Slate Auto opens first ever test drive and experience center in Chicago

This is car news, not a home energy-upgrade story, but here's what happened for anyone curious about electric vehicles.

Electric truck maker Slate Auto, backed by Jeff Bezos, opened its first physical showroom and test-ride location in Chicago. The space is in a former Tesla store, which already had a garage layout and was wired for Tesla-style EV charging (NACS plugs), making it an easy fit. Slate's electric pickup has been pitched as one of the cheapest new vehicles sold in the country, and this is the first place midwest shoppers can see one in person and ride in it, though reporters were not allowed to drive it themselves.

The writeup describes solid-feeling details inside the truck, like a heavy door handle, a sturdy steering wheel, manual seat adjusters, and a center console that felt tougher than its plastic looks suggested. The test ride itself was quiet and smooth on rough Chicago streets. None of this changes anything about home energy upgrades or rebates, but if you are weighing an electric vehicle alongside things like a home charger, solar panels, or a heat pump, it is a sign that more affordable EV options are becoming real and viewable in person, not just announced on paper. Whether Slate succeeds long-term is still an open question, but the company now has a walk-in location where the curious can see the truck up close.