Slate truck gets software updates through a phone, not built-in tech

The base version of the Slate electric pickup is built around omission. It has no infotainment system, no radio, no speakers, no power windows and no paint job, just vinyl. Slate Auto says the approach supports a sub-$25,000 entry price by cutting features unrelated to driving and safety, while keeping a path for buyers who want more.

A minimal truck with a long add-on list

Slate expects buyers to fill in missing pieces. The company lists speakers, an iPad mount that can act more like a traditional infotainment system, a kit that turns the truck into a five-seat SUV and a telematics module that enables in-app door unlocking. Those choices can add up fast, since a fully loaded version of the modular vehicle can surpass $45,000.

The truck is aimed at short-run hauling and errands rather than long road trips, and Slate does not present it as an apples-to-apples match with other electric trucks. Its stated figures are an estimated 205 miles of range, a 1,550-pound maximum payload and a 2,000-pound tow rating.

Updates move through your phone

Over-the-air updates normally rely on cellular or Wi-Fi. Slate uses the Slate app instead. When an update is available, the app downloads it to your phone. You then plug the phone into the truck's USB port on the dash and wait for the initial file transfer, which takes about a minute. After that, the truck completes the installation on its own, a step the company describes as taking around 45 minutes.

Slate says these updates will focus on bug fixes and small improvements, so owners should not expect large new features to appear after installation. The same app handles other common jobs, including showing range, finding chargers and sending directions to Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze.

Privacy may be part of the appeal

A vehicle that does not phone home could appeal to buyers tired of connected-car data practices. Slate says it will not sell app data and only collects what it needs for things like diagnostics, service and update status. Whether enough shoppers want an electric pickup that scales back so much remains an open question, but the company is positioning the truck as affordable, modular and still up to date.

Sources: Engadget