Slate Auto just closed a $650 million Series C round. Backed by Jeff Bezos from the start, the startup now eyes production of its bare-bones electric pickup by late 2026. Over 160,000 refundable reservations already line up. Each a $50 deposit. Demand looks real. The Troy, Michigan company unveiled the truck last June. No paint. No power windows. No stereo in the base model. Buyers pick modules later. Base battery delivers 150 miles. Payload hits 1,400 pounds. Upgrade to 240 miles if needed. And it converts to a five-seat SUV for $5,000 extra. Customization drives the pitch. Presets for work or play. Direct sales online. Like Tesla, but cheaper. TWG Global led the round. Mark Walter’s firm, with Thomas Tull. Walter owns the Dodgers. He’s in Bezos’s Re:Build Manufacturing too. Slate spun out from there last year, as TechCrunch reported . Total funding hits $1.4 billion.…