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Jeff Bezos - back Slate Auto has plant multiple concept interlingual rendition of its EV on the streets of California . It ’s a marketing tactic that teases the secretive startup ’s strategy to trade a “ Transformer”-like vehicle , people familiar with the society ’s internal discussions told TechCrunch .
This unlawful real - globe tease comes day before Slate ’s April 24 launch event at Long Beach Airport , allot to an invite viewed by TechCrunch .
The Michigan - based inauguration , institute in 2022 , has operated in comparative concealment until TechCrunchpublished a report revealing Bezos ’ financial involvement , as well as its plan to price its EV at around $ 25,000 while encourage buyer to customize the fomite to their liking . That base model is referred to as the “ Blank Slate ” version , harmonize to atrademark applicationand another individual familiar with the company ’s plans . Slate has also file away for atrademarkfor the set phrase : “ We build up It . You Make It . ”
The Autopian ’s David Tracytraveledto Venice , California over the weekend where Slate parked a concept adaptation of the truck made to take care like a two - door SUV used by a fake commercial enterprise . Similarly , Reddit users post depiction over the weekend ofyet anotherversion of the truckmade to look like a hatchback door that almost resembles Rivian’sforthcoming R3 .
The vehicle Tracy saw up nigh this retiring weekend depend just like the two - door pickup truck spotted by a Reddit userearlier this monthin Long Beach , but with a hard cover over the bed that give it more of an SUV shape . The vehicle is covered in a wrap for a fake business call “ Rockabye Rides , ” which let in a URL that run to a web site that iscounting downto Slate ’s event afterward this week .
That make three unlike silhouettes we ’ve seen of Slate ’s truck so far — and that adaptability is something the company has privately touted as it interlock down well over $ 100 million in funding , TechCrunch has learned .
Slate ’s leaders focused heavy on the “ Transformer ” metaphor as it woo investors to fill out its Series B financial backing around last year , according to a person familiar with the pitches . The company cautiously choreographed the coming together around the idea , according to another mortal familiar with how they went .
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This need showing prospective investor a generic variation of the truck , and then top them to another room while a squad quickly customise the vehicle . Then the prospective investor would be brought back to the first room only to find the truck looking wholly unlike .
Those efforts appear to have been convincing . Guggenheim Partners CEO ( and controlling owner of the LA Dodgers ) Mark Walter apparently invested in the round and joined Slate ’s panel , TechCrunch hasreported .
A voice for the companionship did n’t answer to a postulation for input .
These fresh photos give a fairly clear view of the exterior of Slate ’s truck , and the potential level of customization . The interior remains a mystery , and there is no public knowledge about the fomite ’s eyeglasses .
The companionship has briefed a number of automotive journalists onward of Thursday ’s case , and Tracy wrote that he ’s “ under a strict NDA ” on any of the specifics .
Even still , Tracy wrote that the Slate hand truck “ is unlike any raw vehicle I ’ve ever seen not just in my X as a auto journalist , but in my entire lifetime . ”
