Ford Transit Connect Gets US Build Green Light
Introduced to the US public this summer, the Ford Transit Connect was first rolled out in 2002. Built at a Ford factory in Turkey, the compact Transit Connect work and family van has been available in a number of global regional markets since its inception.
New European Models For North America
Recently introduced to the US market, the Ford Transit Connect will be getting an important makeover in 2012. Beginning with the 2013 model year this Ford van will be built in the US and be underpinned by the same small car platform powering the next generation Ford Focus.
The Transit Connect along with the Fiesta, Focus and as many as three other vehicles, are European designed and built, representing smaller models that Ford is eager to sell to its North American customers. Last year, when gas prices began to surge and pass $4 per gallon, Ford made a commitment to sell up to six of its European models stateside. The Fiesta and Focus will be built in North America and as of 2012, the Ford Transit Connect will also be built stateside.
The Fiesta is on track to make it to Ford showrooms during the first half of 2010 with the all new Focus hitting the market later in the year. The current generation Fiesta is out already while both the European and North American Focuses (separate models) will be all new for the 2011 model year.
Focus, Transit Connect Will Share Global Platform
Come 2012, the Ford Transit Connect will be overhauled and share the same global small car platform powering the next generation Focus. The 2013 Transit Connect will be all new and built in both Turkey and in the United States.
Ford has yet to announce what remaining models will be sold in the US. Mercury is slated to get at least one small model which could be its own version of the Ford Ka city car. A pair of small crossovers, the compact C-MAX and the larger Kuga could also find their way to the states in the coming years.
Source: Automotive News
See Also — Ford Transit Connect Offers New Options To Small Businesses
[...] Ford Transit Connect Gets US Build Green Light – 2 days ago Introduced to the US public this summer, the Ford Transit Connect was first rolled out in 2002. Built at a Ford factory in Turkey, the compact Transit Connect work and family van has been available in a number of global regional markets since its… Topics: Ford, Ford Europe, Ford Focus, Ford Transit Connect, New Models, Turkey [...]