Ford has officially announced that its next-generation electric vehicle, known as the Fathom, is scheduled to begin prototype production in the first quarter of 2027. The project is centered at Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant, which has undergone a $2 billion renovation to accommodate the new vehicle line.

According to reports, the production process is currently in the pre-tooling phase. Ford is utilizing a collaborative approach for the initial builds, with factory workers from the Louisville facility working directly alongside the New Model Product Development Center team based in Dearborn, Michigan. By involving the same operators in both the design and the hand-building of the initial prototypes, Ford aims to streamline the transition to full-scale manufacturing. While both outlets confirm the $2 billion investment and the 2027 timeline, they differ slightly in their characterization of the vehicle; The Verge identifies the Fathom as a general electric vehicle with a projected price point of $28,000, whereas TechCrunch specifically refers to the Fathom as an "EV truck."