Slate says your truck will never track you!
Slate Auto gets serious about privacy for its bare-bones EV pickup
ARSTECHNICA Jonathan M. Gitlin – Jun 2, 2026 10:49 AM
Slate Auto may be one of the most interesting companies in the American automotive industry right now. Based in Warsaw...
It’s not an entirely analog experience, though; a Slate smartphone app can manage settings, change drive mode, and provide range and charging info. But only when connected locally to the car—there’s no embedded modem, so forget about remote access. And the company says that while it may use data from the app to improve its products, it won’t sell that data.
That’s according to a new report from SAE International’s (and sometime Ars contributor) Roberto Baldwin. “We are building it around ownership value,” Slate said. “We collect data to make ownership better, not to turn the owner into the product. The app will collect data only when it directly contributes to enabling or improving a customer experience. Privacy is paramount. For Slate, privacy is not a compliance footnote. It is part of the product experience.”
“Customers should understand what is being shared, why it matters, and how it helps them own the vehicle with more confidence,” the company said. “That may include data needed to support account setup, device-to-vehicle connection, diagnostics, maintenance guidance, service support, charging context, OTA update status, customer support, and product improvement. Slate is being intentional about what the app can do and what data it collects. We would rather be precise and trusted than overpromise connected features or collect data without a clear customer benefit.”
Introduction of a smartphone app with phone home capability and a promise to only take data “with a clear customer benefit” is a far cry from both the headline and the original value proposition of the car.
Not one mention of consent. Not one mention of choice aside from the author’s assumption that you don’t always need the app (locking the ability to change driving modes behind it seems pretty significant).
This seems like a substantial blow against the already extremely niche market for the Slate, before even a single car has rolled off the line.
Seems like the smartphone app is entirely optional, though? You should be able to use the truck without it. And the “there’s no embedded modem” part means that the truck literally can’t spy on you without your phone helping.
There’s also the little bit about “only when connected locally to the car” – which suggests to me that the phone communicates with the car via wifi or a plugged-in cable. So, possibly, you could install and use the app, but just disable internet access for that app. Then you could get the benefits of using the app without any possibility of it spying on you. Or even install that app on a cheap old $50 phone that doesn’t have an internet connection at all, and just use that phone to interface with the truck.
Sure, it’s not perfection when it comes to a privacy promise … but it sounds like you could pretty easily use this truck in a way that makes it impossible for it to spy on you.
There’s also the little bit about “only when connected locally to the car” – which suggests to me that the phone communicates with the car via wifi or a plugged-in cable. So, possibly, you could install and use the app, but just disable internet access for that app. Then you could get the benefits of using the app without any possibility of it spying on you. Or even install that app on a cheap old $50 phone that doesn’t have an internet connection at all, and just use that phone to interface with the truck.
The system as described is essentially a modem. I guarantee it will have cellular capabilities built-in. Whether that’s advertised or not is a different story. But all powered-on cellular modems are capable of two-way communication, regardless of whether a SIM or subscriber ID or whatever is installed. I mean, when issued, emergency notifications are pushed to all powered cellular devices, and they can all make emergency phone calls as long as there is a cell tower in range, carrier be damned.
What makes you think Slate’s backing corp wouldn’t ship the car without a cellular backdoor? Especially being backed by Bezos of all people.
I’m not sure if I’d even give them ‘the benefit of the doubt’. But if what they’re saying here is true, then it sounds like it should be possible to use a Slate truck without compromising your privacy too much. It does remain to be seen if they’re actually telling the truth here.
Yeah … If they can get pricing to be where they’ve hinted it should be, then the Slate should not be a niche product.
If they can manage to make good on their promise to produce the cheapest EV on the market, and one with great utility and affordable customization options on top of that (maybe even 3rd party customization options), then that’s going to be a highly desirable vehicle for a lot of people. There’s a lot of people out there (I’m one of them) who understand that an EV is the most practical, most affordable way to get around, but are priced out of current EV options. Most EV options are very expensive, and even the cheaper ones still carry pretty hefty price tags when compared to a used Prius or something. An EV with truly economy car pricing is going to be huge, and I bet it will catch on fast, especially when it’s also a very practical car that can potentially handle hauling around a family or cargo.
The one big downside I see that might hamper mass adoption is the lack of a 4-door version. But if the original is a success, I bet they’ll be developing a (slightly more expensive) 4-door version soon after.
Introduction of a smartphone app with phone home capability and a promise to only take data “with a clear customer benefit” is a far cry from both the headline and the original value proposition of the car.
Not one mention of consent. Not one mention of choice aside from the author’s assumption that you don’t always need the app (locking the ability to change driving modes behind it seems pretty significant).
This seems like a substantial blow against the already extremely niche market for the Slate, before even a single car has rolled off the line.
Seems like the smartphone app is entirely optional, though? You should be able to use the truck without it. And the “there’s no embedded modem” part means that the truck literally can’t spy on you without your phone helping.
There’s also the little bit about “only when connected locally to the car” – which suggests to me that the phone communicates with the car via wifi or a plugged-in cable. So, possibly, you could install and use the app, but just disable internet access for that app. Then you could get the benefits of using the app without any possibility of it spying on you. Or even install that app on a cheap old $50 phone that doesn’t have an internet connection at all, and just use that phone to interface with the truck.
Sure, it’s not perfection when it comes to a privacy promise … but it sounds like you could pretty easily use this truck in a way that makes it impossible for it to spy on you.
The system as described is essentially a modem. I guarantee it will have cellular capabilities built-in. Whether that’s advertised or not is a different story. But all powered-on cellular modems are capable of two-way communication, regardless of whether a SIM or subscriber ID or whatever is installed. I mean, when issued, emergency notifications are pushed to all powered cellular devices, and they can all make emergency phone calls as long as there is a cell tower in range, carrier be damned.
What makes you think Slate’s backing corp wouldn’t ship the car without a cellular backdoor? Especially being backed by Bezos of all people.
We should always give corporations, especially start-ups, the benefit of the doubt.
Not sure if sarcasm…
I’m not sure if I’d even give them ‘the benefit of the doubt’. But if what they’re saying here is true, then it sounds like it should be possible to use a Slate truck without compromising your privacy too much. It does remain to be seen if they’re actually telling the truth here.
When has that ever worked out?
Yeah, seems like this is a convoluted way of saying “don’t worry, your data doesn’t go directly to is, it passes through our required phone app!”
For a vehicle that’s supposedly supposed to be very simple (manual crank windows etc) why would you have functionality that requires a smartphone???
Everything I read said the smartphone app is not required.
Edit: I misread your comment, there was some noncrititcal functionality that requires their app.
Comparing to most other manufacturer it large step in right direction. But right, not enough yet.
Not niche. Would have.
Yeah … If they can get pricing to be where they’ve hinted it should be, then the Slate should not be a niche product.
If they can manage to make good on their promise to produce the cheapest EV on the market, and one with great utility and affordable customization options on top of that (maybe even 3rd party customization options), then that’s going to be a highly desirable vehicle for a lot of people. There’s a lot of people out there (I’m one of them) who understand that an EV is the most practical, most affordable way to get around, but are priced out of current EV options. Most EV options are very expensive, and even the cheaper ones still carry pretty hefty price tags when compared to a used Prius or something. An EV with truly economy car pricing is going to be huge, and I bet it will catch on fast, especially when it’s also a very practical car that can potentially handle hauling around a family or cargo.
The one big downside I see that might hamper mass adoption is the lack of a 4-door version. But if the original is a success, I bet they’ll be developing a (slightly more expensive) 4-door version soon after.