The US company Slate, backed by investors such as Jeff Bezos, has presented its eponymous electric pickup truck, a vehicle concept that relies heavily on customization through additive manufacturing. The focus is not only on a low entry-level price of around 20,000 US dollars, but above all on the ability to design or print components yourself.
Slate produces the truck in a standardized basic configuration with two seats. However, modular parts allow the vehicle to be expanded into a five-seater SUV with a roll cage and airbags. More than 100 attachment points are integrated into the chassis for this purpose. Users can use these attachment points to attach accessories from the official range or install their own designs produced using standard 3D printers.
The company makes some of the components available as open source models. A video by MotorTrend shows 3D-printed covers for lights, controls and modular interior components, among other things. According to the manufacturer, users are encouraged to create their own designs and thus actively help shape the platform.
This approach is reminiscent of earlier attempts in the automotive industry, such as BMW’s Mini Yours Customized. However, Slate goes much further. Slate has designed the entire vehicle architecture in such a way that users can subsequently expand or change it. In doing so, the company is shifting the focus from the finished product to an open system that can be individually adapted to their needs.
The Slate Truck is currently still in the pre-production phase.
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