Slate Auto changes CEO months ahead of affordable EV launch

Slate Auto, an electric vehicle startup backed by Jeff Bezos, has appointed Peter Faricy as its new CEO just months before launching its affordable electric truck. Faricy, formerly an Amazon Marketplace VP and advisor at McKinsey and Bessemer Venture Partners, began his role recently, replacing Christine Barman, Slate’s first CEO and a longtime Chrysler veteran. Barman, who had been the public face of the company since it emerged from stealth in April 2025, has transitioned to President of Vehicles, focusing on delivering the truck on time and within budget. The company, which has raised around $700 million from Bezos and other investors, initially aimed to price its electric truck under $20,000 but now targets a starting price in the mid-$20,000 range, partly due to changes in federal EV tax credits. Slate has a refundable preorder list of about 160,000 potential buyers, which it is preparing to convert into actual orders. The leadership change highlights the startup’s strong ties to