The affordable electric pickup truck plan at Ford has been in the works for some time, and the Blue Oval is finally ready to reveal its name and starting price. Ford calls the new mid-size pickup Fathom (Ranchero was considered but passed on), and includes two definitions for the word in its press release. As a noun, fathom is a unit of measurement equal to six feet, usually used in measuring water depth. As a verb, it means ‘to measure the depth of’ or ‘to come to understand,’ and Ford has chosen the name as a means of implying depth beneath the surface of something that takes time to understand, such as developing an affordable electric truck.
Ford Keeps Its Sub-$30k Promise
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It seems that Ford wants us to think that its electric pickup truck is more than meets the eye, despite its affordable starting MSRP of $28,350 ($29,945 including a $1,595 destination fee). This price applies to the Fathom with a standard-range battery, which means you probably won’t get over 300 miles of range at the bottom of the lineup, though specifics are yet to be confirmed. We should also mention that pre-orders only open sometime early in 2027, and given how volatile America’s economic situation is, the price could still end up rising. But at least Ford says every version of the Fathom will have “the necessary hardware for Ford’s next generation of BlueCruise capability,” so hands-off, eyes-on driving will be possible on certain freeways even if you get the cheapest battery.
Ford also confirmed Apple Maps will appear in the Fathom, as will standard CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital key, and bi-directional power capability. In a nutshell, the Fathom won’t be short on tech just because the price is low, and it will be more than just a Maverick with electric motors. That bodes well for whatever else is planned for the Universal Electric Vehicle program, with rivals to the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y coming as part of a family of five new vehicles under $40k.
Autoblog’s Take
Ford
Over the course of the 2020s, Ford has been continually working on developing an affordable EV platform that still has the capabilities American buyers expect, and there have been several detours along the way. But a price and a name mean Ford’s first affordable electric truck is finally nearing the finishing line, and if all goes well, this could be a very popular offering. Hopefully, Ford hits a home run with the Fathom and other automakers get jealous of its success, ultimately producing their own range of affordable EVs.
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