Jeff Bezos is secretly supported inside EV startup

Jeff Bezos is a secret person-based secretive funding for Michigan, which can start production next year, according to multiple sources and documents that link the billionaire family office.

Slate rooted in another bezos connected company called Re. Build production, after founded in 2022, was calm.

It also involved the supervisory owner of several other rich individuals, including Mark Walter, Gugenhenheim partners and Gugenhenheim partners, Thomas Tall, which creates Re.

Slate Auto is a great goal. A total of two-seater electric pickup trucks for about $ 25,000, according to both sources, which have been anonymity to talk about the company’s internal discussions. According to people, the leaders inside the company said the Ford Model T or Volkswagen Beetle as a northern star according to the people.

It surprised the chest of the Great War in Service of its goals.

The company calmly raised at least $ 111 million, in 2023, one of the area, according to Public performanceA number of bezos, and Melinda Luison, the person who led his family office, is listed as a parameter of banknotes, which was presented to states and federal government. The lawsuit shows 16 people invested at that stage; It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.

Slate told employees that at the end of last year, it closed B series, according to many sources familiar with its financing. It has not yet had any documentary work with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Delaware Paperwork shows that it is authorized for almost 500 million preferred shares for $ 2.37 per share. (Slate has authorized a total share of more than 400 million shares over the past year, although the items did not say the price).

Delaware attacks also list Walter and Tuli as members of the new board, offering two contributions to Slate’s Series B. Two recently formed 40 Billion-dollar company to invest. Walter and sprout cannot be commented.

Salad hopes to turn his car into production, as in the production facility near Indianapolis in Indiana work Lists:State lobbyistic records, and 2024 Interview with Executive Chairman RodneyA number are not immediately clear if the slate has bought an existing factory or plans to build one of the zero.

The Clandanine project forms a difficult time in electrical vehicles.

Once an explosive increase in the field was frozenand have applied for bankruptcy many newly created ones dedicated to EVS. Those who survived, both Rivyan and Bright engines, they did it, burning through billions of dollars.

Slate Plans will fill in the small margins of its low price truck by building a range of accessories and clothing that owners can use the owners. It has completed its executive ranks with the former Harly-Davidson and Stellanustis employees, two companies, which have historically relied on this type of support business (former with clothing and accessories).

The plate is concentrated in Tro, Michigan, and the beginner has also shown evidence of a conceptual machine in any painting design studios, which lies at the longing of California, according to sources. It is aimed at highly purely individuals and holding a strong lid in its fundraising process.

The company and multiple people are connected to the sheets, re. Built-in Production and Bezos Family Office does not respond to recurring demands for this story. TechCrunch just got to Bezos and didn’t get a response.

Deep Amazon connections

The tile is shot by Amazon DNA.

According to the Bezos Family Office, Slate’s Series included funding from the former Amazon Executive Director Diego Pivvin, according to The site of his firmA number

The slab was originally created as Re. CARME CARM CARME CAR. Re in the beginning of Car 2022. Build production Mit leaders for global actions Classmate Miles Arnone. A few long-lasting Amazon leaders, including Vay Gao, who were a high-quality and technical consultant in Bezos, are now. Build production.

The leader of the digital, e-commerce and automobile experience is Amazon’s emigration leader. Even the original slabs name includes “RE:” The prefix Amazon uses for events such as re. Mars Robotics and AI Conference, or Annual Re.

Over the years, Bezos has introduced more than 30 companies through his family’s office, touching the worlds of AI (perplexity), robotics (figure) and even mobility. Slate is one of the direct investments that she has become in the world of electric vehicles, its Amazon has its own amazon with Rivyan.

His contribution was mainly that. People familiar with the company’s internal affairs told TechCrunch that he did not see him around Slate’s Michigan or Los Angeles offices.

Steal the trend

In the last decade, almost all startups have come to duplicate Tesla Ted approach. They designed their first vehicles to make higher proposals to make more money to make more money. After all, after completing the brand’s awareness, these companies are moving to a higher volume, cheaper EVS, which generate smaller margins.

Slate itself is itself, going after what hopes the buyer’s “first car” will be the people talking to Techcrunk.

The idea has sold the truck to about $ 25,000 at a price point and have owners to personalize or update the car over time, because they can afford it.

Slate in the end of March that was submitted to a trademark “We built it. You do that? ” There is a long list of goods and services that can include, including switches and loudspeakers with USB ports and animal zones.

Other details can be cleared from many working lists that are posted in the last two years.

One posted In 2024, he hinted that the company would be replenished with customer’s personalization process in Slate University. The list was originally entitled “University Lead” and was renamed “Customer Education Repair and Service Manager” before the launch process stopped applications.

“We are looking for an experienced leader of the enthusiastic, Slate University to build and guide our game changing approach for open source content to improve their own property experience,” the list said in the list. “As a leader, you will fix the strategy and the development of ecosystem for the delivery of the Educational Content and Slate Shoppers, customers, technicians and partners.”

Another job listing: “Leading Products Manager, Accessories” “explains that the slab is studying opportunities in the area of ​​electrical mobility and build complementary accessories, clothing and products.” It also notes that the person controls the development of “utilities” and “lifestyle and personalization accessories”.

This approach is a higher marginal business subsidy with a game of higher marginal accessories, which is used by cars, including Harley-Davidson by dividing its clothes and a jeep manufacturer.

It is possible that a sheet is already trying to try these two companies, as it is building its team.

The beginner’s executive president is Rodney’s applications that have spent 20 years in Harley-Davidson. Chief Financial Officer Ryan Green spent about a decade on the financial side of the motorcycle manufacturer. (The victories and greens have also acquired Rivyan). Slata service, commercial, accessories management and growth market is also working on Harley-Davidson.

SLATE is apparently provides for its high voltage battery package, electric motors and other related technologies from external suppliers, according to one job menu. The beginner “challenges vehicles for the formation”, according to another listing, design / issue engineer for glass cleaners. The role of the accountant states that the hired person must help implement the “necessary systems to be a public company.”

In another role, any prospective head of PR and communications.

No Founder found

In another manner, slabs that show that other EV trend is that it does not have a founder who serves as the CEO.

According to TechCrunk sources, Arnone is considered slate’s FOUNDER.

Instead, the General Director of Slate is Kristin Barman, a Chrisler’s veteran for a long time. He initially invaded the automotive industry, in general after attending Murdu University through practice through practice interviewA number

He later spent more than 20 years in Chrysler, Dodge Charoke and Jeep Cherokee, according to his Linkedin Profile. After all, Barrman became Vice President of Electric and Electronics of Fiat Chrysler, where he led the integration of the carmaker to Android Automotive integration and time for the company’s 2017.

Barman has not played online in the last decade as many of the chief executive directors of his EV. Instead, there was mainly advanced companies about developing technologies and teaching engineering before being involved in 2022 when it was a NASCent EV project, build production.

Barman did not respond to the request for comment.

Kirsten Corrosis contributed to this report.