My pre-order gift from Slate arrived: it's a postcard

When Slate asked for my address to send a gift for pre-ordering one of their EV pickups, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. Given they have a store full of swag, perhaps a hat or T-shirt? Maybe just a sticker?

So when I saw the small envelope had arrived in the mail, I knew my dreams of cool branded merch were unlikely to come true. Alas, Slate sent simply a small postcard with what it said was a concept sketch of the vehicle by their design team, as pictured above. It also included a card:

The text reads as follows:

We've loved building the Slate truck. But, if you ask us, the real magic happens when you make it your own, and make memories of your own. Before you know it, you'll be behind the wheel of your very own Slate. And whether it's a couple of small accents or you've put your creative fingerprint over every square inch, you're part of the Slate family.

Until then, here's a small token of our appreciation. It's a concept sketch by our design team. Slate started as an idea, but now it's real. And that's because of you.

So, from everyone on the Slate team, thank you.

OK, so a little disappointed, but I suppose how much did I expect from a non-refundable $50 deposit, given they reportedly received 100,000 in just the first two weeks.

My greater concern is that it's looking increasingly unlikely there will be any EV incentives in place when the Slate truck goes on sale late next year. That's due to the incredibly destructive budget bill the Republican-controlled Congress is trying to push through that would scrap all EV incentives. Will people think the bare-bones Slate is as good of a deal when it costs around $27,500, when similar sized non-EV trucks cost roughly the same and aren't as stripped down on features?