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Ford Announces Fathom Electric Truck With Starting Price Under $30,000

Ford has announced its next-generation electric pickup truck, named Fathom, which will carry a base price of $28,350 when it goes on sale. Including mandatory destination and delivery charges, the entry price sits at $29,945, fulfilling the company’s objective to offer an electric truck under the $30,000 threshold.

What Happened

The Fathom marks Ford’s second mass-market all-electric truck following the F-150 Lightning. It is the debut vehicle to be engineered on Ford’s new “Universal EV Platform” (UEV), which introduces an updated assembly process aimed at lowering production expenses. The vehicle will be manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky.

Development of the Fathom and the underlying UEV platform originated as an isolated project in Los Angeles led by former Tesla executive Alan Clarke, drawing engineering talent from Apple’s former vehicle project, Rivian, and Tesla. Ford plans to formally unveil the truck and open preorders in early 2027, with official customer deliveries slated to begin in fall 2027.

Key Highlights

  • Pricing: Base price begins at $28,350, or $29,945 after destination and delivery fees.
  • Platform & Manufacturing: First vehicle on the ground-up Universal EV Platform (UEV), assembled in Louisville, Kentucky.
  • Battery: Standard entry-level configuration includes a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack.
  • Cabin & Utility: Offers seating for five with interior volume exceeding that of a Toyota RAV4, a digital car key, a large high-resolution touchscreen, and bidirectional power capabilities.
  • Software & Connectivity: Features integrated Apple Maps in its operating system alongside support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; Apple’s next-generation CarPlay Ultra will not be supported.
  • Driver Assistance: Comes hardware-ready for BlueCruise, supporting hands-free assisted driving as an optional upgrade, with supervised point-to-point driving planned and hands-free, eyes-off capability projected for 2028.

Why This Matters

The Fathom represents a strategic shift for Ford in the electric vehicle sector following a broader industry slowdown in high-priced EV adoption. Unlike converted internal combustion platforms, the ground-up UEV architecture is designed specifically for electric drivetrains, which Ford expects will reduce compromises in efficiency, vehicle packaging, and driving range.

Positioning the truck below the $30,000 price point allows Ford to target budget-conscious buyers in a market where the average new vehicle sells for roughly $50,000, facing limited direct electric pickup competition aside from entry-level passenger EVs.

What to Watch Next

Ford is scheduled to officially present the complete design and exact range specifications of the Fathom in early 2027, coinciding with the opening of preorders. Customer deliveries are set to begin in fall 2027, followed by anticipated software capabilities enabling eyes-off automated driving in 2028.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the Ford Fathom go on sale?

Ford plans to reveal the production vehicle and accept preorders in early 2027, with first deliveries scheduled for fall 2027.

What is the starting price of the Ford Fathom?

The truck starts at $28,350. Adding the destination and delivery charge brings the total base price to $29,945.

What battery does the base Fathom use?

The standard model is equipped with a standard-range lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack.

Source: TechCrunch