Bezos Expeditions head departs Slate Auto board as EV startup eyes production
The move coincides with reports of the Amazon founder's shifting focus to his robotics firm, Project Prometheus, as Slate Auto prepares for its low-cost vehicle rollout later this year.
State filings from Delaware, Florida, and Massachusetts confirm that Melinda Lewison, the head of Jeff Bezos' family office Bezos Expeditions, has stepped down from the board of directors of electric vehicle startup Slate Auto. Documents reviewed by TechCrunch indicate the departure occurred sometime over the last few months, leaving the Amazon founder with no direct representation on the board as the company gears up to produce its low-cost electric truck later this year.
The timing of Lewison's exit raises questions regarding Bezos' ongoing involvement with the startup, particularly as he is reportedly prioritising his robotics firm, Project Prometheus. That venture recently raised more than $6 billion and is seeking a new $100 billion fund to automate industrial companies using artificial intelligence. While Slate Auto did not respond to requests for comment, the shift in focus suggests a reallocation of the billionaire's attention away from the automotive sector.
Slate Auto has continued to secure significant capital despite the boardroom changes. Last month, the company announced a $650 million Series C round, with TWG Global, run by Guggenheim Partners CEO Mark Walter, named as the sole lead investor. Existing investor Slauson & Co confirmed its participation in the funding, which brings the company's total raised capital to approximately $700 million. However, the specific amount contributed by Bezos in earlier rounds remains undisclosed, with the company never revealing his exact stake in the initial $120 million round from 2023.
Leadership at the firm remains heavily influenced by Amazon alumni, including co-founder Jeff Wilke and current CEO Peter Faricy, a former vice president of Amazon Marketplace. This staffing strategy aligns with the operational culture described by Chris Barman, the startup's former CEO. Speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Barman noted that Bezos has been "pretty hands-off," having joined the company only once to view the vehicle and discuss future possibilities before letting the team focus on getting the product to market.
The departure of Lewison marks a significant structural change for the electric truck manufacturer as it approaches the critical phase of commercial production. With the board no longer including a direct representative from Bezos' family office, the governance of the company will rely entirely on its existing management team and its broader investor base, including the newly confirmed participation from Slauson & Co. As the industry watches, the focus now shifts to whether the startup can execute its production plans without the direct oversight previously associated with the Amazon founder.
