Slate Auto Targets 2026 Launch for Affordable Electric Trucks
A former printing plant in Warsaw is being transformed into a high-tech facility where hundreds of robots will assemble electric trucks. The company aims to start production next year with a base price under $25,000.
Slate Auto has announced plans to begin manufacturing electric trucks and SUVs in the fourth quarter of 2026. The company is converting a 1.4 million-square-foot former printing facility in Warsaw into a modern assembly plant. Inside, hundreds of robotic arms have been installed to handle the vehicle construction process.
The base model of the Slate Truck is priced at $24,950, a figure the company claims makes it the most affordable new pickup in the United States. Slate sells these vehicles directly to consumers, bypassing traditional dealership networks. Between April 2025 and June 2026, the company reported receiving 180,000 reservations for the truck.
Factory conversion and robotic assembly
The transition from a printing plant to an auto factory involved significant structural changes. Approximately half of the flooring was replaced, and three and a half miles of interior walls were removed to create open assembly lines. According to manufacturing engineering head Dan Tasiemski, 374 robots were installed in the body shop alone last November.
The facility currently employs 575 workers, with plans to expand that number to over 2,000 when fully operational. A new addition to the building is under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The company is currently in the prototype stage, testing how components fit together before full-scale production begins.
Cost strategy and design choices
Slate Auto has made a deliberate decision to omit a paint shop from its facility. This choice is intended to reduce overall manufacturing costs and provide customers with greater flexibility. Owners can apply vinyl wraps to customize the vehicle's appearance, and these wraps can be changed or removed at any time.
Jeff Jablansky, the head of public relations, emphasized that the warranty and price point position the truck as a new vehicle option that costs less than the average used car. This pricing strategy is central to Slate's appeal, aiming to make electric trucks accessible to a broader segment of the American market.
Local impact and community engagement
The company has focused on hiring locally, with estimates suggesting that 70 to 80 percent of its current workforce resides in the area. Some employees have relocated from states like California and Texas to join the team. Human resources lead Stacy Burk stated that the goal is to create a generational workplace that offers stability and culture.
Slate Auto is also engaging the public through a traveling ride-along event. The tour has visited Arizona and is scheduled to stop in Chicago and Detroit in late September and October. These events allow prospective customers to experience the vehicle before the official launch. The company’s progress was highlighted in a report by GN auto tech/ev: electric vehicle, which covered the facility update and production timeline.
