U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Slate has subtly modified its earlier assertions that its American-manufactured pickup truck would have a price tag of “under $20,000,” increasing the vehicle’s cost. This shift seems to be a response to the elimination of EV tax credits associated with President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”

TechCrunch has highlighted that the Jeff Bezos-backed EV start-up Slate has revised the wording on its website concerning the pricing of its Blank Slate truck. Initially, Slate’s website stated in April, “Great cars got too pricey.” “We fixed that.”

This message remains visible on Slate’s website, which continues to claim that the Blank Slate will be “[m]ade in the USA at a price that’s actually affordable (no really, for real).” This used to be supported by an image of the Blank Slate truck featuring a badge that indicated its “expected price” would be “under $20,000 after federal incentives.”

At present, the truck’s expected pricing has been modified to reflect a range in the “mid-twenties.” New disclaimers have also been included, indicating that this price is “for U.S. market only.”

Given the timing and Slate’s prior references to federal incentives, the adjustment in the Blank Slate’s pricing appears connected to Trump’s contentious spending bill that passed on Thursday afternoon. This legislation removes a $7,500 tax credit previously available to U.S. consumers purchasing a new EV, which had fostered the uptake of cleaner, more eco-friendly vehicles.

The tax incentive will conclude on September 30, likely leading to price increases for various EVs in the U.S. Even if consumers act quickly to acquire an EV while the tax credits are still in effect, they will not be able to receive a Blank Slate. The manufacturer plans to commence vehicle deliveries in late 2026, long after the U.S. government ceases providing the tax incentive.

Slate’s electric truck garnered considerable attention earlier this year, with the start-up asserting that it had amassed over 100,000 reservations shortly after its debut. However, this doesn’t assure that Slate has finalized 100,000 sales, as a reservation simply entails a $50 deposit to secure a position in line for purchasing a truck. Nevertheless, these figures signify interest in the EV, especially as consumers increasingly look for alternatives to Elon Musk’s Tesla.

Whether this interest can be maintained in light of the Blank Slate’s updated pricing is yet to be determined. Regardless, the challenges for the U.S. start-up have just increased.

Trump has persistently aimed to dismantle incentives for electric vehicle adoption, incorrectly describing them as part of an alleged “EV mandate.” While policies to promote EV adoption have existed, there has never been any legislation in the U.S. mandating the use of electric vehicles.