Jeff Bezos-Backed Slate Auto Reportedly Poised To Challenge Tesla, Rivian, Lucid In EV Arena Next Year

Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos is funding a secretive electric vehicle startup based in Michigan that could start production as soon as next year, according to a new report.

TechCrunch, citing multiple sources and documents related to Bezos' family office, said the company is called Slate Auto and has been quietly hiring former employees of Ford, General Motors, Stellantis and Harley Davidson.

The report notes that Slate wants to crack the formula for building a $25,000 two-seat EV, something established U.S. players like Tesla and Rivian have yet to achieve. Its inspiration? The legendary Ford Model T and Volkswagen Beetle.

According to a public filing, the company — which reportedly originates from another Bezos-linked firm called Re:Build Manufacturing — raised at least $111 million in a Series A round in 2023. 

TechCrunch reported that the company closed a Series B late last year.

Slate Auto is led by former Chrysler executive Christine Barman, who reportedly spent over two decades managing vehicle line programs for the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Jeep Cherokee. 

Executive chairman Rodney Copes, a Harley-Davidson veteran who also held a leadership role at Rivian, is joined by CFO Ryan Green, another Harley-Davidson and Rivian alumnus.

The EV startup reportedly targets a late 2026 production launch at a facility near Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Still, it remains unclear whether Slate will refurbish an existing plant or build one from scratch.

According to the report, rather than developing everything in-house, Slate is expected to rely on external suppliers for key components like its high-voltage battery pack, electric motors, and related technology.

TechCrunch says the startup is flipping the typical EV playbook. Rather than starting with high-margin luxury models and trickling down to affordable options (a strategy employed by Tesla, Lucid and Rivian), it's prioritizing an accessible, budget-friendly car from the outset.

However, Slate's rumored entry comes at a challenging moment for the EV industry, which is navigating tariff uncertainty under the Trump administration, intensifying price competition from Chinese automakers, and increasingly volatile consumer demand.

Amazon, chaired by Bezos, is already deeply tied to the EV space through its 2020 acquisition of autonomous vehicle startup Zoox and its major investment in Rivian, from which it has pledged to purchase 100,000 electric delivery vans by 2030.

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