American electric vehicle startup Slate Auto has once again made headlines, this time by filing a design patent in India for its boxy SUV variant, known as the Squareback. This follows earlier patent filings for the brand’s pickup and fastback SUV, suggesting the company is steadily building out intellectual property protection for its entire modular vehicle lineup, even in markets where it hasn’t confirmed a launch.
What is the Slate Squareback?
The Squareback is the third body style to emerge from Slate Auto’s single, modular EV platform. Much like the Chery T1TP concept that can transform between a pickup and an SUV depending on which panels are attached, the Squareback works on a similar principle. Buyers can reconfigure the same base vehicle by adding or removing body panniers, switching between a pickup truck, a fastback SUV (already patented under the name “Purple Reign”), and now this boxier, more upright SUV silhouette.
This modularity is central to Slate’s identity. Rather than offering multiple distinct models, the company builds one adaptable platform and lets customers choose the form and features that suit them, echoing the “bring your own device” philosophy it has applied elsewhere, including skipping a built-in infotainment screen in favor of smartphone integration.
Why Is Slate Filing Patents in India?
It’s worth being clear about what a design patent filing actually signals. In most cases, including this one, it’s a routine step companies take to protect their intellectual property globally, not a confirmation of market entry. Slate Auto has not made any official announcement about launching in India, and industry reports consistently note that these filings simply keep the door open for a future decision, whichever way that goes.
Still, the pattern is telling. With patents now filed for the pickup, the fastback SUV, and the Squareback, Slate appears to be covering its full model range in India, a market that has seen a wave of boxy SUV launches and patent filings from other manufacturers recently, including entries from Chery, Jaecoo, and Mahindra. Whether Slate eventually competes in that space remains to be seen.
About Slate Auto
Founded in 2022 and backed by high-profile investors, including Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Slate Auto unveiled its first product, the Slate Truck, in 2025. The company is targeting an aggressive starting price in the USD 20,000 to 28,000 range, positioning itself as a stripped-down, affordable alternative in a market often dominated by feature-heavy, expensive EVs. Its vehicles are offered with two battery options, with certified ranges of roughly 150 miles and 240 miles, along with support for both home charging and DC fast charging.
Wrapping Up
For now, the Squareback patent is best read as a sign of Slate Auto’s global ambitions rather than a concrete India launch plan. Whether the brand’s minimalist, modular approach to EVs eventually reaches Indian roads will depend on decisions still to come, but the paperwork trail suggests the company wants that option available when the time is right.
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Rajababu Kushwaha is the Founder and Editor of AutoCrest. He covers the latest car news, reviews, comparisons, EV updates, and buying guides for Indian car buyers.