Donald Trump Torpedoes Jeff Bezos’ $20,000 Car Project

Jeff Bezos wanted to electrify popular America with Slate Auto, Donald Trump has just cut the power.

This was one of the biggest promises of Slate Auto, an automotive company backed by Jeff Bezos, an electric pick-up sold for less than $20,000 thanks to federal subsidies. But this attainable dream has just been shattered, torpedoed by a political maneuver signed by Donald Trump. With the adoption of his “Big Beautiful Bill” finance law, the former president has put an end to the $7,500 tax credit granted for the purchase of American electric vehicles, starting next September.

For Slate Auto, supported by Jeff Bezos, this is a harsh blow. The company unveiled its minimalist and modular pick-up in April, priced at $25,000 before subsidies. The calculation was simple: once the credit was deducted, the price fell below the psychological threshold of $20,000. This was enough to attract a wide audience and respond to the shortage of affordable offers in the electric vehicle sector. But this scenario no longer holds.

Less impactful, more vague

Discreetly, Slate has modified its website. The striking mention “under $20,000” has disappeared, replaced by a more vague estimate “Mid Twenties,” meaning “around $20,000 and some change”…

The bet Slate made was indeed promising. 100,000 refundable reservations were recorded in just three weeks. Manufactured in Indiana, the vehicle was supposed to embody a utilitarian and economic revolution, with a stripped-down base (without screens or power windows) but extensive customization through over 100 accessories, including an SUV kit that included a row of rear seats and a bed cover.

Alas, by removing incentives for electric purchases, Trump sends a conflicting signal to the energy transition. And ironically, it is the less affluent consumers, his hardline electoral base, who will pay the price.

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