Ford Fathom EV ute possible for Australia

A carefully worded statement has left the way open for Ford’s new electric Fathom dual-cab ute to come to Australia.

Named and priced from US$28,350 (A$40,000 approx.) for the USA last week, the mid-sized Fathom is the first model spun from Ford’s new low-cost Universal EV Platform.

While orders officially open in the USA in early 2027, deliveries are not expected to start until 2028.

That puts a potential Australian arrival out to 2029 or 2030; way beyond the timing window where car companies normally confirm new models.

“Fathom is the first vehicle produced on Ford’s new Universal Electric Vehicle platform,” the official Ford Australia statement issued to carsales read.

“It has only been confirmed for the North American market at this stage.”

The “at this stage” is the obvious wriggle room Ford Australia has left itself if the opportunity to import Fathom firms up.

The Fathom name has also been trademarked in Australia, although that’s not necessarily confirmation it will come here.

Beyond name and price, Ford has been selective in revealing details about the Fathom and its capabilities.

It will be built in Louisville, Kentucky, using a new “assembly tree” process and be the first of eight models based on the new platform.

Ford has confirmed the Fathom will be a five-seater with more claimed passenger space than a RAV4 SUV – an interesting comparison considering they aren’t direct competitors.

It’s also confirmed Fathom will have an under-bonnet frunk for luggage as well as the traditional load box.

Bidirectional charging, a “large high resolution” touchscreen, digital key, BlueCruise automated cruise control and CarPlay/Android Auto integration are also confirmed features.

Dimensions are unstated, but Ford is explicitly describing Fathom as “mid-size” offering, which implies it’s roughly the same size as the Ford Ranger, however, US reports have indicated it’s closer in size to the smaller Maverick ute not sold in Australia.

Ford has previously promised advanced aerodynamics and lightweight castings to boost efficiency so smaller batteries can be used to keep the price down.

It will be offered with both rear- and all-wheel drive configurations, and acceleration as fast as a four-cylinder Mustang has been targeted (about 5.5 seconds 0-100kmh).

It will also use cheaper lithium-iron phosphate battery packs and a new regenerative braking system, with the battery pack to be a structural member of the platform, meaning it will not be a ladder-frame like Ranger.

The Fathom name was one of hundreds of options considered. Ford rejected an alpha-numeric name as per F-150 “to give the vehicle personality, a soul” – according to Ford’s Model e division general manager (and former Ford Australia boss), Kay Hart.

“It had to capture a mindset, shifting the focus from specs to a spirit of adaptability.”

There is no word yet on the Fathom’s range, battery capacity, charging speeds, power and torque outputs, towing and payload – those will play a role in determining local interest in the Fathom, and so will the landed price.

Obviously, the closer to that $40,000 (in current-day money) figure the better.

Electric utes are yet to make any major impact on the market, with the focus currently switching slowly from diesel to plug-in hybrid powertrains, however by the end of the decade, the NVES CO2 reduction scheme will be biting hard and EVs will look all the more attractive.

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