Ford starts E-Transit roll-out from Turkish factory

The first units of Ford’s maiden all-electric utility vans have rolled out from its Otosan factory in Kocaeli, Turkey. The momentous event was celebrated with a ceremony that included the Turkish government representatives, investors, employees, and media.

“Ford Otosan’s Kocaeli plant is the heart of Transit production in Europe, and this celebration of E-Transit manufacturing starts the electrified next chapter in our already strong partnership. This is the first step in a transformation of the Kocaeli site which will see it become a major center for electric commercial vehicle manufacturing in Europe,” said Ford Pro Europe General Manager Hans Schep.

The Ford E-Transit is the all-electric version of the Dearborn-based company’s best-selling cargo van. The new vehicle, per Ford, will spearhead the launch of Ford Pro — the automaker’s commercial fleet vehicles, services, and telematics division — in the region.

Like the services it offers in the United States, Ford Pro will provide European customers a comprehensive suite of software, charging, servicing, and financing solutions fully integrated into a portfolio of world-class electrified and internal combustion-powered vehicles to help improve productivity and uptime, lower costs, and facilitate access to everything operators need on one platform built for the electric and digital age.

Ford Pro vouches for the E-Transit's durability as the electrified commercial van has undergone demanding testing in high-tech facilities such as the two-week high-temperature test at Ford’s Environmental Test Chamber where they put the E-Transit through its paces by subjecting it to over 40 degrees Celsius. Similarly, they recreated frigid conditions and placed the electrified van to low-temperature tests, which Ford says was around -35 degrees Celsius.

By 2024, the E-Transit will be joined by four additional new fully-electric models in the Transit family as Ford moves toward its target of zero emissions for all vehicle sales in Europe and carbon neutrality across its European footprint of facilities, logistics, and suppliers by 2035.

“Production of E-Transit in our Kocaeli plant, where the electricity is supplied with 100 percent renewable energy, is a source of pride for us and another turning point in our increasing role in Ford’s electrification strategy. We believe that electrification of the legendary Transit model is a major development and an important step for making Ford Otosan the production base of Ford electrified commercial vehicles,” said Ford Otosan General Manager Güven Özyurt.

Photos from Ford

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