Slate Automotive is a modular electric vehicle startup backed by Jeff Bezos, built from the ground up with agility, adaptability, and speed in mind. In this session, learn how Slate identified additive manufacturing as a strategic enabler for iterative development, flexible tooling, and low-volume customization and why they ultimately selected a large-format FDM platform for their initial deployment.
Through real-world examples, the presentation explores how additive manufacturing is being used today to produce vehicle accessory components, accelerate concept validation, and enable same‑day design changes. Speakers will also share candid insights into the internal decision-making process, lessons learned, and challenges emerging teams face when introducing additive alongside traditional manufacturing methods.
What You’ll Learn
Who Should Attend
Why Attend?
Whether you’re just starting to explore additive manufacturing or looking to expand its role in your organization, this session offers a practical, real-world perspective on what it takes to successfully integrate AM without large teams or massive resources.
Register now to learn how an emerging EV startup is applying additive manufacturing to move faster, iterate smarter, and build with confidence.
Dan currently plays a key role as Head of Design Operations at Slate, a radically simple EV pickup truck, unveiled in March 2025, leading studio delivery and facilities in Troy, MI and Long Beach, CA. Previous roles have included Chief Product Officer at EV Technology Group ,CEO of Radford Motors, Commercial Director of Lotus Engineering, and senior commercial and program roles at Williams Advanced Engineering and Prodrive Automotive Technologies. Dan originally studied and trained in mechanical engineering, before moving towards more commercial and leadership roles, and completed his MBA in 2017.
Allen grew up on a dairy farm in central Minnesota where he was surrounded by repairs and maintenance on machinery of all types and sizes. This hands-on experience at an early age has served him well over the years. After graduating from St. Cloud Technical College in central Minnesota, he spent 7 years working in different levels of motorsports as a mechanic and Crew Chief on several teams in the Indy-car and Formula Atlantic series. Allen joined Honda R&D Inc. as a vehicle test Engineer at their R&D center in Ohio in 2000. After experiencing the frustrations of sourcing prototype vehicle parts, he implemented the use of 3D printing for prototypes, QC fixtures, weld fixtures, metal forming tools, composite tooling and wind tunnel models, he also led the machining, welding and fabrication groups within Honda R&D. His enthusiastic leadership and passion for technology increased the capabilities and in-house equipment of Honda’s North American R&D center. Allen joined Stratasys in 2011 to promote applications for tooling and production parts in the automotive industry. Allen uses his 20+ years of experience in the auto industry and 3D printing to assist clients in finding opportunities for process improvement in vehicle development and production.
