Slate Auto Selects Kenda Tire as Official EV Pickup Supplier

Slate Auto Selects Kenda Tire for Electric Pickup

Slate Auto is preparing to bring its highly anticipated electric pickup into production before the end of 2026 at its manufacturing plant in Warsaw, Indiana, while expanding the supplier base supporting the vehicle program. Slate Auto has selected Kenda Tire as the official tire supplier, with engineers from both companies working together to develop tire packages matched to the truck’s weight, performance requirements, efficiency targets, and anticipated driving conditions. The collaboration is being supported by Kenda Tire’s American Technical Center in Akron, Ohio, an R&D facility where engineers work with original equipment manufacturers to create application-specific tire solutions. The supplier agreement strengthens the production readiness of the electric pickup as Slate Auto moves toward launch.

Standard Tire Package for the Electric Pickup

For the standard wheel configuration, the electric pickup will use 17-inch by 7-inch steel wheels fitted with Kenda Klever S/T EV tires in size 245/65R17. The specification reflects the joint engineering approach used to balance vehicle requirements with tire performance. Rather than relying on a generic tire application, the development program considers the vehicle’s expected mass, efficiency objectives, operating conditions, and performance characteristics. This approach is particularly relevant for an electric pickup because tire rolling resistance, durability, grip, and load capability can influence driving range, handling, and overall vehicle behavior. The standard package therefore forms a key part of the vehicle’s planned production configuration.

Multiple Tire Options for Different Driving Requirements

Slate Auto will also offer multiple tire choices for buyers selecting its optional 17-inch and 20-inch wheel configurations. The optional 17-inch wheels can be equipped with Kenda Klever A/T2 All-Terrain tires in size 245/75R17, providing an alternative to the standard electric-vehicle-focused package. For the optional 20-inch wheels, the available choices include the Kenda Klever S/T all-season road tire, Kenda Klever A/T All-Terrain Trail tire in size 245/60R20, and Kenda Vezda UHP A/S2 All-Season ultra-high-performance tire. The range gives the pickup program several tire configurations designed around different driving and performance requirements while maintaining the vehicle-specific development approach.

Kenda’s Engineering Support for OEM Development

Kenda Tire’s involvement extends beyond supplying production tires because its American Technical Center provides an engineering base for collaboration with vehicle manufacturers. The center in Akron, Ohio, supports development work intended to tailor tire characteristics to specific vehicle applications, which aligns with the requirements of the electric pickup program. For Slate Auto, this supplier relationship can support the transition from vehicle engineering and validation toward series production by aligning tire specifications with the pickup’s intended operating profile. The selection also demonstrates the importance of application-specific component development as automakers prepare new electric vehicles for production, particularly when efficiency, durability, performance, and expected driving conditions must be balanced within one vehicle platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Slate Auto select Kenda Tire for its electric pickup?
Kenda Tire was selected as the official tire supplier for Slate Auto’s upcoming electric pickup, with multiple tire packages developed around the vehicle’s specifications. The standard configuration uses 17-inch steel wheels with Kenda Klever S/T EV tires in size 245/65R17. Optional configurations include Kenda all-terrain, all-season, and ultra-high-performance tires for 17-inch and 20-inch wheels. Engineers from both companies collaborated on the packages, considering vehicle weight, performance, efficiency, and expected driving conditions. Kenda’s American Technical Center in Akron, Ohio, supports this OEM-focused development work and provides an engineering base for application-specific tire solutions as production approaches.