Nearly a decade after wrapping up production in Australia, Ford has announced big plans for the land down under. As part of an event, the company announced plans to “double coverage of the Australian vehicle market to over 60% within three years.” The automaker is also aiming for “over 90% of its volume sold to be all-new or significantly refreshed by the end of 2030.”

The centerpiece of this plan is to bring the Bronco Basecamp to Australia and New Zealand in the second half of 2027. The model launched in China last year and targets a “new breed of outdoor enthusiasts.”

More: Ford’s Electrified Bronco Arrives In China With A Pop Up Roof Surprise

Ford didn’t say much about the local variant, but confirmed it will have a “super hybrid extended-range electrified powertrain.” It consists of two electric motors, a 49 kWh battery pack, and a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine that acts exclusively as a generator.

The company said this will deliver the smooth and responsive driving dynamics of an electric vehicle, but with a range of 497 – 559 miles (800 – 900 km). It also goes without saying, you can simply fill up with gas and be back on your way.

Ford didn’t talk numbers, but the Bronco Basecamp starts at ¥229,800 ($34,245 USD / $47,565 AUD) in China and features a combined output of 416 hp (310 kW / 421 PS) and 442 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque. The model also has a CLTC electric-only range of 137 miles (220 km).

While Ford didn’t say much about the vehicle, they noted it’s built for adventure and would make the perfect camping companion. When it’s time to go to sleep, all the seats fold down and an inflatable mattress can be placed on top of them to create a bed.

When morning comes, the rear swing gate has a “Wild Kitchen” with a fold-down table. The model even has Pro Power Onboard, which enables owners to access up to 6.6 kW of juice to power equipment such as coffee makers, cooktops, and lights.

The upscale Bronco Basecamp Outer Banks goes even further as it has an electric pop top that rises at the touch of a button to increase headroom, such as when camping. The Outer Banks also has a 7.5-liter center console compartment that can be warmed or chilled.

Besides the Bronco Basecamp, Ford announced the electric Transit City will arrive in November for $50,000 AUD ($36,100 USD). Around the same time, the Mustang Dark Horse T8-Spec will land at dealers. The automaker also announced the local launch of Ford Pro, which will be supported by a new seven-year, unlimited kilometer warranty for commercial customers who exclusively rely on Ford dealerships for servicing.

Getting a good look at the Fathom has been about as easy as capturing a real phantom on camera. However, Ford CEO Jim Farley recently took to social media to release high quality teaser images.

They show the midsized electric truck traveling past the iconic Las Vegas sign. Of course, we’re more interested in the pickup than the tourist trap.

More: Ford Spent $2 Billion On A Factory To Build Its $28K Fathom Pickup In Three Pieces

Dressed in colorful camouflage, the Fathom follows in the footsteps of the Maverick as it has an upright front end with a wide lower intake. Bulky cladding hides the grille, but it’s flanked by mid-mounted headlights that have an angular accent toward the inside.

Photos Ford / Jim Farley

Further back, we can see streamlined bodywork and aerodynamically optimized wheels, which are also wrapped in disguise. They’re joined by traditional door handles as well as tiny mirrors. The latter don’t look particularly good, but Ford has previously said their 20% smaller size results in an extra 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of range.

Other notable highlights include rounded wheel arches and what appears to be an angular lip around the upper bed. Elsewhere, there are vertical taillights and a relatively plain rear bumper with an offset license plate.

A closer inspection reveals the cab is slightly smaller than it appears as the prototype has been equipped with a sizeable rear spoiler. This pushes out the black camouflage and undoubtedly contributes to the truck’s efficiency.

Photos Ford / Jim Farley

Despite being smaller than it appears, Ford has previously confirmed the Fathom has more passenger volume than the Toyota RAV4. This means we can expect more than 98.9 cubic feet (2,801 km) of space for occupants.

Additional details are limited, but Ford has said the truck will have a large touchscreen display with an easy-to-use navigation system powered by Apple Maps. It will also have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, digital key technology, a bidirectional charging capability, and next-generation BlueCruise hands-free driving.

#FordFathom in the wild. https://t.co/SwmOUzeJv1 pic.twitter.com/CNERthHQEV

— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) September 1, 2026

Specifications remain a mystery, but Ford has hinted at multiple battery packs. The base model comes with the “standard-range battery,” so that suggests there will also be a long-range variant.

Unfortunately, we still have a wait ahead of us as Ford won’t introduce the model until 2027. When pre-orders begin early next year, pricing will start at $28,350 before a $1,595 destination fee.

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Ford has taken the wraps off the name and starting price for its new electric midsize truck. The Fathom will be the first vehicle riding on Ford’s flexible Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) architecture, and it targets mainstream buyers with an aggressive $28,350 sticker for the standard-range model. Factor in the $1,595 destination charge and you’re at $29,945. That lands $3,545 above the Slate Auto, which opens at $24,950 for a bare-bones truck with crank windows and no speakers, before a $1,450 destination fee brings its total to $26,400.

That $28,350 keeps Ford’s sub-$30k promise honest, at least until you get to taxes, title, registration, and fees. Pre-orders open in early 2027, with the first deliveries later that year.

More: Ford Killed Off Its Affordable Cars To Become the ‘Porsche Of Off-Road’

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As for the name, Ford skipped a numerical badge like the F-150 and spent nine months hunting for the right word. Fathom started as the span of outstretched arms, then became a nautical verb for measuring water depth, and eventually a metaphor for deep comprehension. For Ford, that makes it a fitting stand-in for the work of understanding the customer.

Ford says the new model will have “more passenger volume than a Toyota RAV4,” seating five adults on top of a frunk and a bed. It also comes with a large touchscreen, bidirectional charging, a digital key, and Apple Maps, and every truck is BlueCruise-capable for hands-free highway driving.

More: Ford’s $30K Electric Truck Will Run Apple Maps, Not Google

The company also put out an animated teaser video built around all the memories a truck can help create. The scenarios run the gamut. including surfing, playing music, mountain biking, camping, getting married, starting a business, moving into a new home, road trips, and more.

What We Know So Far

The Fathom is the brainchild of Ford’s California-based skunkworks team, formed in 2022 to work outside the usual corporate bureaucracy and build an affordable yet profitable EV.

It’s the first production model to ride on the new Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform. According to Ford, large aluminum unicastings trim 27% of weight versus rival setups while cutting parts by 20%, fasteners by 25%, and factory workstations by 40%. The truck also uses a 48-volt electrical architecture, with a wiring harness that comes in 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) shorter and 10 kg (22 lbs) lighter than the ones in Ford’s first-generation EVs.

More: Ford’s New $30K EV Truck Barely Clears An Expedition’s Shoulder

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Power comes from lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery cells built at Ford’s BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall, Michigan, using technology licensed from China’s CATL. Entry-level models get a basic pack, while extended-range variants are expected to manage 300 miles (483 km) despite using one-third fewer cells than the automaker’s first-gen EVs.

Designers and engineers leaned hard on aerodynamics, dropping the roof height as far as they could to stretch range.

Production rests on a $2 billion investment in the Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky, which ditches the traditional linear assembly line for a parallel “tree-shaped” layout. Expect more Fathom details over the coming months as pre-orders in early 2027 draw closer.

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