According to foreign media reports on December 27, Ford hopes to use the expanding global commercial vehicle market. The market is expected to increase by 28% or 5 million by 2017.
Following the “One Ford†strategy that uses global resources, the automaker is reducing its full-size truck fleet to a single model: the more global Transit. Ford will phase out the E-Series vans for the US market in this process.
In a preview of Ford’s participation at the North American International Auto Show in January, senior executives said that the often neglected commercial vehicle business will play a crucial role in helping Ford succeed.
Raj Nair, Vice President of the Global Product Development Group, said: "The commercial vehicle sector has potential over any other sector, which is mainly concentrated in the truck-based commercial vehicle sector. This is also our strength."
Nair said that integrating commercial trucks on one platform will help Ford get the same scale benefits as its global B, C and C/D passenger vehicle platforms.
Ford claims it is the leader of the American commercial vehicle and truck department and the best-selling brand of European vans. In South America, Ford offers a full range of medium and heavy trucks, Cargo. This truck is also sold in Turkey and parts of Europe.
Last year, Ford delivered 788,000 commercial vehicles in North America, which accounted for 37% of the market. Full-size light trucks account for 60% of total sales, while heavy trucks (such as F-650) account for 17% and vans 14%.
Among the three market segments, the most popular is the minivan. Ford said that minibuses are expected to grow by 70% in the next five years.
Jim Farley, executive vice president of global marketing, sales and services, said: "Transit Connect is part of the growing minivan business. We expect to sell 35,000 this year, and we are attracting a new customer base."
In the first 11 months, US Transit Connect sales increased by 12.3% to 31,440 units.
Ford hopes to increase production through a new generation of Transit Connect, which will begin sales in the fourth quarter of 2013.
The 2014 Transit Connect will have both passenger and commercial vehicle models, which will come standard with a 2.5L inline 4 cylinder or an optional 1.6L direct injection turbocharged EcoBoost I-4. The latter is a CNG/liquid propane launch mode. The small commercial vehicle will provide two wheelbase and trim levels, with a payload of 1600 pounds (725 kilograms) and traction capacity of up to 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms).
The larger Transit will join the Transit Connect commercial vehicle. The larger Transit has been sold in Europe and other markets since 1965, and it will land in the United States for the first time in the fall of next year.
According to the plan, soon after the arrival of the new generation of Transit in the US dealership in 2013, the E series will gradually be eliminated. However, the E-Series will be available as a chassis cab until the end of this decade.
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