Slate Auto has officially confirmed that it will produce its highly anticipated $20,000 electric truck at a retrofitted factory in Warsaw, Indiana. The 1.4 million square foot facility, formerly a printing press, will be renovated to accommodate the production of 150,000 trucks per year, with plans to employ 2,000 people.

The news comes after Slate Auto emerged from stealth mode last week, generating significant buzz around its ultra-affordable, barebones electric truck. The vehicle's simplified design, featuring no touchscreen, radio, power windows, or paint, enables a streamlined production process that reduces costs. This approach allows Slate Auto to offer the truck at a price point significantly lower than its competitors.

The Indiana factory's layout will take advantage of the truck's design, skipping the need for an expensive paint shop and massive presses typically used to shape metal body panels. Instead, the body panels will be made of a form of plastic, reducing production costs and complexity. This innovative approach could potentially disrupt the traditional automotive manufacturing process.

The former R.R. Donnelly facility, which shuttered in 2023, will undergo renovations costing hundreds of millions of dollars. While Slate Auto did not disclose the total investment or terms of its property use, the company is committed to manufacturing the truck in the US and using domestic suppliers. This strategy could provide a competitive advantage amidst escalating global trade wars.

In comparison to Tesla's Fremont Factory, which produces around 650,000 vehicles per year, Slate Auto's facility is roughly one-quarter the size. However, the company aims to achieve an annual production rate of 150,000 trucks, a milestone that took Tesla over five years to reach. Slate Auto's simplified manufacturing process could enable it to ramp up production more quickly.

The confirmation of the Indiana factory marks a significant milestone for Slate Auto, which is poised to shake up the electric vehicle market with its affordable, no-frills truck. As the company moves forward with production plans, it will be interesting to see how its innovative approach affects the broader automotive industry.

With production scheduled to begin in Q4 2026, Slate Auto's $20,000 electric truck is expected to hit the market next year, pending the continuation of federal EV incentives. As the industry continues to evolve, Slate Auto's commitment to domestic manufacturing and supply chains could prove to be a key differentiator in the competitive electric vehicle market.