Ford unveils its most significant new product in years: an electric car that is nearly $9,000 cheaper than the Tesla Model 3

Ford continues to reveal new details about what is likely to be its most significant launch in years: the electric pickup Fathom, which will debut the new UEV (Universal EV Platform) designed to match the cost structure of leading Chinese companies like BYD. This architecture will be used in a wide range of models down the road.

The Ford Fathom is expected to go on sale in early 2027 at a starting price of $28,350. Thus, the oval-shaped brand will fulfill its promise to offer the new vehicle below the $30,000 psychological threshold. That price will apply to the standard range version; there will also be more powerful variants... at higher prices.

The American company promises that its electric pickup will offer better interior space than a Toyota RAV4; it will also feature a practical frunk or front trunk. Additionally, it is set to become the first vehicle to come equipped with Apple Maps integrated into its navigation system, which will be accessed via a large touchscreen, as expected.

Utilizing the latest Fathom battery testing facility in Nevada, Ford has released a series of images of the vehicle camouflaged in Las Vegas. As can be seen, it will have a more stylish and aerodynamic design compared to other pickups from the company such as the Ranger or Maverick. Like the latter, it is expected to feature a monocoque chassis rather than one made of beams and crossmembers.

The Ford Fathom will cost as much as the conventional Maverick

It’s worth noting that its price will be virtually identical to that of the conventional Maverick, which starts at $28,145. For comparison, a Tesla Model 3 begins at $36,990. Thus, the Fathom could help reverse the decline in electric car sales in the U.S. market, which has been affected recently due to the withdrawal of government subsidies under Trump’s administration.

In addition to features such as an intelligent route planner, digital key, and two-way charging, the Ford Fathom will also offer the advanced BlueCruise driving assistant, which will be available as an option starting from the entry-level trim — despite its budget-oriented focus, it won’t fall short in terms of technological amenities.

The batteries will consist of LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) prismatic cells. Although they will be manufactured in Michigan by Ford, they will use licensed technology from the Chinese company CATL. It is not yet clear whether the brand will use this UEV platform in models for the European market, where it relies increasingly on external technology due to the use of platforms from Geely, Renault, and Volkswagen.

Source | Electrek