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Slate Auto to Assemble Affordable EV Pickup in Indiana
Slate Auto has announced plans to manufacture its electric pickup truck, priced at $25,000, in a facility located in Warsaw, Indiana, previously used for printing operations until 2023.
The 1.4 million-square-foot site is now poised to transition into an automotive production facility, with the company expecting to begin delivering vehicles to customers by the end of 2026.
Slate Auto, backed by Jeff Bezos, expressed its commitment to revitalizing communities by utilizing existing facilities that have fallen dormant. In an interview, CEO Chris Barman emphasized the importance of reindustrialization: “We would like to see what we can do to go into an existing facility that has been shuttered and reindustrialize and revitalize that community.”
The establishment of the new factory is expected to create over 2,000 jobs, surpassing the 500 positions lost when the previous tenant closed down, according to company representatives.
A local news report indicated that many in the community were impacted when operations ceased in 2023.
Slate Auto’s strategy mirrors that of other notable electric vehicle manufacturers. For instance, Tesla repurposed the NUMMI factory previously shared by General Motors and Toyota, while Rivian took over the former Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Illinois.
Despite these comparisons, Slate’s choice of location diverges from the automotive tradition, as it utilizes a space formerly dedicated to printing, located about 40 miles from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Originally built in 1958 and updated in 2000, the facility includes office areas and two sizable production spaces of approximately 600,000 square feet each. Slate has not disclosed how much of this space will be utilized for manufacturing.
Local developers, represented by the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation, have opted not to provide additional comments, referring to a nondisclosure agreement in place.
The forthcoming Slate Truck is anticipated to offer 150 miles of range, making it the most affordable electric vehicle in its category within the U.S. market. CEO Barman noted that with applicable tax incentives, the price could drop below $20,000, creating a competitive edge that is currently unoccupied by other electric or non-electric trucks.
Customers can now reserve the vehicle with a refundable fee of $50, paving the way for early engagement as production ramps up.
For further details, visit the full article on Business Insider.
Source
finance.yahoo.com