The Super Cheap, DIY Electric Truck

Detroit built the modern car—and now a new generation of companies is trying to rebuild what comes next. In this episode of Core Memory, we travel through Detroit in a 2026 all-electric GMC Sierra to see what’s actually happening on the ground, from legacy auto to scrappy startups betting that manufacturing still belongs in this city. We go inside Slate Auto for an exclusive look at its radically affordable, build-it-yourself electric truck, then ride around with Grounded RVs, a startup turning electric vans into mobile homes, clinics, and workspaces. Along the way, we look at tariffs, EV incentives, Detroit’s physical infrastructure, and why founders keep choosing this place to build real hardware. It’s a clear-eyed look at electric vehicles, startups, and the uneven but very real tech comeback in Detroit—without the hype. Our host Ashlee Vance is a journalist, author, and filmmaker best known for his New York Times bestselling books, including the biography of Elon Musk and When The Heavens Went on Sale. He spent years at Bloomberg Businessweek covering Silicon Valley, space, and the people building the future, where he also created and hosted the Emmy-nominated series Hello World. His documentary work includes Wild Wild Space for HBO and Don't Die for Netflix. Now he runs Core Memory, a media company telling stories about scientists, inventors, and startups changing the world—from biotech labs to factory floors to the edge of space. Subscribe to watch more Core Memory videos    / @corememoryvideos   Check out our podcasts    / @corememorypodcast   https://www.corememory.com/podcast Find Ashlee Vance at www.corememory.com   / ashlee.vance   https://x.com/ashleevance Chapters 00:00 Intro: The GMC Sierra Experiment 02:34 Detroit’s $20,000 EV 03:51 Slate's "Lego" Truck Platform 07:45 Reinventing Van Life 09:45 Inside the New Detroit 14:33 Tour: The Ultimate Electric Camper