Tesla manufacturing leader joins Bezos-backed EV startup

Electric vehicle startup Slate Auto has hired Napoleon Reyes, a key Tesla manufacturing leader who led Model Y production at the company’s Fremont factory, as the Jeff Bezos-backed company prepares to build its modular pickup truck in Indiana.

Reyes, a former US Marine from Indiana with a mechanical engineering degree from Purdue University, joined Tesla’s manufacturing team at the Fremont factory in 2020 after working at Subaru and Wabash.

He quickly rose through the ranks during Tesla’s Model Y production ramp, becoming lead of Model Y General Assembly in Fremont in 2022. The role put him in charge of one of the most critical parts of vehicle manufacturing for more than a year before he was promoted to lead new pilot processes at the factory.

Most recently, Reyes led the launch of the general assembly line for the Model Y refresh, which he described as professionally challenging but ultimately successful.

“It was an incredible experience being part of multiple line expansions and multiple Model Y programme launches,” Reyes said in a LinkedIn post announcing his departure from Tesla.

“Leading and managing the Model Y Refresh launch for GA in Fremont this year tested me professionally however we ultimately succeeded due to our amazing cross functional team collaboration.”

Reyes will take on the role of Senior Manager, Plant Vehicle Engineering at Slate Auto’s facility in Warsaw, Indiana.

Slate emerged from stealth mode earlier this year to unveil an electric pickup truck featuring modular customisation and a price point under US$20,000. The company has raised over US$700 million through two funding rounds from investors including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The startup acquired a former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana, which it is converting to manufacture its electric pickup truck. The facility is being staffed with personnel from legacy automakers and several former Tesla engineers and leaders.

Rich Schmidt, an early Tesla manufacturing director, heads Slate’s manufacturing operations.

The talent acquisition reflects the competitive landscape for experienced electric vehicle manufacturing expertise as new startups seek to challenge established players. For New Zealand’s EV market, such developments in the global manufacturing sector could influence future vehicle availability and pricing as competition intensifies among electric vehicle producers.

Slate’s modular pickup concept represents a different approach to electric vehicle design, potentially offering consumers more customisation options while maintaining affordability – factors that could prove relevant as New Zealand’s light commercial vehicle market continues its transition toward electrification.