Ford’s Transit boss reveals why it’s the van’s biggest year ever as six new models launch – including full EV version
IF I was a betting man I’d put money on Ford ending the year as a van maker first — and a car maker second.
Every size of Transit is getting some love this year and there are now EIGHT types of Ranger pick-up truck.
It has even bought more boats to ship them here.
We met Ford commercial vehicle director Mandy Dean for a quickfire Q&A . . .
Q) Transit has been No1 since day one but is 2024 the year of the Transit?
A) Absolutely. It’s a really big launch year for the Transit family. There are more waves of the Transit Custom coming. We’ve got the E-Transit Custom. The plug-in hybrid. Transit Courier is just coming to market and then later in the year we start to build the full electric version. Then we’ve got the new Transit Connect, which also comes as a plug-in hybrid. And we’ve just announced the new, extended-range E-Transit.
Q) With all the new Transits, all the Ranger choices, and the car side of the business in transformation, are we close to the tipping point where van sales overtake cars?
A) I’m not sure about a tipping point but I think we’re going to see a 50-50 mix moving forward for the near term. There’s some new car product coming, Explorer being one, and there’s another launch towards the end of the year, which I think will keep the equilibrium at about 50-50.
Q) Fiesta has gone. Focus is going. Explorer won’t be here until August and private buyers are in no hurry to switch to EV. That leaves Puma, Kuga and Mustang.
A) We are expecting a strong year on commercial vehicles but equally we’re expecting a pretty good year on cars, too. I know I plan to sell a lot more commercial vehicles this year, up ten to 15 per cent. The target is 125,000 vehicles.
Q) That’s a lot of vans – more than 2,000 a week. You almost need your own tunnel from the factory in Turkey.
A) We have been investing in more boats to ship the vans over from Turkey.
Q) Does a boat arrive every day?
A) There are two or three a week.
Q) Are they named after Ford models? Like Explorer or something? That would be cool.
A) That’s just Transit Custom and Transit coming from Turkey. There are boats coming in from South Africa with Ranger. Then you’ve got Raptor from Thailand. Courier from Romania.
Q) Will the Ranger plug-in hybrid coming early next year have a one-tonne payload?
A) Yes. You get the full payload capability, full towing capability and a good powerful engine. No compromises. It will be a sure-fire hit with our customers.
Q) How far will it go as an EV?
A) It won’t qualify for the plug-in van grant but it will have around 28 miles zero-emission capability. Then obviously you’ve got the engine to rely on.
Q) That will truly make your side of the business electrified?
A) Yes, all vehicles will have a zero-emission-capable powertrain.
Q) What’s your favourite? You’ve got to have one.
A) Ranger. For its versatility, its capability and the number of different exciting executions we have on it. The MS-RT looks fantastic and the Raptor is huge amounts of fun to drive as well. Raptor is definitely a family favourite.
Q) Yes, Mum. You can take me to school today . . .
A) Yes. Very much allowed to take the boys to school in the Raptor. I’ve worked on Ranger quite a bit in my career, I’ve got a soft spot for it.
Q) What car do you drive?
A) Kuga plug-in hybrid. I think you start to understand electrification with a plug-in hybrid. You start to tackle charging. You start to understand the cost of ownership benefits of running on electric versus having to fuel up all the time. I think it’s a really good stepping stone for customers who aren’t yet willing to go the whole hog.
Q) So what is Transit’s special sauce that leaves everyone else fighting it out for second and third.
A) We have had leadership in the UK for 58 years now and we know our customers really, really well. Our whole Ford Pro ecosystem is about keeping our customers on the road with maximum uptime so they are ready and present for their customers.
Q) And you have a big footprint across the UK . . .
A) Most people are within 30 minutes of a Transit centre. We have 115 across the UK. The other thing is our uptime promise. If you have a warranty issue we will provide a like-for-like vehicle while yours is being worked on.
Q) And finally. Lots of people take their work van home at night. They won’t be happy using their own electricity to charge up the boss’s van, will they?
A) We’ve got that covered. With the home charging solutions that will be available from Ford Pro they will be able to reimburse the charging back to the company. That will be done simply through software without them having to worry too much about claiming every time they charge. We are working with all our customers, big and small, to try to encourage them to start the EV journey because it’s going to come very quickly.
Thank you, Mandy.
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