Ford Transit Custom: Successor as Electric, Hybrid, and Combustion Engine

The commercial vehicle manufacturer Ford has now confirmed that the next generation of its compact 3.0-tonne transporter Transit Custom will be launched in the first half of 2023, not only as a pure electric variant and as a combustion engine optionally with mild hybrid, but also with a plug-in hybrid drive. The vehicle will also form the independent multi-drive platform for the next generation of the Volkswagen compact van and will be produced alongside the models from Lower Saxony in the Turkish Ford Otosan joint venture plant in Kocaeli.

"The next generation Transit Custom, including the all-electric variant, will strengthen Ford's position as the number 1 brand for light commercial vehicles," said Ford Europe President Stuart Rowley.

By 2030, the manufacturer expects that two-thirds of its vehicles will be sold either fully electric or with PHEV. In the meantime, it wants to acknowledge the fact that not all entrepreneurs can make the step from combustion engines to pure e-mobility. Therefore, they are using mild and plug-in hybrids as a bridge technology. Ford sees itself as the market leader in commercial vehicle sales in Europe for the sixth consecutive year in 2020. This trend has continued into 2021 so far, according to the manufacturer.

"Today, we are launching another strategic investment that will help us remain competitive in the automotive industry in the future. The Kocaeli plant will be transformed into the first fully integrated center for the production of electric vehicles and batteries in Turkey. We see this as a groundbreaking step spanning a decade. I thank you for the trust in Turkey and Ford Otosan that has made this investment possible," explained Ali Koç, Chairman of Ford Otosan and Vice-Chairman of the Koç Holding Board of Directors.