Photo: Ford
The much-anticipated 2015 Ford Transit commercial vehicle just started production Stateside yesterday. On sale this summer, the full-size van is assembled at the Blue Oval's Kansas City Plant by 2,000 new employees.
Ford says it invested $1.1 billion to retool and expand the facility for the new model's production, including the addition of a 437,000 sq-ft stamping plant and 78,000 sq-ft paint shop. In addition to the all-new Transit, the plant's 4,878 hourly workers also manufacture the F-150 pickup truck in Regular, Super and Crew Cab versions.
“Producing our Built Ford Tough Transit lineup in Kansas City is a big deal for the local community,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas. “Our investment in Kansas City Assembly Plant for Transit production is about delivering world-class commercial vans for a new generation of commercial customers.”
Stateside, the all-new 2015 Ford Transit will be replacing America's best-selling van for 35 years, the Ford E-Series. Introduced in 1961 as the Econoline, the E-Series will live on through most of the rest of the decade in van, wagon, cutaway and stripped chassis form.
Offering three roof heights, two wheelbases and three body lengths in van, wagon, chassis cab and cutaway body styles, the latest generation Transit offers sufficient customization options for any kind of customer and business.
The commercial vehicle comes standard with a 3.7-liter V6 engine, joined in the range by a F-150-sourced 3.5-liter EcoBoost mill and a 3.2-liter Power Stroke diesel for the more cost-conscious entrepreneur. Each engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
In terms of practicality, the high-roof Transit – with best-in-class 81.5 inches of maximum interior cargo height – provides enough headroom for a person 6 feet 8 inches tall to stand upright in the cargo area. The van also offers as much as 473 cubic-feet of cargo volume, 4,650 pounds of maximum payload capacity and a maximum towing capacity of 7,600 pounds.
Introduced in Europe as early as 1965, the Transit is currently sold in 118 markets all over the world. No word on pricing just yet, but expect to find out more info before the 2015 Ford Transit goes on sale this summer.
“Producing our Built Ford Tough Transit lineup in Kansas City is a big deal for the local community,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas. “Our investment in Kansas City Assembly Plant for Transit production is about delivering world-class commercial vans for a new generation of commercial customers.”
Stateside, the all-new 2015 Ford Transit will be replacing America's best-selling van for 35 years, the Ford E-Series. Introduced in 1961 as the Econoline, the E-Series will live on through most of the rest of the decade in van, wagon, cutaway and stripped chassis form.
The commercial vehicle comes standard with a 3.7-liter V6 engine, joined in the range by a F-150-sourced 3.5-liter EcoBoost mill and a 3.2-liter Power Stroke diesel for the more cost-conscious entrepreneur. Each engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
In terms of practicality, the high-roof Transit – with best-in-class 81.5 inches of maximum interior cargo height – provides enough headroom for a person 6 feet 8 inches tall to stand upright in the cargo area. The van also offers as much as 473 cubic-feet of cargo volume, 4,650 pounds of maximum payload capacity and a maximum towing capacity of 7,600 pounds.
Introduced in Europe as early as 1965, the Transit is currently sold in 118 markets all over the world. No word on pricing just yet, but expect to find out more info before the 2015 Ford Transit goes on sale this summer.
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