While the Mustang Mach-E crossover and electric F-150 are spearheading Ford’s charge into EVs, the Transit van will see a similar treatment for commercial fleets and retail customers. In a similar vein to Amazon’s Rivian-built electric vans and other manufacturers’ efforts, the 2022 Ford E-Transit will expand the automaker’s footprint into the shifting electric market. “Our electric vehicle business is a dynamic source of growth, said Ford’s VP for North American manufacturing John Savona. “We’re setting ourselves up for profitable business now and in the future.”
To that end, an official announcement set the official reveal date for the 2022 Ford E-Transit van to November 12. From there, the company says it will invest a further $100 million in its Kansas City assembly plant to support building it. The move will add approximately 150 full-time jobs to the plant. That will bump the total number of workers at the Claycomo, Missouri facility up to about 7,500 people.
Ford says the E-Transit will reach dealers in late 2021. Beyond that, the all-electric F-150 — built at Ford’s new Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Michigan — will arrive in 2022.
Ford’s other EV investments
To support the E-Transit as well as the F-150, Ford is retaining and expanding jobs at its existing plants. As part of its official statement, Ford said it will invest $150 million into the Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Southeast Michigan. The facility will build e-motors and transaxles starting next year. That move will retain 225 jobs that already exist at the plant.
In 2024, Ford plans to invest $1.35 billion into its Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada. With the renovation, that plant will produce “next-generation” battery electric vehicles, although which specific vehicles it will produce is unclear at the moment. “We’re taking our most iconic vehicles and using fully electric technology to deliver even more performance, productivity and capability for our customers,” said Ford president, Americas and International Markets Group. “We are building out the North American manufacturing footprint to support this growth. This is just the first chapter with more new electric vehicles and more investment to come.”
We’ll have more information on November 12, so check back to TFLtruck.com for more updates.
