The Slate Auto gets a lot of attention in the private sector thanks to its EV photography

Slate Auto may be one of the most exciting companies in the American car market right now. Based out of Warsaw, Indiana, the startup is taking a very different approach to making an electric vehicle. Forget about Ford clean-sheet “skunk works” story; the design of the Slate Truck has been it was limited to only 600 episodes. That minimalism includes the interior, where you will find two seats and windows on the hand bar, but the infotainment system. If you’re one of the many Ars readers looking for an electric car that won’t follow you around, the Slate may have what you’re looking for.

It’s not a completely analog experience, though; the Slate’s mobile app can manage settings, change vehicle settings, and provide information and ordering. But unless you’re connected locally to the car—there’s no modem included, so forget the remote. And the company says that while it may use data from the app to improve its products, it won’t sell the data.

That’s it according to a new report from SAE International’s (and sometime Ars contributor) Roberto Baldwin. “We’re building based on ownership,” Slate said. “We collect data to improve ownership, not to convert ownership into sales. The app will collect data only if it helps or improves the customer experience. Privacy is very important. For Slate, privacy is not a follow-up footnote. It’s part of the business experience.”

“Customers need to understand what’s being shared, why it’s important, and how it helps them own the car with confidence,” the company said. “This may include data needed to support account setup, device and vehicle pairing, tracking, management, support, assistance, billing, OTA updates, customer support, and product maintenance.