Slate Auto sells a spiral-bound road atlas as screenless GPS

A paper answer to navigation

Slate Auto, the startup building a low-cost electric pickup, has added a printed road atlas to its accessories store under the name Screenless GPS. According to Ars Technica, the product is a spiral-bound Rand McNally 2027 Road Atlas, sold for a limited time.

The company's pitch is simple. Slate says drivers should use the devices they know and love, and points out that paper maps served earlier generations well enough.

The atlas fits the truck's wider philosophy. Slate sells an affordable electric two-door pickup with only the basics, leaving owners to add extras themselves.

What the truck leaves out

The pickup has no embedded infotainment system. A small dashboard display shows speed and range, and it also shows the backup camera image when the driver engages reverse.

There are two USB-C ports, but they supply power only, with no data connectivity. That is the extent of the onboard technology for media and navigation.

With no screen to run a mapping app, the atlas is Slate's suggested solution for finding your way.

How the atlas compares to digital maps

The Rand McNally atlas covers the United States, Canada and Mexico across 154 pages in full colour. Ars Technica notes it is far less detailed than the maps built for automotive navigation by firms such as HERE.

Those digital maps are made for computers rather than people. They carry rich data on points of interest, live traffic and road conditions, plus the precision needed for assisted and autonomous driving systems.

The atlas has no such features. Updates arrive, in Ars Technica's words, by Post-it note.

Works in any vehicle

One practical advantage of the paper system is portability. Ars Technica describes it as vehicle-agnostic, meaning it works as well in a Ford or Ferrari as in a Slate.

The publication notes that some readers may find the idea contrived, but its reviewer, who has driven the truck, felt the atlas suits the vehicle's deliberately simple character.

Slate has listed the screenless GPS package in its store for a limited time. Ars Technica says its review copy, along with a sticker pack, will be offered in the site's end-of-year charity drive.

Why it matters

The product is a small example of a larger trend: some buyers want vehicles with fewer screens and subscriptions. Slate's sub-$25,000 starting price and DIY approach lean into that sentiment.

Whether the atlas is marketing theatre or a genuine alternative to navigation apps, it underlines how far in-car technology has moved. A printed map now counts as a feature worth selling.

For drivers considering the truck, the practical takeaway is clear. Anyone who relies on live traffic or voice guidance will need to bring their own device, since the truck offers no connectivity.