Slate Auto taps ex-Amazon VP Peter Faricy as CEO for sub-$30K EV pickup launch
Slate Auto, backed by Jeff Bezos with $700 million in funding, appointed Peter Faricy—Amazon’s former Marketplace VP—as CEO, while founder Christine Barman shifts to president of Vehicles. The EV startup has secured over 160,000 reservations for its sub-$30,000 pickup and aims to begin deliveries later this year.
1. New CEO Appointment
Slate Auto named Peter Faricy as its new CEO, succeeding Christine Barman, who will become president of Vehicles. Faricy spent 12 years at Amazon, including nine years as vice president of Amazon Marketplace, and most recently advised McKinsey and Bessemer Venture Partners.
2. Funding and Reservations
The company has raised $700 million, with Jeff Bezos as a key backer, and holds over 160,000 reservations for its upcoming electric pickup. Slate plans to reveal pricing details in June, targeting a base model in the mid-$20,000 range and aiming for deliveries later this year.
3. Deep Amazon Connections
Beyond Bezos’s investment, Slate’s leadership and investor roster feature former Amazon executives including Diego Piacentini and co-founder Jeff Wilke. Numerous team members across mobility, commerce, fleet sales and HR also hail from Amazon.
4. Competitive EV Pickup Market
Slate’s sub-$30,000 pickup seeks to undercut Tesla’s Cybertruck, now starting near $70,000, and fill the gap left by Ford’s discontinued F-150 Lightning. With an expected range of 150+ miles, Slate aims to capitalize on unserved demand in the EV truck segment.