I was hoping there would be at least two Slate Trucks on site, so I could compare build quality between trucks and check things like panel gaps, window operation, and chassis creaks. But only one truck was on display. And it wasn’t close to a production model; rather, the black Slate Truck was a hand-built, older prototype with a black wrap (the Slate Truck base color is gray). The bed and passenger sides were cordoned off, but the driver-side door was open so shoppers could hop in and check out the interior.

It was bigger than I expected—to my eye, roughly the size of a Hyundai Santa Cruz. The tailgate was down, and it felt reassuringly sturdy when I pressed down on it. The 5-foot-long (152.4 cm) bed floor looked and felt durable, not much different from any other pickup on the market.

The exterior passed the eye test, with the panels appearing well-fitted. The doors sat flush with the surrounding body panels when closed. Of course, I was looking at a prototype carefully built to be poked and prodded by automotive reporters and the general public, so the level of fit and finish was no surprise. The challenge for Slate will be getting consistent build quality with minimal panel gaps, watertight seals, consistent door-to-fender transitions, and hood/frunk alignment. The Slate assembly line in Warsaw, Indiana, is still making prototyping runs at this point, Purdy told me, and the company is hoping to start on production models “soon.”

I hopped inside the cab once I got the opportunity, and the door closed with a solid-sounding “thunk.” It’s spartan inside, with a small screen for the instrument panel, a phone holder, physical climate controls, and window winders. The seats were both supportive and comfortable, and, after moving the seat, I had ample legroom. While the seat slid back and forth smoothly, the seatback recline lever on the side didn’t work.

The shopping experience

Beyond the default Blank Slate body style, Slate offers two SUV options—the Squareback SUV and Fastback SUV—and an open-air kit. I asked Purdy if they were selling any of the SUVs. “Most customers are going with the truck configuration,” he said. “And then they’re customizing their trucks in the Slate Garage.”