The electric pickup startup Slate Auto kicked off the week with a bang, raising an impressive $650 million in its latest funding round. This money will help bring its unique approach to market.

Slate stands out among other new electric vehicle companies by focusing on affordability over flashy features. Without the federal clean vehicle tax credit, the company is targeting a starting price of around $20,000 for its Slate Truck, matching or undercutting the Ford Maverick XL in the US pickup market.

To achieve this low price point, Slate Auto has taken a radical manufacturing approach, assembling each truck from just 600 parts. The body panels are made of plastic and left unpainted, cutting down on complex processes like stamping and painting. Each vehicle will be built with simple features: two doors, manual windows, no infotainment or touchscreens.

This bare-bones approach reflects a growing trend among consumers who desire uncomplicated tech in their lives. As Slate Auto takes the market by storm, it raises questions about whether we're moving towards simpler and cheaper technology or just simpler designs for the sake of simplicity.