Science & Technology
Slate Auto CEO Chris Barman rolls out a fresh look at their truck | TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Slate Auto is trying to reinvent the commercial EV market, by creating a highly-customizable vehicle that also comes at a drastically lower price point than many electric and gas-powered competitors, and CEO Chris Barman joined TechCrunch senior transportation reporter Sean O’Kane for an in-depth dive into their progress so far. #TechCrunchDisrupt2025 Subscribe for more on…
@paulstone3032
October 30, 2025 at 10:28 pm
I’m excited, I also already have my reservation so I’m a little biased. I love my little TDI and it served me well when I lived an hour from work but now that I live 12 min from work it just doesn’t get that great fuel mileage it can get on the highway and I’m paying $0.80 more a gallon than say a civic that could just as easily get the fuel milage I get now.
@Moe_Lester_fromUptwn
October 31, 2025 at 10:27 am
Price is slowly creeping up.
@stacyfearlicia
October 31, 2025 at 1:09 pm
it was always going to be mid 20s
@bennyfactor
October 31, 2025 at 10:49 pm
Great interview. Very interesting what she said about their desire to stay within the lines when it’s a good idea and throw out the rulebook when it’s not. So many venture companies and startups and the like, even big challengers in industries seem to go through “development hell” when they’re trying to learn how to do something everyone else been doing well for years because, you know, they’re Gonna Change The World and so they don’t need to look at existing expertise.
@jlschmugge
November 1, 2025 at 9:59 pm
She should have added that you don’t need a cellphone or tablet plugged in for it to run. As someone who just gets up early in the morning and gets into the car to go to work, I don’t want to have to plug in my phone to even get anywhere
@Kellastico
November 3, 2025 at 10:57 am
I don’t even think that’s *legal. Which car does that by default?
@jlschmugge
November 3, 2025 at 11:34 am
@Kellasticotechnically all of them, but all new cars have some kind of screen or infotainment system. In most cars now and all EVs they are integrated for the operation of the vehicle. Imagine taking that infotainment system out of an EV and having the vehicle still fully functional. You can’t. Slate is making the infotainment system supplemental and optional, but still has a basic instrument panel screen for all the functions of the car. The Slate brought back knobs for simple things like AC control. The tablet or phone you plug into Slate lets you have navigation, extra charging info, and music controls, but isn’t necessary to ‘make it go’ or control other functions.
@BA_vegas
November 2, 2025 at 5:55 pm
31 minute video and they don’t show it… Where’s the vehicle? lol
@Gravitas490
November 3, 2025 at 7:14 am
When she said a couple hundred for a wrap, that worries me as that is not very realistic. It is more like a couple of thousands of dollars.
@stickynorth
November 3, 2025 at 7:06 pm
These are pre-cut wrap kits you can DIY on your plastic body. A different type of wrap.
@stickynorth
November 3, 2025 at 7:05 pm
WHERE’S THE BEEF, CLARA? Or in this case, where’s the truck? I’m all for it but please SHOW don’t tell! Or at least SHOW AND TELL!
@BarnesLCU
November 3, 2025 at 7:31 pm
Finally! A car that grows with you. I’ve been waiting years for this kind of modular, upgradeable design to hit the market. Tired of being forced into new purchases when life changes — this flips the script. If Slate pulls this off, it’s going to reshape the entire auto industry.