TL;DR
Slate has added Rand McNally’s 2027 Road Atlas to its online store for $30, describing the book as “the original navigation system.” The tongue-in-cheek item reflects the electric pickup’s minimalist approach: it has no built-in infotainment screen or navigation, but Slate says drivers can use a phone mount and their preferred mapping apps.
Slate Auto has added a $30 Rand McNally 2027 Road Atlas to its online store, pitching the paper book as a “screenless GPS” for its low-tech electric pickup. The item is a tongue-in-cheek nod to the truck’s lack of a built-in infotainment display or navigation system; drivers can instead use their phones for digital directions.
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The atlas is a printed road map, not an electronic navigation device. In its Thursday announcement, Slate called it “the original navigation system” and said the product is available in limited quantities. The listing is for Rand McNally’s 2027 Road Atlas, according to InsideEVs’ report.
The truck is designed without a large infotainment screen or built-in navigation. Slate says it will include a phone mount, allowing drivers to use mapping services they already know, including Google Maps or Apple Maps. The company presents the atlas as an optional, analog accessory rather than a replacement for those apps.
InsideEVs characterized the product as a stunt that also reflects Slate’s approach to the vehicle: limiting built-in features and giving owners more choice about what technology to add. The report says the truck is planned to start below $25,000 and that Slate expects to begin deliveries later this year. Those are plans reported in the source material, not confirmation that deliveries have begun.
A Map Fits Slate’s Low-Tech Pitch
The atlas is a small product, but it puts Slate’s minimalist vehicle strategy in concrete terms. Many new vehicles bundle navigation, entertainment and other functions into large displays. Slate is instead marketing a pickup with fewer built-in features and expects drivers to rely on their own phones when they want digital directions.
That choice matters to buyers weighing the truck’s promised price and simplicity against the convenience of integrated technology. A phone mount may be sufficient for drivers who prefer their existing apps, while others may see the absence of a factory navigation system as a drawback. The paper atlas offers a low-tech alternative, but it does not provide live traffic, automatic rerouting or turn-by-turn instructions.
The atlas itself does not establish whether the truck will be affordable, reliable or appealing to a broad market. It does illustrate how Slate intends to frame its omissions: not simply as missing equipment, but as a way to keep the vehicle simpler and let owners choose their own add-ons.
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Slate’s pickup is an electric vehicle built around a deliberately spare feature set. The InsideEVs report describes it as having unpainted composite body panels and manual windows, alongside no large infotainment screen. The company’s pitch is that buyers can start with a basic truck and add selected equipment rather than paying for a more elaborate standard package.
Slate says the vehicle will use an LFP battery and has promoted a starting price below $25,000. The source report also says owners may be able to configure the vehicle with extras, including an SUV conversion kit with additional seats and a roof. These details describe the product and plans reported at the time of the atlas announcement; they do not confirm final specifications, pricing or availability for every configuration.
In its Thursday statement, Slate said it believes drivers already have devices and services they want to use. That position explains why the truck’s phone mount is central to its navigation approach: the company is not promising built-in mapping, but a place for a driver’s own device.
““the original navigation system””
— Slate Auto
Availability and Truck Details Remain Open
Slate says the atlas is available in limited quantities, but the source report does not give a quantity, shipping schedule or details about whether additional stock will be offered. It is also not clear whether the $30 price includes shipping or whether the atlas will be bundled with any truck purchase.
The announcement does not settle the pickup’s final delivery timing, full specifications or the availability and pricing of optional configurations. Slate has said it plans to deliver its first trucks later this year, but the material provided does not confirm a specific date or report that customer deliveries have started.
It is also unclear how buyers will respond to the absence of built-in navigation. Slate’s phone mount offers a route for using mobile apps, but the announcement provides no customer data or evidence about whether the minimalist approach will broaden the truck’s appeal.
Slate’s First Deliveries Will Test Demand
The next major milestone is Slate’s planned start of first truck deliveries later this year, according to the InsideEVs report. That will give prospective buyers a clearer view of the production vehicle, its final equipment and how the phone-based navigation setup works in practice.
For now, the atlas is available through Slate’s online store in limited quantities, while the company’s broader test will be whether customers accept a simpler electric pickup in a market where vehicles often include more screens and built-in digital features. Slate has not provided further timing or sales details in the source material.
Key Questions
What is Slate selling for $30?
Slate added Rand McNally’s 2027 Road Atlas to its online store for $30. The company describes the paper book as a screenless navigation option.
Does the Slate truck have built-in GPS navigation?
The source report says the truck has no built-in navigation system or large infotainment screen. Slate says a phone mount will let drivers use mapping apps on their own devices.
Can the atlas give turn-by-turn directions?
No. It is a printed road atlas, not an electronic GPS device, so it does not provide turn-by-turn directions or live traffic information.
When will Slate deliver its first trucks?
Slate plans to deliver its first trucks later this year, according to the InsideEVs report. The source does not give a specific delivery date or confirm that deliveries have begun.
Is the road atlas included with the truck?
The report says Slate is selling the atlas separately for $30. It does not say that the book is included with a vehicle purchase.
Source: insideevs.com
