Slate Auto says it has no plans to sell its bargain electric truck in Canada. Tariffs would push bargain US pricing into uncomfortably ordinary territory. Ford’s upcoming compact electric truck will reach Canada starting in 2027. If you were hoping Slate’s bargain priced electric truck would rescue Canada’s affordable EV market, we’ve got bad news. The startup has confirmed its piccolo pickup isn’t heading north, leaving Canadian buyers to admire it from across the border. Slate burst onto the scene in 2025 promising a genuinely inexpensive electric truck, and it’s delivered on that promise. Backed by Jeff Bezos, the startup recently confirmed pricing starting at $24,950 for its two-seat pickup, while its Squareback and Fastback SUV conversions begin at $29,950 and $31,950 respectively. Deliveries are currently scheduled to begin in late 2026. Related: Slate Bets Its Electric Truck Is So Cheap That It’ll Turn A Profit The company has pitched a radically simple formula. Forget giant touchscreens, powered seats, keyless entry and even power windows. Buyers get a basic electric pickup with hand-crank windows, room for two, a projected 205 miles (330 km) of electric range and the ability to add accessories later instead of financing equipment they might never want. Unfortunately, Canadian customers won’t get the chance to decide whether that minimalist philosophy makes sense. Speaking to Automotive News Canada, Slate spokesperson Jeff Jablansky confirmed the company’s strategy stops at the US border, saying simply, “We do not have plans to sell vehicles in Canada.” Jablansky didn’t explain the decision, but economics likely played a major role. Since Slate plans to build its trucks in Indiana, they would face Canada’s retaliatory 25 percent tariffs on American-built vehicles. Add those import duties to exchange rates and the truck’s eye-catching US price suddenly loses much of its magic, potentially climbing into territory that no longer looks like an unbelievable bargain. Thousands Of Reservations That’s especially disappointing because affordability has become one of Slate’s biggest selling points. The startup reportedly has around 180,000 reservations, though converting refundable deposits into actual sales remains one of the biggest hurdles facing any new automaker. Whether buyers will really embrace keep-fit windows and almost no standard equipment is another question entirely. Canadian shoppers looking for an inexpensive electric pickup aren’t completely out of luck, however. Ford has already begun teasing its own compact electric truck, which is expected to start below $30,000 in the US, where it’ll also be built. Unlike the Slate, Ford’s newcomer is planned for Canadian showrooms too, though exactly how tariffs and exchange rates will affect pricing north of the border is unclear. For now, the cheapest new electric truck in America will stay exactly that – an American-only proposition. Slate Auto
