Bezos-Backed Slate Auto Appoints New CEO Before EV Truck Debut

Slate Auto, the electric vehicle startup supported by Jeff Bezos, is making a major leadership change just months before it plans to launch its highly anticipated affordable EV truck. The company has named Peter Faricy as its new chief executive officer, replacing the startup’s original CEO, Christine Barman.

According to Slate spokesperson Jeff Jablansky, Faricy officially stepped into the role on Monday. Before joining the EV startup, Faricy spent time as an advisor at McKinsey & Company and Bessemer Venture Partners. He previously built his reputation at Amazon, where he served as vice president of the company’s massive Marketplace platform.

Faricy’s experience in building large-scale online marketplaces could play a key role as Slate prepares for the next stage of its business: turning thousands of preorders into actual vehicle purchases.

A leadership shift before a big launch

The leadership transition comes at a critical moment for Slate Auto. The company is gearing up to introduce its first vehicle — an affordable electric pickup truck designed to compete in a growing EV market.

Barman, who previously worked at Chrysler for many years, is not leaving the company. Instead, she will move into the role of President of Vehicles. In this position, she will focus on ensuring the truck’s development and production stay on track.

According to the company, Barman will help make sure the vehicle is delivered “on time and on budget.” Her involvement remains significant, especially considering she was the startup’s first employee.

In fact, Barman joined the company back when it was still operating under the secret project name “re:Car.” At that time, the initiative was quietly being developed inside a manufacturing incubator called re:Build Manufacturing in Massachusetts.

The face of the company

Over the past year, Barman had become the public face of Slate Auto. When the company officially came out of stealth in April 2025, she appeared in many promotional videos and announcements.

She was also one of only two women leading a U.S. automaker at the time — a rare milestone in the automotive industry.

Just last month, Barman appeared in a video teasing that Slate would soon reveal the official price of its entry-level electric truck, with the announcement expected in June.

The affordable EV challenge

Slate Auto has raised roughly $700 million from wealthy investors, including Bezos and other backers. Early marketing materials suggested the truck could start at under $20,000, which would have made it one of the most affordable electric vehicles on the market.

However, changes in U.S. policy — including the removal of the federal EV tax credit by Congress and the administration of Donald Trump — forced the company to revise its pricing expectations.

Slate now plans to launch the vehicle with a starting price in the mid-$20,000 range.

One of the truck’s key selling points will be customization. Buyers will have the option to modify the vehicle in multiple ways, including converting it into an SUV configuration for an additional cost.

A long preorder list

Faricy is taking over leadership at a moment when customer interest appears strong. Slate has already collected around 160,000 refundable preorders for its upcoming electric truck.

The next step will be converting those reservations into confirmed vehicle orders — a process where Faricy’s background at Amazon could prove valuable.

Slate also has deep ties to Amazon’s leadership network. In addition to Bezos’ financial support, former Amazon executive Diego Piacentini helped fund the startup. Another co-founder, Jeff Wilke, previously served as CEO of Amazon Consumer.

Several leaders within Slate — including executives overseeing mobility, user experience, e-commerce, fleet sales, and human resources — also previously worked at Amazon.

With a new CEO in place and a major product launch approaching, Slate Auto is entering one of the most important phases in its young history. The company’s success may hinge on whether it can deliver a truly affordable electric truck while managing strong early demand.