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Slate Auto passed 100,000 refundable reservations in two weeks—not 100,000 sales

Slate Auto’s 100,000-reservation milestone showed early interest in its electric pickup, but refundable reservations were not completed sales or firm orders.
Entry168 Date Time3 min MechanicCarCody Team
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Slate Auto confirmed more than 100,000 refundable reservations for its electric pickup by the weekend before May 12, 2025, a little over two weeks after unveiling the vehicle in Los Angeles. The milestone showed strong early interest, but it was not a count of completed sales, firm orders or delivered trucks.

What Slate’s 100,000 figure actually counted

Each reservation required a $50 refundable fee and secured a place in line for a future preorder. Because customers could request their money back, the tally represented a low-commitment expression of interest rather than a binding purchase.

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Slate chief commercial officer Jeremy Snyder described the response as: “We are truly humbled by America’s response to Slate’s brand launch and the launch of our truck,” adding, “We are excited for what the future holds.” Those comments represent the company’s reaction; they do not independently measure demand or predict how many vehicles will be delivered.

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TechCrunch’s May 12, 2025 report also cautioned that reservations are not a guarantee of future sales. The available information does not establish how many of those first 100,000 reservations were later canceled, converted into preorders or turned into completed purchases.

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Reservation, preorder and sale: what is the difference?

Stage Amount and refundability What it indicates
Reservation (2025 tally) $50; refundable A place in line for a future preorder, not a vehicle sale
Preorder (current company terms) $300, or $250 for a customer with an active reservation; nonrefundable and credited toward the purchase price A stronger financial commitment, but still not proof of delivery
Completed sale Final vehicle purchase under the applicable sales contract A completed transaction; no corresponding total is established by the 100,000-reservation announcement

Slate’s current published terms say the reservation window closed on June 24, 2026, and that the preorder portal opened. Those terms apply to the company’s present ordering process and should not be read back into the 2025 reservation count.

Did Slate later report more reservations?

TechCrunch’s later timeline reported that Slate had passed 150,000 refundable reservations in December 2025. That is a later aggregate, not a conversion rate and not evidence that every holder from the original 100,000 remained committed. The sources do not provide retention, cancellation or delivery figures for either total.

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What vehicle were people reserving?

Slate describes the product as a two-door, two-seat electric pickup that can be changed into a five-seat SUV. The company currently lists a projected range of 205 miles. Range, payload, towing capability and safety performance remain projected figures or design targets in the company’s materials, not independently tested final production specifications.

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Infotainment and audio

Slate says the truck will not have a built-in infotainment system. Instead, owners can use their phone, a phone mount or tablet bracket, and their own portable Bluetooth speaker. That approach may appeal to buyers who prefer simple hardware, but it also means the in-car experience depends on the owner’s devices; no particular speaker has been verified here for fit or compatibility.

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What the milestone means for prospective buyers

  • Interest was substantial: more than 100,000 people paid a refundable fee soon after the reveal.
  • Demand is not the same as production volume: the announcement does not establish how many trucks Slate will build or when individual reservation holders will receive one.
  • Financial commitment changes at preorder: under Slate’s current terms, a preorder deposit is nonrefundable, although it is credited toward the vehicle price.
  • Specifications can change: the 205-mile range and other capability statements are projections until final vehicles and independent testing establish production results.
  • Check the current terms before paying: reservation availability ended June 24, 2026, so a new customer should review the active preorder process rather than rely on the 2025 reservation offer.
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Bottom line on Slate’s 100,000-reservation headline

Slate’s May 2025 announcement was a notable early-interest milestone: over 100,000 refundable $50 reservations in just over two weeks. It was not 100,000 sales. The later 150,000-reservation report shows that the aggregate grew, but neither figure reveals how many customers stayed in line, placed nonrefundable preorders or ultimately bought a vehicle.

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