❗️Slate Auto just made the idea of a cheap new truck interesting again, and the wild part is that it is electric. The company’s radically simple EV pickup now starts at $24,950 before fees, making it one of the most attention-grabbing affordable vehicle launches in a market where cheap new cars are almost gone. Instead of chasing luxury EV buyers, Slate is going the opposite direction with crank windows, no big infotainment screen, no radio, tactile controls, and a basic two-seat pickup layout. The truck is backed by major investors tied to Jeff Bezos, which adds a strange contrast because this is basically a billionaire-backed budget work truck. Slate says the truck has a projected 205-mile range, 1,550-pound payload, and 2,000-pound towing capacity, so it is not trying to be a Cybertruck rival as much as a tiny electric utility vehicle. The big catch is customization, because the base truck is cheap, but wraps, accessories, SUV conversions, audio, wheels, racks, and other add-on...