Slate Auto, an electric truck startup that emerged from stealth mode earlier this year, has secured $700 million in funding to date. The company had previously raised a Series A round of over $100 million in 2023, led by Jeff Bezos.
Despite the challenges facing EV startups, including bankruptcies and regulatory hurdles, Slate’s investors believe in its mission to provide affordable, reliable, and customizable vehicles that are domestically manufactured. Ajay Relan, partner at Slauson & Co., a Los Angeles-based venture firm, says he was drawn to Slate’s vision of making cars more accessible to everyone.
Slauson & Co.’s investment comes after being introduced to the company by Jeff Wilke, former Amazon consumer division CEO and co-founder of Re:Build Manufacturing. The firm’s partners are confident in their investment due to Slate’s experienced management team, including CEO Chris Barman, who spent over 20 years at Chrysler.
The company has already gained significant traction, with over 100,000 refundable reservations within two weeks of launch. With major backers like Bezos and General Catalyst on board, Slate is well-positioned for success in the entry-level car market.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/08/why-this-los-angeles-vc-firm-was-an-early-investor-in-slate-auto