Ford's Turkish joint venture to produce electric vans from 2023

Ford Otomotiv Sanayi AS

16/03/2021 12:00

By Nick Carey
    LONDON, March 16 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co  F.N  said on
Tuesday that the next version of its Transit van for the
European market will go into production in Turkey in 2023 and
include fully electric and hybrid variants along with the
combustion-engined version. 
    The vans will be built by Ford Otosan, the No. 2 U.S.
automaker's joint venture in Turkey. 
    Ford Otosan will also make a one-tonne commercial vehicle
for Volkswagen AG  VOWG_p.DE  as part of an alliance between
Ford and the German carmaker.
    Ford is the top commercial vehicle brand in Europe with a
15% share, and has led the commercial van market in Britain,
Europe’s largest, for 56 years.
    Last month Ford said its passenger car lineup in Europe
would be all-electric by 2030.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2KN0O4
    Tightening CO2 emissions targets in Europe and China have
combined with improving battery technology to provide greater
range at lower costs, giving commercial electric vehicles (EVs)
their moment in the sun after years of waiting.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2KZ2XY
    Soaring e-commerce deliveries amid the pandemic are also
spurring interest in commercial EVs.
    Ford is betting it can profit from selling electric vans to
delivery businesses that need to reduce carbon emissions.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2AR1XV
    Ford said in February its entire commercial vehicle lineup
would offer all-electric or plug-in hybrid versions by 2024. It
said it expects two-thirds of its commercial vehicle sales 
in Europe to be all-electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030. 

 (Reporting by Nick Carey; editing by Jason Neely)
 ((nick.carey@thomsonreuters.com; +44 7385 414 954;))