then a scaled down Full-size BEV Pickup

[Mac-Tyson]

What is the Kei Truck in the Japanese market? Kei Trucks, put simply are pickup trucks that are small and affordable for their roads and have gained a cult following in the US for their utility. They often have very minimalist bare bones interiors, where you have the option to purchase amenities that usually come standard in other vehicles. This is done to keep the price down for the base trim. Towing Capacity though isn’t impressive with the Honda Acty and Suzuki Carry only offering 1,000 pounds of towing capacity. Sound familiar?

While the Slate Truck is not Kei sized, it does have a similar concept when it comes to the Blank Slate and the capabilities of it are similar. Where the Slate Truck differs is they offer significant more customization options which is a core aspect of the brand, they are aiming for a 5 Star Safety Rating, can drive on American Highways, and will be legal in all 50 states.

This is also a clear difference from Telo which is much more of a scaled down (Mini) Full-size BEV Pickup Truck with the capabilities and price to match those expectations. Their aim isn’t affordability it’s to pack the most capability in the smallest package possible. Slate has a different goal. The Slate Truck’s main goals are the following: affordability on day 1 as well as over the life of the vehicle, consumer choice/right to repair, safety, and unparalleled customization. This results in the Blank Slate looking very much like America’s take on the Kei Truck but also expands on it to become something truly unique in the automotive space.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

...And the Slate has the steering wheel on the left side!

That and it has a crumple zone in front of the occupants. I believe there is a reason why cab-forward designs faded out in the 1960s here stateside.