Ford bids farewell to the F-150 Lightning as Fathom pickup nears

With its next-generation electric pickups arriving in 2027, the F-150 Lightning is no longer available. Ford is preparing to introduce the $30,000 Fathom EV pickup and an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) to replace it.

Ford Fathom, F-150 Lightning EREV pickup coming soon

The F-150 Lightning “redefined what a truck could be,” Ford’s landing page now reads. Ford discontinued the current F-150 Lightning in December, once America’s best-selling electric pickup.

While it remained on sale for a few months, it’s officially no longer available on Ford’s website. The page now says the “F-150 Lightning is Transforming” and “stay tuned for a new wave of Ford EVs built on our groundbreaking Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform.”

The first of which will be the Fathom, an all-electric pickup that will go on sale in early 2027, starting at $28,350.

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Ford revealed the Fathom name and starting price of $28,350 last month. That’s for the standard range model and doesn’t include a $1,595 delivery fee. Even with the fee, it will still start at under $30,000.

Ford Fathom EV pickup prototype (Source: Jim Farley)

As the first vehicle based on its “groundbreaking” UEV platform, Ford promises the Fathom will be a step-change from the F-150 Lightning in efficiency and, for its sake, profitability.

Ford also says the Fathom will offer more interior space than a Toyota RAV4 and will be the first vehicle with Apple Maps directly integrated into the navigation system.

Covered Ford Fathom vehicle (Source: Ford)

Production is set to begin at Ford’s Louisville Assembly plant in early 2027. CEO Jim Farley offered a sneak peek (see the video here) earlier this month of the Fathom’s first public appearance.

The Fathom won’t directly replace the F-150 Lightning. For one, it’s a midsize EV pickup (that some may consider small). Ford has other plans to replace it with an extended-range electric vehicle.

Ford F-150 Lightning (Source: Ford)

It will use a gas generator that Ford said will offer over 700 miles of total driving range. Farley said during an interview with CNBC in December that “the very high-end EVs, the $50K, 70K, $80,000 vehicles, they just weren’t selling.”

The EREV is a “better solution,” Farley said, with “700 miles on a tank of gas, and for 90% of the time, is all-electric.”

Ford has yet to reveal final details for either pickup, but with their debut coming up, we should learn more soon. Check back for the latest.

In the meantime, Ford will still support owners of the current F-150 Lightning with ongoing software updates, service and repair, and live support.

Source: Ford.com/ FordAuthority

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