--- title: "The Nicest Ford Fathom Will Cost Under $40K. The Question Is for How Long: TDS" date: "2026-11-05" modified: "2026-11-05" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail.md" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-nicest-ford-fathom-will-cost-under-40k-the-question-is-for-how-long-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" tags: - "compact" - "Electric Vehicle" - "Ford" - "pickup" --- # The Nicest Ford Fathom Will Cost Under $40K. The Question Is for How Long: TDS ![Ford Fathom in camouflage]() *\Ford\* Good morning and welcome to [The Downshift](), a daily sweep of top headlines from the auto industry and car culture, curated by *The Drive’s* editorial team. Each story gets a short summary and a link to the original source if you want to dive deeper. Here’s your bulletin for Thursday, November 5, 2026: 🔊 A new episode of *[The Drivecast]()*, *The Drive’s* weekly podcast, went live yesterday on [Apple Podcasts](), [Spotify](), and wherever you get your podcasts. 🛻 While the upcoming Ford Fathom electric pickup will start under $30,000, Andrew Frick, who runs the automaker's combustion and electric car businesses, said upper-trim versions of the truck will top out around "the high $30,000 range." That's encouraging, but don't forget how the [Maverick]() was supposed to start under $20,000. It did—for a brief time—and today you can't get one for less than $29,990. The F-150 Lightning's advertised base pricing, too, [proved short-lived](), so we'll have to wait and see how long the company can keep the Fathom on target for buyers. *\[[Detroit Free Press]()\]* 🛑 General Motors is recalling 67,380 Cadillac Lyriq, Vistiq, and Celestiq (yes, even the Celestiq!) vehicles, as well as Chevy Blazer EVs, for a wheel-slip sensor glitch that can result in a temporary loss of braking power. This problem has been linked to reports of 20 accidents and two minor injuries. Fortunately, it should be fixable via an over-the-air update, though owners can of course take their cars in for service to have the software patch applied. *\[[Electrek]()\]* 🖌️ Nissan has trimmed its final design approval process for new vehicles to a four-person panel including CEO Ivan Espinosa and the heads of design, planning, and R&D, in an effort to accelerate development, according to an interview with the automaker's new design boss, Matthew Weaver. Apparently it used to involve 12 people. *\[[Automotive News]()\]* 🤑 Ayrton Senna's personal Honda NSX outperformed auction estimates to sell for a cool $1.17 million in London last weekend. *\[[Motor1]()\]* 🚕 Currently, Waymo robotaxis in Austin and Atlanta must exclusively be ordered through Uber. That will change come the start of 2028, as the two companies are vacating the agreement and Waymo will employ its own ride-hailing software. Waymo's co-CEO said in an interview that the user experience through Uber simply wasn't consistent enough. *\[[Bloomberg]()\]* 📏 China is getting its own special version of BMW's new gas-powered 3 Series that's more than four inches longer than the global model. That makes it only an inch shorter than a 5 Series between the wheels. *\[[Carscoops]()\]* *Got a news tip for The Drive? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() ## More - [Ford Wants 100,000 Fathom Sales in First Year. It Took F-150 Lightning Five Years: TDS]() - [Ford Pitched $40K Mustang Sedan and $25K SUV to Dealers: TDS]() - [Ram Dakota Confirmed for 2027 and Expected To Cost About $40K: TDS]() - [How Ford Built an Electric F-150 That Can Do Real Work for $40K]() - [2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro: The $40K Work Truck Version of Ford’s New Electric Pickup]() - [2022 Ford F-150 Lightning: A $40K Electric Pickup With 775 LB-FT of Torque]() - [You Can Finally Get Into a Ford Bronco for Under $40K Again]() - [Here’s What Comes in the $40K 2024 Chevy Silverado EV Work Truck]()