Global Leadership: How Ford Transit Became the Best-Selling Cargo Van Nameplate on Earth

•    Ford Transit sales momentum in the U.S. is strong, with sales up 31 percent year to date – making Transit the best-selling van in America
•     Ford is well established as Europe’s best-selling commercial vehicle brand, based on strong demand for Transit, the No. 1 nameplate in the medium commercial van segment there, according to data from IHS Markit
•     Ford Transit is the best-selling nameplate in the light bus and van segment in China, on track to become the best-selling nameplate there for 2016, based on data from China Insurance Information Technology Company

DEARBORN, Mich.,  – Fleets and tradespeople around the world are increasingly turning to Ford vans to get the job done, making the Ford Transit family the best-selling lineup of  cargo vans on the planet.

Ford Transit was the best-selling cargo van family[i] globally in 2015, with nearly 400,000 vans registered, based on IHS Markit global new vehicle registration data for calendar year-end 2015.

“We are focused on building on our clear global leadership in trucks, vans and commercial vehicles,” says Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, Global Product Development, and chief technical officer. “While other manufacturers only offer their van lineups regionally, Ford has cracked the code on developing global van architecture that can be customized to regional needs.”

The success of Transit has propelled Ford to become the top seller of commercial cargo vans in the United States. Ford controls 40 percent of the full-size commercial van market in the country through September – up from 36 percent in 2015. Strong demand for Transit is putting Ford on track for its best year for U.S. van sales since 1978, based on Ford-reported data. Transit now outsells even America’s best-selling minivan, based on industry-reported sales.  

“U.S. customers have enthusiastically embraced Transit as a capable, flexible, smart work vehicle,” said Julie Ellenberger, Ford brand manager for Transit, Transit Connect and E-Series. “Transit offers best-in-class flexibility with more configurations than ever. Plus, its powertrains are specially engineered for North American buyers.”

Overall industry sales for Class 1-3 vans in the United States and Mexico are expected to continue growing, according to work truck industry association NTEA, which predicts industry sales will increase 10 percent in 2016 compared with 2015.

Transit is building on a 50-plus-year legacy in Europe, where it has been the best-selling van in its segment in the U.K. since 1984, according to IHS Markit registration data. In the past 25 months, Ford has seen its commercial vehicle market share grow from 10.8 percent to 12.9 percent in Europe, based on data from IHS Markit.

This makes Ford the No. 1-selling commercial vehicle brand in Europe for the first time in 18 years, thanks to continued growing demand for its completely new and expanded Transit range – including Transit, Transit Custom, Transit Connect and Transit Courier – based on IHS Markit commercial vehicle registrations.

Transit is the best-selling nameplate in the light bus and van segment in China, on track to become the best-selling nameplate there for 2016, based on data from China Insurance Information Technology Company.

Deep roots for Ford commercial cargo van leadership

Ford’s commercial cargo van legacy began when the first Transit left the production line in Langley, England, Aug. 9, 1965. Transit became a favorite in Europe, and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary there.

In the United States, Ford became the van leader 36 years ago with success of its Ford E-Series van lineup, first sold in 1961 as Ford Econoline. The full-size Ford Transit was introduced in the country in 2014 – replacing E-Series – and quickly took over the title of America’s best-selling van, based on Ford analysis of industry-reported sales.

Ford is expanding its Transit lineup in China as part of its relationship with Jiangling Motors Corporation, which started in August 1995, with the first Ford Transit produced there in December 1997. Production of the all-new Transit Kombi started in September.

More than 8 million Transit and Transit Custom vehicles have been built, as the range grew from a single model more than half a century ago to an entire family of commercial cargo vehicles. Lined up end-to-end, 50 years of Transit vans would circle the globe. A customer buys a new Transit every 180 seconds on average, based on Ford sales and production data.

[i] Transit family-based volumes include Ford Transit, Transit Custom and JMC Transit
About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 203,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.  For more information regarding Ford and its products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.