Jason Marks

CEO & Co-Founder of @TELOtrucks

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

Building a game-changing electric truck requires a world-class team behind the scenes.

I spoke with Out of Spec Studios to chat about what it takes to solve the toughest challenges in the automotive industry.

Having pioneers from Tesla, Aston Martin, and Nissan on speed dial gives us decades of proven guidance as we build for the future.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

Can a compact electric truck with almost zero front overhang pass real crash safety tests?

We broke down the physics of cab-forward EV engineering in our latest sit-down with MotorTrend Group.

Smart design eliminates heavy engine blocks and frunk clutter to create a dedicated, high-efficiency crumple zone.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

This is exactly why we’re building what we’re building

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

Two Tesla co-founders have invested in TELO, with Marc Tarpenning serving on our board and playing a big role in our decisions.

In our conversation with Munro & Associates, we talked about the investors backing TELO and the connections they’re helping us build across our vehicle supply chain.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

One of our earliest angel checks came from a stranger I met at a rum bar.

I was at a friend’s birthday at Smuggler’s Cove when I started talking to someone about his rum collection. We ended up talking about TELO, and a week later, he wrote our third angel check.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

We designed our battery pack around volumetric energy density, not 0 to 60 bragging rights. At 103 mm tall, it fits our compact skateboard chassis while giving us the energy density we need for TELO.

I sat down with MotorTrend to explain why sometimes optimizing for practical performance means making very different battery decisions.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

We absolutely have to export cars, and they've gotta be competitive and wanted.

https://t.co/GAnQJgGVIb

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

Are exposed front wheels on a cab-forward EV truck actually safe?

I sat down with The Electric Duo to explain how we designed TELO to meet federal and state requirements, including the specific wheel coverage requirements around the front tire.

There’s also a practical benefit. At low speeds, I’d rather bump a rubber tire than the body of the truck. And without a hood, you can pull much closer to the curb than you might expect.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

We’re not trying to build 100,000 trucks in year one. We’re starting with 500.

I sat down with InsideEVsUS to talk about why we’re taking a lean, step-by-step approach to building TELO, starting with 500 vehicles in year one and 5,000 in year two before scaling further.

We’ve seen what happens when EV startups scale too quickly. For us, the priority is simple: build the product, deliver it, learn, and earn the right to scale.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

Who is a compact EV truck with full-size pickup capabilities actually built for?

In our conversation with MotorTrend, we break down the two primary markets driving the design of the TELO EV truck: urban adventurers and commercial fleets. With projections estimating that 75% of Americans will live in downtown cities by 2030, urban drivers need a functional truck built for tight city spaces. 

On the commercial side, TELO targets four core sectors: construction and contracting, maintenance and utilities, agriculture, and mid-mile delivery for store-to-store balancing.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

We started TELO with a simple question: what is the minimum frontal crash zone required to meet federal safety standards?

I sat down with The Electric Duo to talk about how we used physics-based modeling and three years of virtual validation to build the truck backwards and rethink what an electric truck could look like.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

Just like the Tesla Roadster changed the narrative around electric vehicles, we aim to redefine the pickup truck market with TELO Trucks.

Sitting down with InsideEVs, we reflected on early Roadster test drives, when 0–60 mph in 3.5 seconds pinned passengers back so hard they couldn't reach the radio. Now, we're bringing that same disruptive spirit to trucks by delivering full-size truck capabilities in a compact, city-friendly footprint.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

What started as a personal vendetta against downtown San Francisco parking turned into the inspiration for an entirely new kind of electric truck. 

Sitting down with MotorTrend, I shared how trying to park a 2012 Toyota Tacoma with a 150-pound Anatolian Shepherd in the city led me to ask a simple question: why doesn't a small, highly capable truck exist anymore? The answer traces back to EPA regulations that pushed automakers toward bigger trucks, helping inspire TELO's compact EV pickup.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

The most dangerous advice we could have followed might just be “safe, conventional” wisdom. 

Looking back on our careers, we wish we had stopped waiting for the “perfect” time, taken more risks sooner, and started taking more shots at our goals. We’ve learned that failing early is one of the best ways to learn how to succeed on our own terms.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

Building a groundbreaking electric truck with an 11-person team isn't about reinventing every single wheel. It's about making smart engineering choices. 

We sat down with Sandy Munro to break down how TELO Trucks is developing the MT1 with a lean team. By partnering with Tier 1 suppliers for proven, off-the-shelf components, the team can focus on its core innovations: frontal crash safety, the battery pack, packaging, and design.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

How do you solve the nightmare of trying to park a full-size pickup truck in downtown San Francisco or Los Angeles? You rethink the vehicle’s form and footprint from the ground up. 

Sitting down with Out of Spec Studios, we shared the origin story of the MT1. What started as two co-founders exploring two-wheeled urban transportation evolved into a compact, four-wheeled electric truck designed to deliver truck utility without sacrificing city parkability.

Would you trade a full-size pickup for a compact EV truck made specifically for navigating and parking in the city? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

Over $280 billion has been poured into EV startups over the last decade, yet many fall into the ""graveyard"" trying to reach high-volume production before ever proving their vehicle on the road.

Sitting down with MotorTrend, we broke down how TELO Trucks is flipping the script. Guided by advisor Andy Palmer, former CEO of Aston Martin and Nissan, TELO’s financial model targets a gross-margin-profitable vehicle at a mid-volume scale of 5,000 to 10,000 vehicles per year before thinking about building its own factories.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

Why should a conflict on the other side of the planet decide what your commute costs this month?

Electrification is an energy sovereignty argument before it’s an environmental.

[The Wall Street Journal @WSJ]

Breaking: Saudi Arabia shut down a crucial pipeline that allowed oil exports to circumvent the Strait of Hormuz, saying it had been attacked multiple times https://t.co/VWjZ0HGcpO

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

Finding the right co-founder means finding someone whose strengths complement your weaknesses.

We talked about why getting to the “why” behind a disagreement matters, using the Five Whys to challenge assumptions and get back to the fundamental principles.

Even something as simple as the vehicle’s center console came down to design vs. physics. Once the reason was clear, the decision was easy.

[Jason Marks @JasonMarksTELO]

China isn't coming, they're already here.

BYD has built commercial busses here since 2013

The Buick Envision has been made in China since 2016

Polestar 2 and 4 were built in China

The Lincoln Nautilus has been made in China since 2023

The Volvo EX30 and S90 were made in China

And of course who can forget the Zeekr Ojai vans that Waymo purchases from China

No matter who's in charge, Chinese exports, JVs, and US-based manufacturing plants are coming in full speed. It's our job in the US to build compelling enough vehicles to convince consumers they still want ours.

https://t.co/6Z1dONu1d1