Slate Auto has developed an electric pickup truck with a focus on user privacy. The Slate Truck avoids connected features common in modern vehicles.
The startup, based in Warsaw, Indiana, has stripped the Slate Truck down to 600 parts and components. Its interior includes two seats and manually wound windows but no infotainment system. The vehicle lacks an embedded modem. A smartphone app connects locally to manage settings, drive modes, and charging information. The company says it will not sell data collected through the app. We collect data to make ownership better, not to turn the owner into the product, Slate said. The firm added that privacy forms a core part of the product experience rather than a compliance requirement. Owners can drive without a smartphone, leaving the device at home if desired.
