Two very different automakers are chasing the same goal: making electric trucks affordable again. The Ford Fathom is a midsize electric pickup from Ford’s new Universal EV Platform, priced from $28,350 ($29,945 with destination), arriving in 2027 with a big touchscreen, BlueCruise hands-free driving, and bidirectional charging. The Slate Truck is a stripped-down, no-frills two-seat electric pickup from Bezos-backed startup Slate Auto, priced from $24,950 ($26,400 with destination), with hand-crank windows, no infotainment screen, and an unpainted body designed to be customized with over 100 accessories. Slate deliveries begin in Q4 2026; Ford Fathom preorders open in early 2027 with deliveries later that year.
Below is a full breakdown of both trucks, their features, pricing, and how they stack up against each other.
Why These Two Trucks Matter
For years, electric pickups meant either luxury pricing (Rivian, Cybertruck) or full-size trucks converted to battery power (F-150 Lightning). Both Ford and Slate Auto are now betting on the opposite idea: a smaller, simpler, genuinely affordable EV truck built for everyday buyers rather than early adopters with deep pockets. Ford’s CEO Jim Farley has called the Fathom project the company’s “Model T moment,” while Slate has built its entire identity around radical simplicity and owner customization.
Ford Fathom: Key Features
The Ford Fathom is the first vehicle built on Ford’s new Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform. The model name and starting price were announced on August 6, 2026, and the truck is expected to be about the same size as the Ford Maverick.
1. Starting price under $30,000 The Fathom starts at $28,350, plus a $1,595 destination and delivery charge, for a total of $29,945, making it the least expensive EV that Ford sells.
2. Roomy midsize cabin The truck is projected to have more passenger volume than a Toyota RAV4 and seats five adults comfortably, positioning it as a practical daily driver rather than just a work truck.
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3. Large high-resolution touchscreen with Apple Maps Every Fathom comes with a large touchscreen powered by native Apple Maps, offering built-in EV route planning, real-time traffic, and turn-by-turn navigation, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
4. BlueCruise hands-free driving, standard on every trim All entry-level Fathom models will support Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driver assistance system, integrated with Apple Maps for a smoother highway experience, although base models will likely need a subscription to activate the feature since they only include the required hardware.
5. Bidirectional charging and a digital key The Fathom includes bidirectional power capability, letting owners use the truck’s battery to power tools or a home, along with a digital key and Ford app-based remote control.
6. Frunk plus flexible bed cargo space Along with a traditional pickup bed, the Fathom gets a front trunk, giving owners two separate storage areas for added cargo flexibility.
7. Deliberately smaller battery to keep costs down Ford is intentionally avoiding oversized battery packs on this platform. Jim Farley has said Ford’s EV strategy is built on volume and low costs, with smaller batteries helping keep the sticker price close to the Model T’s inflation-adjusted price point. Official EPA range estimates have not yet been released.
Ford is investing about $5 billion to support Fathom production at the Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky and the BlueOval Battery Park in Michigan. Preorders open in early 2027, with deliveries following later that year.
Slate Truck: Key Features
The Slate Truck comes from Slate Auto, a Michigan-based startup backed by Jeff Bezos and Eric Schmidt, spun out of Re:Build Manufacturing. Slate opened preorders on June 24, 2026.
1. Radically low starting price The Slate Truck starts at $24,950, plus a $1,450 destination charge, for a total of $26,400, making it the cheapest new EV and the cheapest new truck of any kind sold in America.
2. Boosted driving range Slate raised its base model’s estimated range from an initial 150 miles to around 205 miles, a 37 percent improvement, without moving to the larger battery pack it had originally planned.
3. Two seats that can become five The Slate starts life as a two-seat pickup but can be converted into a five-seat SUV using an official conversion kit that adds a bench seat and additional airbags, priced at roughly $5,000.
4. Deliberately bare-bones design The truck ships with hand-crank windows, no infotainment touchscreen, and no factory paint, using an unpainted gray composite body panel finish by default to cut production costs.
5. Over 100 customization accessories Owners can add more than 100 accessories after purchase, including colored vinyl wraps, decals, chunky wheels, suspension lift or lowering kits, power window upgrades, and even a Crayola-branded wrap collection.
6. Improved payload and towing capacity Payload capacity has climbed to 1,550 pounds, and the tow rating now sits at 2,000 pounds, enough to haul a pair of jet skis.
7. No traditional dealer network Slate will not sell through franchised dealers. Instead, repairs and installations will be handled through independent third-party shops, keeping the company’s overhead low.
Slate’s pickup bed offers up to 35.1 cubic feet of cargo space, and the truck measures 174.6 inches long, 70.6 inches wide, and 69.3 inches tall. First production units are expected to roll off the assembly line in Indiana by the end of 2026, with deliveries beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026, well ahead of the Fathom.
Ford Fathom vs Slate Truck: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Ford Fathom | Slate Truck |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (with destination) | $29,945 | $26,400 |
| Seating | 5 adults | 2, expandable to 5 with SUV kit |
| Touchscreen | Large screen with Apple Maps built in | None, by default |
| Driver assistance | BlueCruise hands-free capable | Not offered |
| Windows | Power windows | Hand-crank, power windows optional |
| Body finish | Painted, factory colors | Unpainted composite, wrap-customizable |
| Estimated range | Not yet announced | About 205 miles |
| Bidirectional charging | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Expected deliveries | Later in 2027 | Q4 2026 |
| Sales model | Ford dealer network | Direct, independent repair shops |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ford Fathom available yet? No. Preorders for the Ford Fathom begin in early 2027, with deliveries starting later that year, so the truck is not yet available to buy.
How much does the Slate Truck cost? The Slate Truck starts at $24,950 before taxes, title, and fees, or $26,400 once the $1,450 destination charge is included.
Which is cheaper, the Ford Fathom or the Slate Truck? The Slate Truck is cheaper. Its starting price of $26,400 with destination undercuts the Ford Fathom’s $29,945 by roughly $3,500.
Does the Slate Truck have a touchscreen? No. The base Slate Truck skips a touchscreen and infotainment system entirely to keep costs down, though owners can add accessories to customize the interior.
Does the Ford Fathom support hands-free driving? Yes. Every Fathom model is built to be BlueCruise capable, Ford’s hands-free highway driving system, though activating it on base trims will likely require a subscription.
Can the Slate Truck be turned into an SUV? Yes. Slate offers an official conversion kit, priced at around $5,000, that adds a rear bench seat and extra airbags to turn the two-seat pickup into a five-seat SUV.
When will each truck start deliveries? Slate Truck deliveries are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. Ford Fathom deliveries are expected to begin later in 2027, after preorders open early that year.
