Most EVs, like their gasoline counterparts, require owners to return to the dealership for regular maintenance. All legacy automakers selling electric vehicles have service and repair models built around their specific dealer networks, training, and tools. How readily available that service and repair information is to owners, independent shops, and the general public is the subject of an ongoing debate known as Right to Repair.
Advocates of the Right to Repair legislation argue that vehicle owners and independent service shops should have access to the same diagnostic software, repair manuals, tools, and parts that authorized dealers have. Automakers have historically pushed back, citing safety, cybersecurity, and intellectual property concerns. No federal law (yet) has resolved the issue, leaving the situation different in every state.
Slate Auto isn’t waiting for that debate to settle. The Jeff Bezos-backed startup has built what it describes as a DIY-first truck, one where the panels swap, the parts are accessible, and the service manuals are free.
Along with its ultra-competitive $24,950 starting price, its open-source repair platform may be especially attractive to those who want to turn their own wrenches.
Free tutorials for owners and technicians
Open-source OBD-II data port provides direct access
Slate University is a free video library and online tutorial hub, designed to walk new owners through everything from basic maintenance to accessory installations. The platform covers both routine upkeep and the more involved modifications Slate sells, including SUV conversion kits, along with wrap installations and other interior upgrades.
The content and step-by-step video guides are aimed at two audiences at once. Everyday DIY owners who want to handle things themselves and technicians at Slate’s certified service network. The goal with Slate University is to give everyone who touches the truck, from individual owners to independent shops, everything they need to work on it.
The platform also connects to one of Slate’s more unusual design decisions: the truck’s open-source OBD-II data port. Rather than locking vehicle data behind a proprietary interface, Slate gives owners direct access to powertrain and performance data through a standard OBD-II connection, compatible with the same third-party diagnostic tools used at independent shops.
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The RepairPal network and what it covers
Three tiers of Slate service
For repairs that go beyond a home garage, Slate has partnered with RepairPal to build out a nationwide service network. Over 4,000 certified independent shops are slated for onboarding, with more than 100 locations already fully certified to handle complex high-voltage EV work. Slate describes the partnership as an industry first for an OEM.
RepairPal certification covers three tiers of service. The aforementioned high-voltage work, including battery and electrical system repairs that should only be handled by trained technicians, goes to a smaller subset of shops with EV-specific credentials. Low-voltage and general maintenance work, by contrast, is open to a broader pool.
Accessory installation, which includes the fitting of SUV conversion kits, wraps, and other bolt-on hardware, is available at the widest range of locations.
The tiered structure is designed to match repairs to the right shop, keeping high-voltage work with credentialed technicians while opening routine service and accessory installation to a broader array of independent shops.
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Early coverage is uneven
What prospective buyers should check before preordering
Credit: Slate
The network is still being built, and early signs from Slate’s community point to uneven coverage. Owners on Slate’s forums have already reported visiting RepairPal-listed shops in their areas, only to find that the technicians had never heard of Slate. One owner in Southern California noted that the nearest RepairPal shop with high-voltage EV certification was about 70 miles away.
Slate said its goal is to have at least one certified location within 100 miles of every customer.
Prospective buyers should verify RepairPal coverage in their area before placing a preorder. Slate’s FAQ section recommends checking the RepairPal site directly, especially since high-voltage-certified locations are still limited at this time.
Likewise, warranty service may not be available at every RepairPal location; only shops that complete the full Slate certification process will be authorized to perform warranty work.
The case for independent shops goes beyond convenience
The average EV owner visited a dealer for service within their first year of ownership 85% of the time, according to a 2025 CDK Global study. Same-day service appointments dropped from 40% availability in 2023 to 28% in 2024.”
EV service wait times have steadily climbed, and branded service centers (i.e., dealerships) may remain out of reach for owners in less-populated areas. Slate is betting that independent shops can fill that role instead.
Deliveries of the first Slate models are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. As of this writing, preorders are still open on Slate’s website.
