image:Slate
Slate Auto CEO Chris Barman’s strategy, according to Barman, was to reverse-engineer affordability. “What are the only essentials that need to go in a vehicle?” she asked. So they cut the touchscreen, replaced powered equipment with manual parts, and focused on making everything user-replaceable. There’s no paint — it’s composite plastic. No infotainment — just bring your phone. Even the key is deliberately simple, though they still added remote access for safety-conscious buyers.
