Slate Plans EV Truck Factory in Warsaw, Creating 2,000 Jobs

Slate Automotive, a Jeff Bezos-backed startup, has announced plans to manufacture its affordable electric truck at a repurposed former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana, aiming to create over 2,000 jobs and produce up to 150,000 vehicles annually. The facility, previously owned by LSC Communications and closed in 2023, will be converted with an investment in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Local officials and economic leaders are enthusiastic about the revitalization of the site, which had been vacant for less than a year following significant layoffs. Slate's strategy follows a trend in the EV industry of reusing existing factories to save costs and accelerate production, as seen with Tesla and Rivian. The Slate truck is expected to be the most affordable new electric vehicle on the market, with a starting price of around $25,000 and potential to drop below $20,000 after tax credits. Production is targeted to begin by late 2026, with reservations already open for interested customers.