Ford to produce Fathom electric pickup at Kentucky plant

Ford has announced plans to produce the Fathom, a mid-sized electric pickup truck, at the Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky. The project involves a $2 billion investment to transform the facility and aims to preserve approximately 2,200 jobs.

The vehicle is being developed using the Ford Universal EV Production System, which departs from traditional linear assembly lines. Instead, the system utilizes a tree-like structure where the front, rear, and battery assembly are completed separately before being joined. This method is intended to reduce costs, improve quality control, and increase assembly speed by up to 40% compared to previous products.

Ford is targeting an aggressive entry price for the Fathom, with estimates ranging from $28,350 to $30,000 for the base model. This strategy seeks to address affordability in the electric vehicle market. The company expects to open pre-orders early next year, with production-level prototypes following in the first quarter and volume production slated for 2027.