Ford's Affordable Small EV Truck Is Called FathomAndrei Avarvarii - MotorTrendEnough speculation has swirled about Ford's forthcoming small all-electric pickup truck to fill the bed of an F-350 Super Duty. Today, the Blue Oval lightens that payload somewhat by officially announcing the new EV truck's name and starting price, while confirming additional tech and capabilities.This Goes Deep"Ranchero" had been our guess at the truck's title, but instead, an entirely new nameplate will be introduced. So here it is: Ford Fathom.That aligns with the alliterative nomenclature Ford has used in the past with vehicles such as the Fusion, Focus, and Flex. There's punny meaning behind the name, too. Ford said that in developing the truck it "reached a new depth of innovation, allowing the company to fathom possibilities once thought beyond reach."AdvertisementAdvertisementOn learning the name, several MotorTrend staffers expressed their bewilderment with Ford's choice, potentially portending a wider public reaction. But Fathom is official, and will designate what might be the most disruptive Ford since the F-150 Lightning.Shallow Pockets? Here's Your TruckPerhaps any consternation around the name will fade when considering the starting price. The Fathom will begin at $29,495 ($28,350 plus a $1,595 destination fee).That pricing is with the standard-range lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) battery, which is of an unknown size. Ford confirmed that it will offer a larger pack, extending driving range for extra cost. The entry-level Fathom will be rear-wheel drive, propelled by a permanent-magnet motor designed and built by Ford. An all-wheel-drive setup that adds an induction motor to the front axle will also be available.This sub-$30,000 starting price demonstrates Ford's obsession with manufacturing efficiency in developing the Universal Electric Vehicle Platform that underpins the Fathom and other future EVs. For example, the architecture uses large aluminum unicastings to incorporate more than 100 parts that would otherwise be separate, which simultaneously reduces the amount of fasteners used. Rather than a distinct floor component, the Fathom's interior parts mount directly to the top of the structural battery.Ford - MotorTrendFor comparison, the Fathom's $29,495 base price makes it roughly $20,000 less expensive than the cheapest versions of the F-150 Lightning in its final year of production. It's also slightly cheaper than the 2026 Ford Maverick, which starts at $29,685 for the XL trim with front-wheel drive and no options. A potential rival is the Slate Truck, which starts at just $26,400—but that might be a weaker value given the Fathom's features.Self-Driving CapablePower windows will presumably be standard in the Fathom, which will be built in a four-door crew cab configuration. In that cab, Ford targets more passenger volume than a Toyota RAV4. The Fathom's bed length is unknown but is probably similar to that of the Maverick, while an under-hood frunk will add additional capacity.AdvertisementAdvertisementFord said the Fathom's standard features will include a "large" infotainment touchscreen, built-in Apple Maps navigation, bidirectional power capability, and an app-based digital key. Every Fathom will be compatible with BlueCruise, Ford's hands-free driving technology, which will likely be offered on a subscription basis.Model T 2.0?Ford's EVs so far have been tepidly received. Although the Mustang Mach-E has sold decently, its name association with Ford's beloved pony car may have been misguided. Despite massive investment in the F-150 Lightning, that pioneering electric pickup clashed with traditional truck values, and Ford, er, pulled the plug after 2025 while announcing it'll re-engineer the Lightning to be a range-extender hybrid.Andrei Avarvarii - MotorTrendWith this context, Ford is betting big on the Fathom and Universal Electric Vehicle Platform. Company CEO Jim Farley has called it a "Model T moment," implying the revolutionary potential Ford sees in its forthcoming affordable EV models. The truck we now know as the Fathom will be the first of those when it rolls off the retooled line at Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky, likely for model year 2028.
