Ford Transit Production Begins

[bzcat]

 

Today marks the official end of E-series van and wagon and start of Transit era.

 

http://www.kansascity.com/2014/04/30/4993031/claycomo-starts-production-of.html

 

 

Ford Motor Co. started production today of the Transit commercial van at its Claycomo plant.

The company has a lot riding on the van, new to North America, because it will replace its E-series vans, which have been the best-selling commercial van in the United States. Ford said the Transit is a big advancement over the E-series, formerly Econoline, and is expected to pull in new customers.

The Claycomo plant is beginning with one shift building 300 Transits per day and will add a second shift later this year.

“We’re really confident about the Transit’s competitiveness,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president of the Americas.

 

 

 

http://www.autonews.com/article/20140430/OEM01/140439982/ford-launches-transit-production-at-kansas-city-plant

 

 

Ford Motor Co. began a new era today with a ceremony marking the start of production of the Ford Transit van at its Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo.

The Transit will replace the venerable Ford E-series van, first sold in 1961 as the Ford Econoline. Ford will continue making the E series for awhile during the 2014 calendar year as it ramps up Transit production.

Ford has invested $1.1 billion and added 2,000 new jobs to the Kansas City Assembly Plant. Ford said it has reached 75 percent of its goal of creating 12,000 hourly jobs in the U.S. by 2015.

“Our investment in Kansas City Assembly Plant for Transit production is about delivering world-class commercial vans for a new generation of commercial customers,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of the Americas, in a statement.

The Transit marks an ambitious effort by Ford to expand its commercial vehicle business with a versatile van that was developed in Europe in 1965. The Transit is now sold in 118 countries. In North America, Ford will offer the Transit van and wagon in three body lengths, two wheelbases and three roof heights along with chassis cab and cutaway versions. The Transit will come in two trim levels: XL and XLT.

The Transit comes with a standard 3.7-liter V-6 engine, and the same 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine used in the F-150 pickup and a 3.2-liter Power Stroke diesel engine. All engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission in a rear-wheel-drive configuration.

The high-roof version of the Transit -- with 81.5 inches of maximum interior cargo height -- has enough headroom for a person 6 feet, 8 inches tall to stand upright.

The new Transit van offers as much as 487 cubic feet of cargo space and 4,650 pounds of maximum payload capacity. The Transit van delivers a maximum towing capacity of 7,600 pounds, Ford says.

In some configurations, Transit offers as much as much as 75 percent more cargo space than the biggest version of the outgoing E series, Ford claims.

The Transit gives Ford a modern commercial van to go up against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Because of the variety of wheelbases, body lengths and roof heights, it also presents dealers with a challenge in figuring out which configurations to stock.

In addition to Transit, Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant produces regular, super and crew cab versions of Ford F-150. The plant employs 4,878 hourly workers on three crews. The third crew was added in the third quarter of 2013.

Ford will begin production of the next generation, all-aluminum F-150 in the first quarter of 2015.

[zipnzap]

The Transit van delivers a maximum towing capacity of 7,600 pounds

 

Huh... that's interesting.

[akirby]

In some configurations, Transit offers as much as much as 75 percent more cargo space than the biggest version of the outgoing E series

 

Huh....that's interesting.

[twmalonehunter]

So how long till they reach the lots?

[PREMiERdrum]

So how long till they reach the lots?

 

I don't know, but I know the engineering upfitters are saying it could be the end of the year before and Transit-based live trucks are able to be delivered. Our guys had planned to order one, but they don't know if we can wait that long. The NVs are available now (and we have a demo arriving today for 2 weeks) and the ProMasters are to be ready by Summer.

 

We want the Ford, so we're hoping Frontline can rush one for us. That may involved us buying the truck ourselves and then delivering it to the upfitter.

[lfeg]

Lead picture looks like a DRW version T350.

And a gain in payload over the E vans too. Not to say that the E vans were lacking, but the Transit is better and the "new thing" soon to hit the roads.

[jpd80]

Having more van capacity and less towing capacity is probably a better match for intended customers..

Transit van range will certainly keep competitors guessing, while. the wagon is frosting on top.

[Bob Rosadini]

Good PR Win- My wife was watching the "Pickers" last night when she calls me- segment had to do with selecting a new van to replace the Sprinter. Guess what-they selected a new Transit- its all lettered etc. Talk about good timing. Then the headline..."Pickers-brought to you by Ford Transit

[fordmantpw]

Good PR Win- My wife was watching the "Pickers" last night when she calls me- segment had to do with selecting a new van to replace the Sprinter. Guess what-they selected a new Transit- its all lettered etc. Talk about good timing. Then the headline..."Pickers-brought to you by Ford Transit

 

Easier to 'pick' the Ford when it's free!

 

I love that show! Glad to see they went with the Ford!

[NickF1011]

Good PR Win- My wife was watching the "Pickers" last night when she calls me- segment had to do with selecting a new van to replace the Sprinter. Guess what-they selected a new Transit- its all lettered etc. Talk about good timing. Then the headline..."Pickers-brought to you by Ford Transit

 

Let's just hope they don't complain about it as much as they did about the Sprinter.

[RichardJensen]

Lead picture looks like a DRW version T350.

And a gain in payload over the E vans too. Not to say that the E vans were lacking, but the Transit is better and the "new thing" soon to hit the roads.

 

Well, it's a gain in space that is not matched by a gain in GVWR, so you know, it's not quite what it seems to be.

[NickF1011]

 

Well, it's a gain in space that is not matched by a gain in GVWR, so you know, it's not quite what it seems to be.

 

Well that's still helpful to those who haul items that may be bulky but not necessarily very heavy. Carpet installers come to mind.

[Blue Oval Guide]

2,000 New Ford Kansas City Employees Celebrate Start of Production of Game-Changing 2015 Ford Transit Van

• With 2,000 new jobs and a $1.1 billion investment, Kansas City Assembly Plant begins Ford Transit van production; Ford now more than 75 percent toward its goal of creating 12,000 hourly jobs in the United States by 2015

• Ford Transit is the newest member of the nation’s best-selling and broadest lineup of commercial vehicles, providing customers Built Ford Tough durability, best-in-class maximum interior cargo height, and better cargo volume and payload capacity than competing vans from General Motors and Chrysler

• Transit offers three roof heights, two wheelbases and three body lengths, offering more choices than ever from a Ford commercial van vehicle

FACT SHEET: Kansas City Assembly Plant

FACT SHEET: 2015 Ford Transit Available Configurations

 

Supported by 2,000 new employees and a $1.1 billion investment, the all-new Ford Transit van rolls off the line at Kansas City Assembly Plant today, as Ford aims to strengthen its leadership in the commercial vehiclesegment.

 

On sale this summer, Ford’s next-generation full-size van family will provide tradespeople and businesses with increased capability and innovative new configurations in the growing commercial vehicle market.

 

FORD TRANSIT CLUB.com - It is another example of the company’s One Ford strategy to serve customers with world-class vehicles leveraging global assets, including common platforms. The move results in bringing new jobs to the greater Kansas City area.

 

“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 – while building on our decades of leadership in the market and supporting new jobs throughout the region and across America.”

 

The 2,000 new Ford employees at Kansas City Assembly Plant puts the company more than 75 percent toward its goal of creating 12,000 hourly jobs in the United States by 2015. In 2014 alone, Ford will hire nearly 5,000 new hourly and salaried employees in the U.S. to support overall growth.

 

“Today represents much more than a next-generation vehicle rolling off an American assembly line for the first time, it represents another huge milestone for Missouri as we continue to lead the rebirth of the American auto industry,” Gov. Jay Nixon said. “With the all-new Transit, Ford’s historic investment in Missouri has brought another outstanding vehicle to consumers and thousands of good manufacturing jobs to our state. Today, the ‘Made in Missouri’ brand is back and stronger than ever.”

 

Ford Transit transformation
Transit is born from nearly a century of experience delivering two distinct full-size vans to customers in America, Europe and other global markets.

In the U.S., Transit eventually will replace America’s best-selling van for 35 years, the E-Series van, first sold in 1961 as Ford Econoline. E-Series vans and wagons still will be available and sold side-by-side with Transit into the 2014 calendar year, providing a seamless transition for Ford customers. Additionally, the E-Series cutaway and stripped chassis will continue to be built and sold through most of the rest of the decade.

 

Transit was introduced in Europe in 1965 and has been the best-selling commercial van in the UK for 49 years. Transit is currently sold in 118 markets on six continents.

 

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 new Transit van offers as much as 487 cubic feet of cargo volume and 4,650 pounds of maximum payload capacity – more than competing vans from General Motors and Chrysler. The Transit van delivers a maximum towing capacity of 7,600 pounds.

 

In some configurations, Transit offers as much as 75 percent more cargo volume than the largest E-Series, helping customers save in fuel costs and time associated with having to make a second trip. Maximum payload increases more than 600 pounds across the Transit van lineup versus comparable E-Series vans.

 

Transit will be available in three body lengths, two wheelbases on van and wagon and three roof heights; in van, wagon, chassis cab and cutaway body styles; and in XL and XLT trim levels, offering more choices than ever from a Ford commercial van vehicle.

 

Moving from an all-gasoline engine lineup of two V8s and a V10 in E-Series, Transit comes standard with a 3.7-liter V6 engine and offers the Ford F-150’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost® engine, along with a globally proven available 3.2-liter Power Stroke® diesel option. Each engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission for efficient rear-wheel-drive operation.

Transit has been tested to Built Ford Tough truck standards at Ford proving grounds and in the hands of real-world fleet customers in North America.

 

Kansas City Assembly Plant investment
In addition to Transit, Kansas City Assembly Plant produces Regular, Super and Crew Cab versions of Ford F-150. The plant employs 4,878 hourly workers on three crews. The third crew was added in the third quarter of 2013.

 

“The good news keeps rolling in for the dedicated, hard-working men and women of UAW Local 249,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president, National Ford Department. “The addition of Transit to the Kansas City Assembly Plant line is a testament to the great work our members here and across the nation are doing every day, and helps solidify the future of Kansas City Assembly.”

 

Ford has invested $1.1 billion to retool and expand the facility for Transit production and support surging customer demand for F-150. Expansion projects include the addition of a 437,000-square-foot stamping facility and a 78,000-square-foot paint shop that will employ the three-wet and two-wet monocoat paint processes. Both processes are more environmentally friendly and take less time than conventional paint processes.

 

“These upgrades have helped make the Kansas City plant the global standard for Ford’s new manufacturing facilities across the world,” said Bruce Hettle, Ford vice president, North America manufacturing. “To support Ford’s global growth, in 2014 we will open three new manufacturing facilities – two of them in Asia Pacific and one in South America.”

 

The investment has also contributed to close to 550 new robots in the body shop, more than 700 new assembly tools in trim and chassis, and 18 new conveyor systems totaling 5,565 feet.

 

The new investment also will support Kansas City Assembly’s production of the all-new Ford F-150 in 2015, after the truck launches at the Ford Dearborn Truck Plant in late 2014.

 

The 2015 Ford F-150 is the toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 ever – setting the standard for the future of trucks. The truck’s signature fully boxed ladder frame is all-new, with more high-strength steel than ever – making it stronger and lighter. High-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloys – already used in aerospace, commercial transportation, energy and many other rugged industries – are used throughout the F-150 body for the first time, enhancing dent and ding resistance and also saving weight. Overall, as much as 700 pounds of weight have been saved, helping the F-150 tow more, haul more, accelerate quicker and stop shorter, and contributing to efficiency.

 

F-150 is part of the Ford F-Series lineup. Now in its 66th year, F-Series has been the best-selling truck in America for 37 consecutive years, the best-selling vehicle in America for 32 consecutive years.

 

Community impact
The addition of Transit has had a significant impact in the Kansas City-area community. Kansas City Assembly Plant works with more than 100 suppliers nationally and eight suppliers locally that have grown their businesses because of the new Transit.

 

Stamping provider Cosma International, instrument panel assembler Piston Automotive and headliner manufacturer Grupo Antolin built brand-new facilities near Kansas City Assembly to support Transit. Additionally, seat supplier Magna International expanded its current Kansas City manufacturing facility in preparation for the start of Transit production. Furthermore, companies like Knapheide and Utilimaster, a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, have established local facilities near the plant to upfit Transit vans.

[lfeg]

 

Well, it's a gain in space that is not matched by a gain in GVWR, so you know, it's not quite what it seems to be.

The important number is payload. And greater payload with equivalent GVWR is favored by serious commercial users.

[Biker16]

 

 

 

https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North%20America/US/2014/04/30/Transit_KCAP_broll.mov/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.video.firefoxhq.ogg

Edited May 2, 2014 by Biker16

[twintornados]

Up-fitter friendly....

[bzcat]

[bzcat]

[bzcat]

Build your own on Ford's website...

 

A couple of interesting note:

 

Transit 150 is 8,600 lbs GVWR (van, wagon) ---------------------------------------------------------------- vs. E-150 with 5.4 V8 @ 8,600 lbs

Transit 250 is 9,000 lbs GVWR (van, wagon, cutaway, cab chassis) ------------------------------------ vs. E-250 with 5.4 V8 @ 9,000 lbs

Transit 350 is 9,250 lbs GVWR (wagon)

Transit 350 is 9,500 lbs GVWR (van, cutaway, cab chassis) ---------------------------------------------- vs. E-350 @ 9,500 lbs

Transit 350 HD dual axle is 9,950 lbs GVWR (van, cutaway, cab chassis) ----------------------------- vs. E-350 cab chassis @ 10,050 - 12,500 depending on configurations

Transit 350 HD dual axle is 10,360 lbs GVWR (van, wagon, cutaway, cab chassis)

 

Note: not sure the difference between the two 350 HD

 

As you can see, Transit seems to be quite capable of replacing the E-series all the way up to E-350. In fact, the Transit van and wagon in 350 HD guise (dual real axle) is a lot more capable than the E-350 van and wagon ever were. The E-450 cab chassis has GVWR of 14,500 and is out of the reach of Transit. This is why Ford is keeping E-series in production.

 

Other note worthy configuration restrictions:

• Cutaway and cab chassis are available with 3.7 V6 and 3.2 diesel only. No 3.5 Ecoboost.
• On vans and wagon, 350 HD requires 3.5 Ecoboost or 3.2 diesel, no 3.7 V6 But on cutaway and cab chassis, 350 HD sticks with 3.7 V6 or 3.2 diesel.
• On vans, it looks like low roof is available on 150 and 250 only. 350 requires extended wheelbase and high roof.

The combination of engine choices (3) x roof height (3) x length (3) x axle choices (2) x and trim levels (2) makes for a dizzying array of options. Imagine if Ford adds more body style options (e.g. rear window delete on wagons like Transit Connect) or 4WD in the future... it could be endless combinations.

Edited May 2, 2014 by bzcat

[Hydro]

That's a cool looking van. I hope the reliability and fuel economy keep customers happy.

[RichardJensen]

In fact, the Transit van and wagon in 350 HD guise (dual real axle) is a lot more capable than the E-350 van and wagon ever were

 

Big deal. You think that a DRW option on the E-350 van and wagon would've had a similar effect?

 

And the GCWR differences between the models are massive.

[Arizona Mike]

The T350 dually looks like an ideal candidate for a class B+ motorhome. Take off the back doors and put a rear slide out with a queen bed in it. Put a side slide that holds a coach or sofa. I think I'm in lust already.

 

I've owned a Sprinter based Winnie for 5 years. It's been good and fun, but the Sprinter cab design is really dated. The "vaulted German Engineering" is really pretty bad from an ergonomics and comfort point of view. What llittle I've seen of the Transit cab tells me it is already better. But it is 10 years newer, so should be.

[twintornados]

....The combination of engine choices (3) x roof height (3) x length (3) x axle choices (2) x and trim levels (2) makes for a dizzying array of options. Imagine if Ford adds more body style options (e.g. rear window delete on wagons like Transit Connect) or 4WD in the future... it could be endless combinations.

 

And since it is available with a FWD configuration (Euro and south of the boarder) the combinations are indeed truly endless....

[theoldwizard]

 

And since it is available with a FWD configuration (Euro and south of the boarder) the combinations are indeed truly endless....

I would be very surprised if the FWD show up in the US !

 

The RWD version has a longer nose to accommodate the I5 diesel, but it also give more front crash :cushion".

[theoldwizard]

Any one know if/when they are going to start building cutaways/chassis cabs ?

 

 

As a person who has been living with Club Wagons for over 25 years, I want to get in a Transit Wagon and really "check it out" !