- Reports suggest Slate’s compact electric pickup could start around $25,000, with an unconfirmed high-roof cargo kit adding roughly $3,000.
- The taller “high-boy” kit is described as creating a continuous roofline and extra interior height.
- Sources say Slate may sell the topper to retail buyers and fleets.
Slate Auto has not officially detailed its cheapest enclosed work van yet. At a recent Portland ride-along event, Fleet Business Development and Government Sales Lead Christian Kreipke reportedly described a high-roof cargo topper in development for the compact electric pickup and presented it as a possible future retail option.
According to SlateForums, Kreipke reportedly pegged the add-on at about $3,000, which would turn the pickup into a fully enclosed cargo hauler for trades and small businesses that might otherwise shop used panel vans. Slate has not confirmed the kit or any pricing on its consumer channels. The company is still publicly focused on preorders and its first customer deliveries, which it has previously targeted for late 2026.
An Instagram post from aftermarket outfit Slate Auto Mods appears to show the alleged topper on a prototype truck. Whether this image is legitimate or not remains to be confirmed.
What The High-Roof Cargo Kit Might Add
Sources familiar with the project describe two cargo shapes on the same compact electric pickup platform. One is a squarer rear enclosure that mirrors the SUV-style conversion. The other is the taller “high-boy” version aimed at commercial use.
The taller kit is said to replace the factory cab roof with a spoiler-like cap that creates a continuous roofline from the windshield to the tailgate. From a distance it looks closer to a small panel van than a pickup with a topper, and the added interior height could unlock more usable cargo space without moving to a full-size van chassis.
Early conversations with companies and municipalities have reportedly gone beyond simple parcel hauling. Refrigeration units, slide-out shelving, and mobile vending layouts have all been floated as possible ways to use the enclosed cargo area if Slate approves the topper and keeps pricing near the figure being discussed.
Colors, Windows And Who Could Buy One
If it reaches production, the topper is expected in white, for fleets that plan to wrap their vehicles, and black, to tie in with the truck’s slate grey paint. Side panels are described in three layouts: solid, fixed glass, or lift-open windows on struts for ventilation and easier side loading.
The appealing part of the rumored package is the price mix. Slate has previously talked about a base truck price of roughly $24,950 before destination, with leaks pointing to an all-in starting figure around $26,400 with fees. If a high-roof kit lands near the suggested $3,000 mark, it could create a compact electric work van configuration that slips in under $30,000 before any incentives.
On that math, a Slate cargo build would likely undercut most electric vans now advertised in the US and avoid full-size van running costs. Slate has talked about building its first pickups at a retooled plant in Warsaw, Indiana, with backing from Jeff Bezos among other investors, and it is pitching the broader truck project at buyers priced out of much of today’s electric van market.
Motor1 has reached out to Slate for a statement and will update this article if the company responds.
Motor1’s Take: For small contractors, trades and van-life DIYers, a factory-backed, secure cargo setup under $30,000 would be rare in the electric space. The real test is whether official specs, dealer support, and long-term durability convince enough buyers to walk past the used-van aisle to a new EV platform.
Read the full article here
