Slate Auto Partners with Crayola on Electric Truck Wraps

Slate Auto, the electric vehicle manufacturer backed by Jeff Bezos, is partnering with Crayola on five custom vehicle wraps for its affordable electric truck. This marks Crayola's first-ever automotive partnership and aligns with Slate's business model of offering a gray, unpainted truck designed to be wrapped rather than sprayed to keep costs down. The five wraps - Cerulean, Fern, Jersey Tomato, Razzmatazz, and Dandelion - are inspired by Crayola's existing crayon lineup.

Prospective owners can choose from these vibrant colors, which will be available as a starter pack complete with decals, a color-coordinated key-fob cap, and a clip-on dashboard accessory called a "Slatelet." These packs will be sold through Slate's online marketplace, alongside over 200 other accessories. The basic Slate truck starts at $24,950, making it the cheapest new truck on the US market. The vehicle comes with a single gray composite body, manual windows, and no touchscreen.

Wraps have been part of Slate's plan from the beginning, with standard wrap kits available in over 100 hues starting at $500. Professional installation costs around the same. The Crayola starter packs, however, come at a premium.

A Dandelion or Jersey Tomato transformation will cost owners $1,550 - three times the cost of a standard Slate wrap. This is a significant increase considering Slate's focus on affordable customization. Why this matters: The partnership between Slate Auto and Crayola highlights the growing importance of customization and personalization in the electric vehicle market.

As EVs become more mainstream, manufacturers are looking for ways to differentiate their products and offer consumers more choices. Slate's approach to offering affordable, interchangeable wraps could appeal to budget-conscious buyers who want to stand out on the road. However, the premium pricing of the Crayola packs may limit their appeal to some consumers.

The success of this partnership will depend on whether Slate can balance affordability with customization options, and whether other manufacturers will follow suit. The impact on the broader industry will be worth watching, as the lines between automotive design, art, and self-expression continue to blur.