Ford Says Goodbye to the Ford Transit
Ford announced it’ll stop selling the Transit Connect in the U.S. as of 2023. Plans to build the model in Ford’s Mexico plant are now canceled, according to Automotive News. According to sources familiar with the situation, Ford’s plans to move Transit production to the Hermosillo Assembly Plant fell through the wayside. Although the move was planned alongside the Transit’s’ rumored switch over to the automaker’s latest C2 Architecture, everything is on pause for the time being. The C2 platform is the same platform that currently underpins other Ford models such as the Maverick, Bronco Sport, and Ford Escape.
Currently the Bronco Sport and Maverick models are in production at the Hermosillo plant, while the rest of the brand’s lineup is assembled here in the States. Ford’s C2 architecture supports not only front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive configurations as well. Additionally, the C2 platform serves a rather varied host of powertrain configurations that are traditionally aligned with the Ford Transit. As of this writing, Ford imports every Transit model from its assembly plant in Spain, making it more expensive than just simply relying on the nearby Hermosillo Assembly Plant.
Granted, these sudden changes aren’t just Ford’s doing–the Transit sits atop a struggling segment in the U.S., as other automakers have also recently phased out their smaller van offerings. Nissan, Mercedes Benz, and even General Motors have all experienced segment changes when it comes to their small vans–this leaves Ford at the top with up to 15,919 units sold throughout July of 2022. That said, European customers shouldn’t worry about any Transit lineup changes as the van remains popular across the globe.
This latest move from the brand shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise given how intensely Ford is investing into its E-Transit platform. Jim Farley, Ford’s CEO, has not been shy about the brand’s commercial vehicle plans. Buyers looking for a small van like the Transit Connect should reach out to local dealers such as Wayne Akers Ford for more information.
What to Expect from the E-Transit
The 2022 Ford E-Transit currently accounts for over 95 percent of all full-size, all-electric vans in both the U.S. and Europe. Ford has already secured over 8,000 orders for the two-ton van. The automaker hopes to expand the E-Transit lineup with a one-ton variant slated to launch in 2023, no doubt helping propel Ford even further in the electrification transition. Looking to hone in on its electric momentum, Ford is relying on its research and development that more and more commercial clients are looking for electric fleets.
Learn more about Ford’s ongoing lineup changes by staying connected via Wayne Akers Ford social media. Check out the latest Ford inventory, including the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning, and schedule your test drive today!
Photo Source/Copyright: Ford