Ford Fathom, confirmed as the name of the automaker's upcoming $30k electric truck. Ford says the name signals a "new depth of innovation."This story was originally published on WardsAuto. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily WardsAuto newsletter.Dive Brief:Ford Motor Co. has revealed the name and starting price of its forthcoming electric truck for the first time Thursday. It's offically named the Fathom and it will start at $28,350 with a destination fee of $1,595, devliering on Ford's promise of a starting price of under $30,000.Every Fathom will be "BlueCruise capable" and will come with all the necessary hardware preinstalled for the activation of Ford's hand-free highway driving system. A digital key and bidirectional charging capability are among the electric truck's other standard features.Pre-orders will start in early 2027 and deliveries are due to start later in 2027, Ford also confirmed. Assembly is set for the automaker's Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky.Dive Insight:Ford is effectively rebooting its electric vehicle strategy around its new Universal Electric Vehicle Platform, or UEV, which the automaker says is designed to "unlock new levels of affordability and efficiency." The Fathom will be the first model launched on the platform.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe automaker has already teased the $30,000 starting price as a goal. However, following Thursday's announcement, Ford pegs an actual starting price in place — $29,945 including destination. This model will come with a "standard-range battery" delivering a range of around 300 miles.That could prove to be strong competition for the upcoming Slate Truck, which will start at $26,400 including destination and offer a starting range estimated to be 205 miles.Ford reiterated, as recently noted by Ford CEO Jim Farley in the automaker's Q2 call for investors, that the electric truck will have more passenger volume than a Toyota RAV4, with both a frunk and pickup bed that allows for cargo flexibility. In a preview event earlier this year attended by WardsAuto, Ford noted that the truck will be assembled as three core segments, which will be joined together on the assembly line. The front portion of the vehicle is designed as one big aluminum unicasting that Ford has claimed will make collision repair cheaper versus other vehicles. The battery pack case serves as this truck's floor, and charging, bidirectional charging, and the truck's 48-volt system/accessory voltage are all managed by a single E-Box unit.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Fathom and future UEV models will also have Apple Maps integration for turn-by-turn navigation, plus further Apple Maps integration to support its BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system for "a more seamless on-ramp to off-ramp experience." Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are also included. Most of the Fathom's software and interface were developed within Ford, and the automaker says the electric truck's cabin will be unlike that of any other Ford model.The company also did some explaining about the name. It says that fathom originally referred to the span of a person's outstretched arms — roughly 6 feet — which then grew to refer to depth and then understanding. "We built our new midsize electric truck for a person we spent years getting to know," said Ford Model e General Manager Kay Hart, in a blog post on the name. "As customers start exploring the technology and design of Fathom, that's when the connection between name, product and driver becomes clear."Recommended ReadingFord integrating Apple Maps into its Universal Electric Vehicle platform',