Can This Solution Cure America’s Truck Overload?

Last night, Slate Auto made its debut by introducing its inaugural product: a minimalist two-seat electric truck boasting a limited range of just 150 miles. This truck is stripped down to the basics, featuring no paint, no distracting infotainment displays, and no audio systems whatsoever. Standing at a height that doesn’t overshadow even the average 12-year-old, the vehicle is expected to retail for less than $20,000 (after incentives) when it hits the market in 2026.

That is, of course, if it makes it to market. While we could delve into the many challenges facing Slate—such as a global trade conflict and a government that has displayed skepticism towards electric vehicles—I’m more focused on how this truck could serve as a remedy to our increasing fixation on oversized and overly powerful vehicles.

If you live in America in 2025, the problem is hard to miss. The streets are overflowing with these massive vehicles—sales of SUVs and pickup trucks soared to record levels in 2024, now making up 75 percent of all vehicle registrations. Just ten years ago, these two categories accounted for only half of the market; today they account for three out of every four new vehicles sold.

Not only have vehicles grown in size, but they’re heavier than ever. A report from The Economist noted that in 2023, 31 percent of new cars in America weighed over 5,000 pounds, up from 22 percent in 2018. As we transition to electric vehicles, many are even heavier than their gasoline counterparts; for instance, the Ford F-150 Lightning weighs around 6,500 pounds, a staggering 60 percent more than its gasoline equivalent.

As these vehicles have gotten larger, they have also become more dangerous for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. The design of a vehicle, particularly its hood, significantly affects the likelihood of a pedestrian’s survival upon impact. Vehicles with hoods taller than 40 inches (approximately 3.3 feet) and blunt front ends angled steeply are 44 percent more likely to result in fatalities, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

In recent years, pedestrian fatalities have risen dramatically. Between 2013 and 2022, deaths of pedestrians surged by 57 percent, jumping from 4,779 to 7,522, as reported by NHTSA. In the year 2022 alone, 88 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred in single-vehicle accidents.