Jeff Bezos-backed EV startup to open $7.8M facility in Louisville

A new auto manufacturer is setting up shop in Louisville.

Slate Auto, the Jeff Bezos-backed electric vehicle startup plans to put its roughly $7.8 million vinyl wrap kit manufacturing fulfillment facility in Jefferson County at 5500 Shepherdsville Road.

The auto startup will produce low cost, modular, fully customizable EV two-door, two-passenger pickup trucks with hopes to start producing and selling the vehicles in 2026.

The vehicles made by Slate Auto at its Warsaw, Indiana plant nearly four hours from Louisville, are expected to be priced in the mid-$20,000 range, Will Nicholas, head of business development and government affairs at Slate Auto, said during the March 26 meeting of the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority. Since announcing the vehicles launch just under a year ago, Nicholas said the company has received more than 160,000 reservations for the vehicle from across the country.

More autos news: Toyota announces $1 billion investment in Kentucky, Indiana plants

The vehicles are built completely “stripped of everything that isn’t an essential so customers can decide how they’d like to customize with accessories and personalization,” a state official said during the KEDFA meeting. The vehicles are so customizable that Nicholas said the truck can even be crafted into a five passenger SUV.

The vinyl wrapping facility in Louisville will be “central” to Slate Auto’s “customization ecosystem,” officials said and serve as the automakers sole national production center for its vinyl wrap kit program.

At this facility, rather than painting vehicles in a factory like most automakers do, Slate Auto will produce wrap kits for its vehicles in the custom colors and finishes chosen by the customer. The company offers more than 100 colors and finishes from which customers can choose.

More: Meet the Bezos-backed Slate EV pickup

The project, out of the Troy, Michigan-headquartered company, was approved by KEDFA for $1 million in state tax incentives over the course of the 10-year agreement. Additionally, state officials said Louisville Metro Government is also helping to support the project.

Slate Auto is expected to create 51 jobs with an hourly wage target of $39.09 including benefits and a minimum wage requirement of $10.88 for the base hourly wage and $12.51 for the total hourly compensation.

This story has been updated with additional information.

Contact Business Reporter Olivia Evans at [email protected] or on X at @oliviamevans_.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Jeff Bezos-backed $7.8M EV startup Slate Auto coming to Louisville