Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.None of this is officially confirmed by Slate yet, but the details are coming from an unusually credible source: a forum member who attended the company's own ride-along demo event in Portland and spoke directly with Slate's fleet sales lead. Between that account and matching details rendered by the Instagram account Slate Auto Mods, a clear picture has emerged of where Slate's modular parts catalog is headed next.Two Roof Options, Built Around The Existing SUV KitAccording to the Slateforums post, Slate's Fleet Business Development and Government Sales Lead, Christian Kreipke, described two cargo configurations: a standard "squareback" version sharing its shape with the SUV kit Slate already sells, and a taller high-roof version that adds a spoiler cap over the cab for a continuous roofline and standing headroom in back. Both are expected in black or white, with side panels configurable as blank, glass, or glass with lift struts and locks — and buyers can reportedly delete the rear cab glass and bulkhead entirely for a fully enclosed cargo area. Pricing starts around $3,000, roughly in line with the $5,000 premium Slate already charges for its existing SUV conversion.Instagram @SlateautomodsView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleOpen To Everyone, Not Just FleetsThe more interesting detail is who gets to buy it. Kreipke reportedly said the cargo kit — including the high-roof version — will be available to retail customers, not restricted to commercial fleet accounts the way Rivian has largely kept its EDV delivery van tied to Amazon. That opens the door to uses well outside the trades: van-life conversions, mobile vending setups, and small delivery operations that would otherwise be shopping used panel vans. It also positions Slate's modular approach against newer entrants like Telo's MT1, which starts north of $40,000 with no comparable cargo conversion — nearly double Slate's roughly $25,000 base price even before any kit is added.Still Rumor Until Slate Says OtherwiseSlateSlate hasn't confirmed the kit, its pricing, or a timeline on any official channel, and the company remains focused on first customer deliveries, which it has previously targeted for late 2026. Kreipke reportedly also indicated the next-generation Slate would keep the same basic dimensions, a detail aimed less at retail buyers and more at giving aftermarket upfitters confidence to build for the platform without redesign risk. Whether that translates into an actual production cargo van, and at what real-world price, is still an open question.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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