2027 Ford Fathom: Everything We Know About Ford's Under-$30K Electric Truck

The 2027 Ford Fathom is a midsize electric pickup starting at $28,350, with preorders opening in early 2027 and deliveries expected next fall. Here's what Ford has confirmed, how it stacks up against the Slate truck, and whether it's worth waiting for.

October 27, 2026

Ford’s next electric truck finally has a name: the Fathom. It’s a four-door, five-seat midsize pickup, it starts under $30,000, and it’s the first vehicle on Ford’s new low-cost EV platform. If it delivers on price and range, it could be the most important vehicle Ford launches this decade.

It also isn’t here yet, and there’s a lot Ford still hasn’t said. Here’s what we know.

The quick facts

What Ford has confirmed

Size and space. The Fathom is expected to be about the size of today’s Maverick, with a traditional four-door pickup shape. Ford says it has more passenger room than a Toyota RAV4, and it adds a frunk up front on top of the bed.

Tech. Every Fathom gets a large high-resolution touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Apple Maps navigation, a digital key, and bidirectional power, so the truck can power tools, appliances or potentially your home.

BlueCruise. Every Fathom is capable of Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise driving, with a next-generation version integrated with Apple Maps. Expect it to be a paid subscription, as it is on other Fords.

Performance. When Ford announced the platform, it said its first midsize truck is targeting 0-to-60 acceleration comparable to a Mustang EcoBoost.

Why the platform matters

The Fathom is the first vehicle built on Ford’s Universal EV Platform, which Ford designed to make EVs cheaper to build. Ford says it uses about 20% fewer parts and 25% fewer fasteners than its current vehicles, with a wiring harness more than 4,000 feet shorter than its first-generation electric SUV. The battery pack is part of the floor structure, and the LFP cells use no cobalt or nickel.

Ford is putting roughly $5 billion behind the project, including nearly $2 billion for the Louisville Assembly Plant and about $3 billion for battery production in Michigan.

For buyers, all of that is about one thing: hitting a price that makes sense without a tax break.

What we still don’t know

• Range. This is the big one. Ford hasn’t released range for either battery.
• Charging speed and charging port details.
• Towing and payload.
• Trim levels and what the extended-range version will cost.
• Exact standard safety features.

We’ll update this post as Ford releases details ahead of preorders.

Fathom vs. Slate: the sub-$30K electric truck fight

The Fathom isn’t launching into an empty market. Its most direct rival is the Slate truck, a small electric pickup from startup Slate Auto that starts at $24,950, has drawn more than 180,000 reservations, and is scheduled to start deliveries late this year. Both trucks are chasing the same buyer: someone who wants an electric pickup without spending $50,000 or more. They take very different paths to get there.

Slate’s pitch is “blank slate.” The base truck is deliberately bare: two seats, crank windows, no infotainment screen. You customize it with more than 200 accessories, most under $500, and it can even be converted into a small SUV after you buy it. It’s cheaper and it’s coming sooner.

Ford’s pitch is a “real” truck for a few thousand more. For about $3,400 more at MSRP, the Fathom adds a crew cab that seats five, a touchscreen with Apple Maps, bidirectional power and hands-free driving capability. It’s built and sold by a company with dealers and service departments in nearly every town.

What I’d tell a customer choosing between them:

• Need to haul more than one passenger? That alone points to the Fathom. Slate’s base truck is a two-seater.
• Want the cheapest way into an electric truck and like to tinker? Slate is built for you, as long as you’re comfortable buying online and handling more of the ownership yourself.
• Care about service and trade-in value? That’s where Ford has the edge. When something goes wrong, having a local service department matters, and established brands tend to be easier to trade in later.
• Need a truck in the next year? Only Slate is even on the calendar for 2026. The Fathom is roughly a year behind it.

Neither truck has proven itself yet. Slate is a brand-new automaker building its first vehicle, and the Fathom is the first vehicle on a brand-new Ford platform. Watch the first round of owner reviews on both before you commit.

Inside Ford’s own lineup, the Fathom will sit next to the Maverick, the gas and hybrid compact pickup that’s already a hit. Shoppers will be choosing between the Maverick’s proven hybrid and the Fathom’s all-electric drive at a similar size.

Price reality check: no tax credit

The federal tax credit for new EVs ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, so there’s no $7,500 federal credit to lower the Fathom’s price. That’s exactly why Ford engineered the truck to start under $30,000 on its own. Some states and utilities still offer EV rebates, so check what’s available where you live.

A salesperson’s take: should you wait for it?

Here’s my honest advice from the floor:

1. Don’t put off a car you need today. Deliveries aren’t expected until fall 2027, and Ford’s CEO has called launching it “at scale, at cost, and on time” a “heck of an effort.” New vehicles can slip.
2. The $28,350 price is for the base truck. Most buyers end up a trim or two higher. Expect the version you actually want to cost more, plus taxes, fees and any dealer add-ons.
3. Wait for the range number. It will decide whether the base battery works for your commute, especially in cold weather.
4. Reserve early if you’re serious. Hot new launches often have waitlists. Getting in line early costs little if the deposit is refundable. Ask before you pay.
5. First-year models can have bugs. That’s true of every brand. If you want to avoid early issues, plan on a second-year model.
6. LFP batteries have a perk. LFP chemistry generally handles regular charging to 100% better than other chemistries, which makes daily use simpler. Follow Ford’s guidance once it’s out.
7. Ask about home charging. A Level 2 charger at home makes EV life much easier. Get a quote for installation before you buy.

The bottom line

The Ford Fathom could be the affordable electric truck a lot of people have been waiting for: a real four-door pickup, built in the U.S., starting under $30,000. Until Ford announces range and real pricing by trim, treat it as one to watch, not one to wait on if you need a vehicle now.

Details are based on information released by Ford and reported by automotive media as of October 27, 2026. Specifications, pricing and timing are subject to change. This post is for informational purposes only.