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...
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.
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?