The Slate Truck, an upcoming electric vehicle aimed at creators and small businesses, will receive software updates over-the-air—but not through a built-in infotainment system. Instead, updates will be delivered via the owner’s smartphone, placing the responsibility on users to initiate and manage the process.

This approach eliminates the need for a dedicated touchscreen or internal computing hardware, reducing vehicle complexity and cost. By leveraging the processing power and connectivity of personal devices, Slate simplifies its hardware design while still enabling remote improvements to vehicle functions.

For content creators who rely on their vehicles as mobile studios or gear haulers, this means updates—such as battery management tweaks, driving mode adjustments, or compatibility enhancements—will arrive through a companion app. The system assumes users have a compatible smartphone and are willing to engage with the update process manually.

While this method avoids potential infotainment obsolescence, it shifts the maintenance burden to the owner. Unlike traditional OTA systems that update seamlessly in the background, the Slate Truck requires active participation, which could impact convenience during busy production schedules.

The strategy reflects a broader trend in minimalist EV design, where functionality is offloaded to user-owned devices. For creators already managing multiple apps and gear, the Slate Truck’s update model offers transparency—but demands consistency in device usage and app engagement to keep the vehicle current.

As of October 18, 2026, Engadget confirmed that the Slate Truck’s update mechanism depends entirely on the owner’s phone, with no embedded infotainment platform to support autonomous or background updates. This design choice underscores the vehicle’s focus on simplicity and creator-centric pragmatism.