Ford’s highly anticipated “affordable” electric truck has finally got a name. The “Ford Fathom” is set to retail from $28,350 and will be the first of five vehicles built on Ford’s new Universal EV platform.
With the new vehicle, Ford is aiming to move away from both the alphanumeric system it uses for its F-Series truck, and its habit of reviving legacy names like the Taurus or Ranchero. Instead, it wants something new.
Apparently, Fathom made the list for a few reasons. Its meanings helped, with the word either referring to a six-foot span or the complete understanding of something. Two different Ford copywriters came up with the name at the same time and then made it through a selection process which involved reviews by both Ford’s own engineers and external focus groups.
Ford’s criteria for picking a perfect name allegedly went along the lines of: ““What communicates depth below the surface? How do we communicate an emotional feeling of a vehicle that’s more than it appears to be?””
The name apparently beat off some stiff competition. Shortlists were handed to around 15 engineers. According to the manufacturer, an engineer who fit the truck’s target demographic “perfectly” consistently selected the word Fathom.
Aside from a catchy title, the Fathom might offer exactly what American drivers have been calling for.
So what is the Ford Fathom?
The Ford Fathom is the first of a line of affordable trucks and vehicles Ford recently announced. The sub-$30,000 aims to satisfy consumer calls for more affordable vehicles after prices have skyrocketed in recent years.
Ford’s new truck is set to offer more passenger volume than a Toyota RAV4, and have comfortable space for five adults. In addition to the passenger space, the upcoming EV will also feature a frunk and a traditional cargo bed.
Several tech-focused features have also been announced, including a high-resolution touchscreen for the infotainment system, a digital key, and full compatibility with both Android Auto and Apple Car Play.
While it’s known that the $28,000 base model will have a standard-range battery, we’re not sure which other features will come with the base model and which ones will be locked behind a paywall. We do know that it will be a unibody vehicle, with Ford planning to use a process similar to Tesla’s Gigacasting.
According to Ford, the trucks will have BlueCruise capabilities, though the self-driving system costs extra on Ford’s other models so it’s safe to presume it will be the same on the Fathom.
Ford claims pre-orders for the Fathom will begin in early 2027, with the first vehicles presumably being delivered later that year.
