Transit Custom All-Electric Coming in 2023

The next generation Transit Custom range will include an all-electric model in addition to plug-in hybrid, mild hybrid and conventional engine variants.

The new range – which includes the Transit Custom van and Tourneo Custom people mover – goes into production in the first half of 2023, with all-electric versions of both models 

part of the most extensive Transit Custom range ever offered to European customers.

All versions of the next generation Transit Custom will be built by Ford Otosan – our joint venture in Turkey – in Kocaeli, the home of the Transit range. 

In addition, the next generation Volkswagen 1-tonne commercial vehicle also will be built in Kocaeli, adding valuable scale to vehicle platforms and enhancing the customer experience by bringing more technologies to market, faster.

Stuart Rowley, president, Ford of Europe.

“The next generation Transit Custom range – including the all-electric versions – will strengthen Ford’s position as Europe’s No.1 commercial vehicle brand. Transit Custom is the jewel in our commercial vehicle crown and key in our drive to grow our commercial vehicle business as we continue to create a sustainable, profitable Ford business in Europe rooted in an electrified future.”

We said in February that our entire commercial vehicle range will be zero-emissions capable, all-electric or plug-in hybrid, by 2024, with two-thirds of our commercial vehicle sales expected to be all-electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030. 

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In the interim period, however, we understand that not all commercial vehicle operators will make the move from the conventional internal combustion engine to all-electric vehicles in a single jump. This is why its range of powertrain technologies from mild hybrids through to plug-in hybrids are essential and will continue to be a significant part of the next generation Transit Custom range. 

Continued growth our strong commercial vehicle business is key to our European profitability. It is supported by new products and services, working with an extensive network of commercial vehicle converter partners, with our strategic alliance with Volkswagen and our Ford Otosan joint venture providing cost-effective vehicle development and sourcing.

Ali Koç, chairman, Ford Otosan, and vice chairman, Koç Holding Board of Directors.

“Today, we are starting another strategic investment that will help shape the future of the automotive industry. Our Kocaeli plants will be transformed into Turkey’s first and only integrated production centre for the assembly of electric vehicles and batteries. We consider this investment, which will span over a decade, as a forward-looking strategic move. I would like to thank Ford Motor Company for their trust in Turkey and Ford Otosan which made this significant investment possible.”

In 2020, we achieved our sixth successive year as the leader in commercial vehicle sales in Europe. The trend has continued into 2021, as we maintain our position as the continent’s best-selling commercial vehicle brand. 

Driving further growth in our commercial vehicle business is an ecosystem built around connected services co-developed with customers and designed to enhance the customer experience and help their businesses to thrive. These include, connected uptime and productivity services such as FordPass Pro for fleets of up to five vehicles, and Ford Fleet Management, created together with ALD Automotive last year to maximise productivity for fleet customers seeking bespoke services to keep their vehicles on the road.

Today’s announcement also is positive news for our other manufacturing facilities in Europe and for the European and Turkish supplier industries providing components for the next generation Transit Custom Range. Our manufacturing facilities will supply advanced technology diesel engines from Dagenham, UK, and transmissions from Cologne, while more than 100 Turkish-based suppliers will provide components. 

Stuart Rowley, president, Ford of Europe.

“Commercial vehicle growth and leveraging partnerships such as our joint venture with Ford Otosan are key enablers to Ford of Europe’s future success. We are committed to reaching our 6 percent EBIT margin goal as part of Ford’s plan to turnaround our global automotive operations.”

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