Ford Fathom vs. Slate Truck
Two electric pickups that start under $30,000, even with destination. Here is what each company has said so far, side by side, with who said it.
We sell Fords, so we have a stake in this. That is why every line shows who said it.
The Short Version
Four things to know before you read the details.
Fathom vs. Slate, Side by Side
Each line has a tag that shows where it comes from.
| Compare | Ford Fathom | Slate Truck |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Starting price | Ford says$28,350 MSRP base. Plus $1,595 destination: $29,945. | Slate says$24,950 base, before destination.ReportedEngadget reports a $1,450 destination charge: $26,400 in all. |
| Higher trims and options | Ford saysAndrew Frick said the price range goes up to the high $30,000s, with “a couple of different offerings.”Not announcedTrim names and prices. | Slate saysSquareback and Fastback SUVs start at $29,950 before destination. 200+ accessories, over 80% under $500. |
| Size | ||
| Seats | Ford saysFive adults. | Slate saysTwo-seat pickup. The SUV version seats five. |
| Bed and cargo | Ford saysA bed and a front trunk.Not announcedSizes, payload and towing. | Slate says60.5-inch bed, 7 cu ft front trunk. 1,550 lb payload. 2,000 lb towing. |
| Range and charging | ||
| Range and battery | Not announcedEPA range and battery sizes.Ford saysFord told The Autopian it will have “an option” for around 300 miles of EPA-estimated range, and agreed it likely costs more. | Slate says205 miles, Slate’s own estimate, not an official EPA range. Battery: 65 kWh, 63 kWh usable. |
| Charging | Not announcedCharge port and charging speeds.ReportedElectrek reports a NACS port. | Slate saysNACS port. Charges from a 120V or 240V outlet or a Tesla Supercharger. 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. |
| 0 to 60 mph | Ford saysTarget: “as fast as a Mustang EcoBoost” (Ford, Aug 2025). No time was given. | Slate says8.0 seconds, Slate’s estimate. |
| Home power | ||
| Power your home | Ford saysA projected 10 kW to a home, with no separate wall-mounted inverter. Needs Ford’s Home Power Station. Home Power Management also needs utility approval and an active Ford trial or plan. | Not announced |
| Tech | ||
| Screen and phone | Ford saysLarge touchscreen with Apple Maps. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are standard. | Slate says“Tactile controls. No touchscreen.”ReportedNo CarPlay or Android Auto. You mount your own phone. |
| Driver assist | Ford saysEvery Fathom will be BlueCruise capable for hands-free highway driving. | ReportedForward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking are standard, per SlashGear. |
| Buying and timing | ||
| Built in | Ford saysLouisville Assembly Plant, Kentucky. | Slate saysWarsaw, Indiana. |
| Preorders and sales | Ford saysOfficial preorders open early 2027. Frick said Ford will be “launching our preorder program in the first quarter.” | Slate saysPreorders open. $300 deposit ($250 with an active reservation) counts toward the purchase. Sold direct.ReportedCars.com: the $300 is nonrefundable. CBT News: first showroom, an Experience Center, is in Chicago. |
| Warranty and service | Not announced | Slate saysLimited warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper, 10 years/110,000 miles on the battery and powertrain. Use your own mechanic or a Slate-certified RepairPal shop. |
| Delivery timing | Ford says“Coming 2027” (Farley, Sept 1). On Oct 28: “The launch remains on track for fourth quarter next year.” | Slate saysDeliveries “Beginning Late 2026.” No calendar date.ReportedInsideEVs: deliveries expected to begin in December. Some preorder customers were reportedly offered December windows. |
Prices are before taxes and fees. The federal EV tax credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, so neither price includes it.
What Ford Has Said So Far
On-the-record statements from Ford and its executives, newest last. None of them names Slate.
- Aug 2025Doug Field, Ford chief EV, digital and design officerIn Ford’s release on its new EV platform and midsize truck (not yet named), Field said: “This isn’t a stripped-down, old-school vehicle.” It set a 0 to 60 target “as fast as a Mustang EcoBoost” and said range and battery details “will be communicated later.”Source: Ford release, Aug 11, 2025
- Aug 6Kay Hart, general manager of Ford Model eIn her Fathom announcement on Ford’s site, Hart wrote: “We built our new midsize electric truck for a person we spent years getting to know.” The announcement gave a $28,350 starting MSRP, five adult seats, a bed and a front trunk, and preorders in early 2027.Source: Ford, Aug 6
- Aug 6Kay Hart, as quoted by Tom’s Guide“It was never going to be, for us, a stripped-down vehicle.” The article does not say where she said it. Tom’s Guide, not Hart, drew the contrast with Slate.Source: Tom’s Guide, Aug 6
- Aug 6Ford, as quoted by The AutopianFord said “some customers will want to see an EPA-estimated range of around 300 miles” and “we will have an option for that customer.” When the writer said that option would cost more than the base price, Ford replied: “That’s safe to assume.”Source: The Autopian, Aug 6
- Sept 1Jim Farley, Ford CEOPosted on X: “Our new midsize electric truck. Coming 2027.”Source: CBT News, Oct 6
- By Oct 2Jim Farley, at the Automotive News CongressSaid it will be “a heck of an effort” to launch at scale, at cost and on time. Kelley Blue Book reports he did not confirm a delay.Source: Autoblog, Oct 2, Kelley Blue Book, Oct 5
- Oct 27Ford article on home powerThe Fathom “does not need a separate wall-mounted inverter to supply over a projected 10 kW of AC power to a home.” Home Power Management needs the Ford Home Power Station, utility approval and an active Ford trial or plan.Source: Ford, Oct 27
- Oct 28Jim Farley, Ford CEO, third-quarter earnings callFarley said he drove the prototype the day before and it “completely blew me away.” The Fathom is “highly capable, innovative, affordable.” “The launch remains on track for fourth quarter next year.” He called the digital suite, including the embedded Apple Maps, “a game changer for any EV, let alone at this price.”Source: Ford Q3 call transcript (Motley Fool)
- Oct 28Andrew Frick, president of Ford Blue and Model e, same callOn pricing, Frick said: “We’ll have a range that goes to the high $30,000 range,” with “a couple of different offerings within that.” Ford will be “launching our preorder program in the first quarter.”Source: Ford Q3 call transcript (Motley Fool)
Not said yet: Ford has not published the Fathom’s EPA range, battery sizes, towing, payload, trim names or trim prices. Outlets such as Tom’s Guide set the Fathom against Slate. That framing is theirs. No Ford speaker above named Slate.
What We Don’t Know Yet
Both trucks are still before launch. These gaps matter most for a fair comparison.
Ford Fathom: not announced
- EPA range and battery sizes
- Towing, payload and bed size
- Trim names and trim prices
- Charge port and charging speed
- Which trims include home power, and what the home equipment costs
- Warranty and service details
- Exact delivery dates
Slate Truck: not confirmed
- An EPA-rated range
- A calendar date for deliveries
- Slate’s own answer on whether the $300 deposit is refundable
- Slate’s own list of driver-assist features (we found it only in news coverage)
More on the Fathom: 2027 Ford Fathom: specs, price and release date
Which One Fits You?
Our read of the public facts. Both trucks can change before launch.
- The lowest starting priceSlate’s base truck costs $3,400 less before destination.Leans Slate
- Five seats in a truckSlate’s pickup seats two. Its five-seat SUV starts at $29,950.Leans Fathom
- A built-in screen with CarPlay or Android AutoSlate has no touchscreen. You mount your own phone.Leans Fathom
- Power your home from the truckNeeds Ford’s Home Power Station. Some features need utility approval.Leans Fathom
- Customize it yourselfSlate lists 200+ accessories and says the truck is designed to be wrapped instead of painted.Leans Slate
- A warranty you can read todaySlate lists 10 years/110,000 miles on the battery and powertrain. We found no Fathom warranty terms from Ford.Leans Slate
- Buy and service from a local dealerSlate sells direct to buyers. Service is through your own mechanic or a Slate-certified RepairPal shop.Leans Fathom
- The earliest deliverySlate says deliveries begin in late 2026. Ford says the Fathom launch is on track for the fourth quarter of 2027.Leans Slate
Need a Truck Sooner?
Neither electric truck is here yet. The Ford Maverick is, and you can see it in Kent today.
Questions Shoppers Ask
Short answers, based on what is known as of November 1, 2026.
Is the Ford Fathom cheaper than the Slate truck?
No. Slate’s base truck starts at $24,950 and the Fathom at $28,350 MSRP, both before destination. With destination that is about $26,400 for Slate (Engadget reports a $1,450 charge) and $29,945 for the Fathom (Ford lists $1,595). Both can cost more: Ford’s Andrew Frick said Fathom pricing will go up to the high $30,000s, and Slate’s SUVs start at $29,950.
Which truck goes farther on a charge?
Slate says 205 miles, which is its own estimate, not an official EPA range. Ford has not published an EPA range or battery size for the Fathom. In August it told The Autopian it will have an option for customers who want around 300 miles of EPA-estimated range, and agreed that option likely costs more.
Does the Slate truck have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto?
No. Slate’s press release says “No touchscreen,” and Engadget reports there is no CarPlay or Android Auto, so you mount your own phone. Ford says the Fathom has a large touchscreen with Apple Maps, and that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are standard.
When can I buy a Fathom or a Slate?
Neither has started deliveries. Slate takes preorders now, and its site says deliveries begin in late 2026 with no calendar date. InsideEVs reported on Oct 28 that deliveries are expected to begin in December. Ford says official Fathom preorders open in early 2027, and Jim Farley said on Oct 28 that “the launch remains on track for fourth quarter next year.” Dates can change.
Can I reserve a Fathom at Bowen Scarff Ford?
Yes. Reserving is free, with no deposit and no obligation, and it does not guarantee a vehicle. It puts you on our list so we can keep you updated when Ford opens ordering. Ford also opened its own preorder invitation list in October. Reserve on our Fathom pre-order page or call 253-270-2530.
Where would I buy and service each truck?
Slate sells direct to buyers and has opened its first showroom, an Experience Center in Chicago. Slate says you can use your own mechanic or a Slate-certified RepairPal shop for service. Ford sells through its dealers, and we take Fathom reservations now. We found no Fathom service or warranty details from Ford.
Does the EV tax credit apply to either truck?
No. The federal EV tax credit is not available for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, and Washington’s EV sales and use tax exemption expired on July 31, 2025. The prices on this page do not include taxes or fees.
Has Ford said anything about the Slate truck?
Not by name, in anything we could verify. Kay Hart (August 2026) and Doug Field (August 2025) each said Ford’s midsize electric truck is not “stripped-down.” Tom’s Guide set Hart’s remark against Slate, but neither executive named it. None of the Ford statements listed on this page names Slate.
Where This Comes From
Every fact above traces to one of these. Dates are when each was published or read.
From Ford
Coverage of Ford
- InsideEVs, Oct 29: Frick on pricing
- Autoblog, Oct 2: Farley at Automotive News Congress
- Kelley Blue Book, Oct 5: Farley on the launch
- CBT News, Oct 6: Farley on X and timeline
- Tom’s Guide, Aug 6: Kay Hart on the Fathom
- The Autopian, Aug 6: Ford on range
- Electrek, Oct 14: preorder invitation list and charge port
About the Slate truck
- Slate, home page (read Nov 1)
- Slate, getting one: deposit and timing (read Nov 1)
- Slate, service and warranty (read Nov 1)
- Slate press release, Jun 24 (Cision)
- Cars.com, May 29: how preorders work
- Engadget, Oct 31: CarPlay, Android Auto and destination charge
- SlashGear, Jul 26: safety features
- InsideEVs, Oct 25: early drive and delivery windows
- InsideEVs, Oct 28: delivery timing
- CBT News, Oct 16: Chicago showroom
Checked November 1, 2026. We will update this page when Ford or Slate announces more.
Want a Fathom? Reserve One With Us
A reservation is free and does not guarantee a vehicle. Not sure yet? Call us and we will walk through what is known.
Bowen Scarff Ford, 1157 Central Ave N, Kent, WA 98032. Bowen Scarff Ford is a Ford dealer and is not affiliated with Slate Auto. Ford, Fathom and Slate are trademarks of their owners. Prices are before taxes and fees and can change. Information checked November 1, 2026.