Vanzilla road trip brings accessible gaming fun to children across Europe

After a fun-packed seven months on the road, our Gaming Transit has wrapped up its European tour that also featured gamers and team captains from our Team Fordzilla esports squad.

The specially-converted Gaming Transit delivered excitement and new experiences to almost 1,400 disadvantaged children during visits to 31 charities, hospices and alternative provision schools.

Gaming Transit – which quickly gained the nickname “Vanzilla” – featured accessible gaming stations in the van and a wheelchair lift to help children with limited mobility join the fun. Team Fordzilla members were on hand during visits to share tips and tricks with the children and encourage the future stars of the gaming world.

“The inside is amazing. You get a proper buzz from it – it’s almost like real life racing.”

Vanzilla Gamer, UK.

The tour visited 13 cities across France, Germany, Spain and the UK in support of 22 charities. Highlights also included an appearance at premier UK gaming festival Stackfest and an exclusive opportunity to play Sonic Colours: Ultimate – the latest game in the iconic Sonic the Hedgehog series – before its official release.

“Everyone was very happy with this day of fun action.”

Care Provider, Germany.

Among the goals for our Gaming Transit tour was to share Team Fordzilla’s values of inclusivity and making competition fun.

“To have a vehicle that introduces children with disabilities to the gaming world with Team Fordzilla captains is a wonderful combination."

Jesús Alonso,
Chair and CEO, Ford Iberia.

We also wanted to reinforce our recognition and support of disadvantaged and minority communities – just as we did earlier this year when we called out online homophobia by creating a Very Gay Raptor to support our GLOBE colleagues at Cologne Pride, and gave a Ford Design Award to a self-driving electric taxi designed to help passengers with limited mobility.

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