{"id":661592,"date":"2025-04-09T07:40:59","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T04:40:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/inside-the-ev-startup-secretly-backed-by-jeff-bezos\/"},"modified":"2025-04-09T07:40:59","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T04:40:59","slug":"inside-the-ev-startup-secretly-backed-by-jeff-bezos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/inside-the-ev-startup-secretly-backed-by-jeff-bezos\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside the EV startup secretly backed by Jeff Bezos"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2353ad950b9\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2353ad950b9\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/inside-the-ev-startup-secretly-backed-by-jeff-bezos\/#Deep_Amazon_ties\" >Deep Amazon ties<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/inside-the-ev-startup-secretly-backed-by-jeff-bezos\/#Bucking_the_trend\" >Bucking the trend\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/inside-the-ev-startup-secretly-backed-by-jeff-bezos\/#No_founder_to_be_found\" >No founder to be found\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<p id=\"speakable-summary\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jeff Bezos is funding a secretive EV startup based in Michigan called Slate Auto that could start production as soon as next year, according to multiple sources and documents that link the billionaire\u2019s family office to the startup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slate, which took root in another Bezos-connected company called Re:Build Manufacturing, has been operating quietly since its founding in 2022. The company has hired hundreds of employees while in stealth \u2014 many of whom come from Ford, <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">General<\/a> Motors, Stellantis, and Harley-Davidson.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also attracted the backing of several other wealthy individuals, including Mark Walter, the controlling owner of the LA Dodgers and CEO of Guggenheim Partners, and Thomas Tull, who is a lead investor of Re:Build Manufacturing, according to documents TechCrunch obtained from Delaware\u2019s Division of Corporations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slate Auto is tackling a big goal: an affordable two-seat electric pickup truck for around $25,000, according to two sources who were granted anonymity to speak about the company\u2019s internal discussions. Leaders inside the company have mentioned the Ford Model T or Volkswagen Beetle as a North Star for the project, according to the people.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It has amassed a sizable war chest in service of that goal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company quietly raised at least $111 million in a <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Series<\/a> A round in 2023, according to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/Archives\/edgar\/data\/1979776\/000182224723000002\/xslFormDX01\/primary_doc.xml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">a public filing<\/a>. Bezos was involved, and Melinda Lewison, the person who manages his family office, is listed as a director on paperwork Slate has filed with states and the federal government. The filing shows 16 people invested in that round; it is unclear how much Bezos put into the company.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slate has told employees that it closed a Series B late last year, according to multiple sources familiar with its funding. It has not yet filed any paperwork for the round with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Delaware paperwork shows it authorized nearly 500 million preferred shares for the Series B priced at $2.37 per share. (Slate also authorized more than 400 million shares of common stock in the past year, though the filings did not state a price.)\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Delaware paperwork also lists Walter and Tull as new board members, suggesting the two invested in Slate\u2019s Series B round. The two <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/9f670b45-5aeb-4513-92ea-61e27248a968\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">recently formed<\/a> a $40 billion holding company to make investments. Walter and Tull could not be reached for comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slate hopes to get its vehicle into production as soon as late 2026 at a manufacturing facility somewhere near Indianapolis, Indiana, according to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theladders.com\/job\/head-of-body-engineering-manufacturing-continuum-health-alliance-troy-mi_79963254\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">job<\/a> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/jobs\/view\/network-engineer-at-slate-4170199472\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">listings<\/a>, state lobbying records, and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/uwalumni.com\/news\/the-electric-revolution-the-uw-now-livestream-looks-at-the-future-of-evs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">a 2024 interview with executive chairman Rodney Copes<\/a>. It is not im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>tely clear if Slate purchased an existing factory or plans to build one from scratch.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The clandestine project is taking shape at a challenging time for electric vehicles.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once-explosive growth of the sector <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.coxautoinc.com\/market-insights\/q4-2024-ev-sales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">has cooled off<\/a>, and multiple startups dedicated to building EVs have filed for bankruptcy. Those that have survived, like Rivian and Lucid Motors, have done so by burning through billions of dollars.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slate plans to supplement the small margins of its low-cost truck by building out a line of accessories and <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>arel that owners can use to customize their vehicles and their looks, according to the sources and various job listings. It has filled its executive ranks with former Harley-Davidson and Stellantis employees \u2014 two companies that have historically leaned on these kinds of ancillary businesses (the former with apparel and the latter with MoPar parts and accessories).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slate is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, and the startup has also shown off a proof of concept vehicle to investors at a non-descript design studio it\u2019s leasing in Long Beach, California, according to the sources. It has targeted high-net-worth individuals and kept a tight lid on its fundraising process.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company and multiple people connected to Slate, Re:Build Manufacturing, and Bezos\u2019 family office did not respond to repeated requests for comment on this story. TechCrunch also reached out to Bezos directly and did not receive a response.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-deep-amazon-ties\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Deep_Amazon_ties\"><\/span><strong>Deep Amazon ties<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slate is shot through with Amazon DNA.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alongside Bezos\u2019 family office, Slate\u2019s Series A included funding from former Amazon executive Diego Piacentini, according to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/viewdifferent.io\/portfolio\/re-car\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">his firm\u2019s website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slate was initially created as a project called Re:Car in early 2022 within Re:Build Manufacturing, a domestic manufacturing incubator of sorts co-founded by former Amazon Consumer CEO Jeff Wilke and his <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/news.mit.edu\/2023\/after-amazon-ambition-accelerate-american-manufacturing-0505\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">MIT Leaders for Global Operations<\/a> classmate Miles Arnone. Several long-time Amazon executives, including Wei Gao, who was a top VP and technical adviser to Bezos, are now at Re:Build Manufacturing.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slate\u2019s digital, e-commerce, and automotive experience leads are Amazon expats. Even Slate\u2019s original name includes the \u201cre:\u201d prefix Amazon uses for events, like the re:MARS robotics and AI conference, or the annual re:Invent gathering for AWS.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bezos has invested in more than 30 companies through his family office over the years, touching the worlds of AI (Perplexity), robotics (Figure), defense (Anduril), and even mobility (Uber). Slate is one of the most direct investments he\u2019s made in the world of electric vehicles outside of the relationship his company Amazon has with Rivian.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His investment has largely been just that, though. People familiar with the company\u2019s inner workings told TechCrunch that he has not been seen around Slate\u2019s Michigan or Los Angeles offices.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bucking-the-trend-nbsp\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bucking_the_trend\"><\/span><strong>Bucking the trend\u00a0<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nearly all of the EV startups that have come (and gone) over the last decade have tried in some way to replicate the approach Tesla took. They\u2019ve designed their first vehicles to be high-end offerings so they can sell fewer cars for more money. Eventually, after growing brand awareness, these companies move into higher-volume, cheaper EVs that generate smaller margins.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slate is inverting this by going after what it hopes will be a buyer\u2019s \u201cfirst car,\u201d according to the people who spoke with TechCrunch.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The idea is to sell the truck at a price point of around $25,000, and have owners personalize or upgrade the car over time as they can afford it.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In late March, Slate filed for a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/trademarks.justia.com\/991\/02\/we-built-it-you-make-99102428.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">trademark<\/a> on the phrase: \u201cWE BUILT IT. YOU MAKE IT.\u201d There is a long list of goods and services it could cover, including everything from switches and speakers to USB ports and pet harnesses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other details can be gleaned from the many job listings Slate has posted over the last two years.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/jobs\/view\/head-of-customer-education-repair-maintenance-at-slate-4151488282\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">posted<\/a> in 2024 hinted the company will dub the customer customization process \u201cSlate University.\u201d The listing was originally titled \u201cUniversity Lead\u201d and was renamed to \u201cHead of Customer Education Repair &amp; Maintenance\u201d before the startup stopped accepting applications.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe seek an enthusiastic, experienced Leader of Slate University to build and lead our <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a>-changing approach to open-source content for customers to enhance their ownership experience,\u201d the listing reads. \u201cAs the Lead, you will drive the strategy and ecosystem development for the educational content and delivery for Slate shoppers, customers, technicians, and partners.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another job <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/builtin.com\/job\/lead-product-manager-accessories\/2951928\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">listing<\/a> for \u201cLead Product Manager, Accessories\u201d explains that Slate is \u201cexploring opportunities in the electric mobility space and are building complimentary accessories, apparel, and merchandise capability.\u201d It also mentions the person would be overseeing the development of \u201cutility parts\u201d and \u201clifestyle and personalization accessories.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This approach \u2014 subsidizing a low-margin manufacturing business with a higher-margin accessories play \u2014 is one that has been used by automakers, including Harley-Davidson with its apparel division and Jeep-maker Stellantis with its Mopar parts and service division.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unsurprisingly, Slate is already pulling experience from both of those companies as it builds out its team.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The startup\u2019s executive chairman is Rodney Copes, who spent 20 years at Harley-Davidson. Chief Financial Officer Ryan Green spent nearly a decade on the finance side of the motorcycle manufacturer. (Copes and Green also had stints at Rivian.) Slate\u2019s heads of service, commercial, accessories product management, and growth marketing also worked at Harley-Davidson.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slate apparently plans to source its high-voltage battery pack, electric motors, and other related tech from outside suppliers, according to one job listing. The startup is \u201cchallenging the status quo of vehicle design,\u201d according to another listing for a design\/release engineer for windshield wipers. A posting for an accountant role says the person hired would have to help implement the \u201crequired systems to be a public company.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to another role, any prospective head of PR and communications: \u201cMust love cars! You\u2019ll be thinking about cars all day every day, and it\u2019s the most fun when you love cars.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-no-founder-to-be-found-nbsp\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"No_founder_to_be_found\"><\/span><strong>No founder to be found<\/strong>\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another way Slate appears to be bucking the trend of other EV startups is that it does not have a founder serving as CEO.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Arnone is considered to be Slate\u2019s founder, according to the sources who spoke to TechCrunch, but his day-to-day job is serving as CEO of Re:Build Manufacturing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, Slate\u2019s CEO is Christine Barman, a longtime Chrysler veteran. She initially got into the automotive industry through an internship at General Motors after attending Purdue University, according to a 2023 <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.miramar.global\/thoughts\/mila-marinkovic-in-conversation-with-chris-barman-diversity-in-engineering-and-the-automotive-sector\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">interview<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She then spent more than 20 years at Chrysler overseeing the vehicle line program for the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Jeep Cherokee, according to her LinkedIn profile. Barman eventually became the vice president of electrical and electronics for Fiat Chrysler, where she led the automaker\u2019s integration of Android Automotive and spent time working on the company\u2019s collaboration with Waymo, before leaving the company in 2017.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Barman has not spent the last decade posting online like many of her EV startup CEO peers. She instead has mostly been advising companies on emerging tech and teaching engineering before getting involved in 2022 with what at the time was a nascent EV project within Re:Build Manufacturing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Barman did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Kirsten Korosec contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/category\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Technology<\/a><\/span> category.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2025\/04\/08\/inside-the-ev-startup-secretly-backed-by-jeff-bezos\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jeff Bezos is funding a secretive EV startup based in Michigan called Slate Auto that could start production as soon as next year, according to multiple sources and documents that link the billionaire\u2019s family office to the startup. Slate, which took root in another Bezos-connected company called Re:Build Manufacturing, has been operating quietly since its&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":661593,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/bezos-slate-lede-image.jpg?resize=1200,800","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[78772,82313,61594,71631,73295],"class_list":["post-661592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-electric-vehicles","tag-evs","tag-exclusive","tag-jeff-bezos","tag-transportation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/661592","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=661592"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/661592\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/661593"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=661592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=661592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=661592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}