Page 48 - Logistics News - Issue 02 - 2024

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Ford launches new one-ton Transit Custom

FORD SOUTH Africa has commenced the introduction New platform, new level of productivity
of the new Transit Custom commercial vehicle range Before Ford designers began sketching the new Transit
with the launch of the Base Long Wheelbase Van, with Custom, the company’s D-Ford in-house, human-
additional derivatives to follow later this year. centred design lab spent years engaging with business
customers to research their needs and pain points
The next generation of Europe’s best-selling one-ton and identify innovative solutions to help improve
van is designed to help small and medium businesses productivity. Underpinning the Transit Custom is a
reduce cost of ownership, work more effectively and new platform designed around optimum load carrying,
achieve new levels of productivity. Ford engineers access, performance and powertrain flexibility.
developed a new platform designed to optimise load The clean-sheet design is stiffer and 100kg lighter
carrying and access, improve driver comfort and than that of the previous generation vehicle and
convenience and deliver outstanding performance and features a lengthened wheelbase for optimum cargo
handling, while delivering uncompromised cargo space. capacity.

“The Transit Custom is designed and developed in To maximise fuel efficiency, the new model’s body
Europe, where it is the top-selling van and the best- design was developed using extensive aerodynamic
selling vehicle overall in the UK, so it has a proven simulation and, together with a reduced frontal area,
pedigree of being trusted by business owners to resulted in a CdA up to 13 percent lower than that of
enhance their productivity,” says Doreen Mashinini, the previous generation model. The vehicle architecture
General Manager for Marketing at Ford South Africa. was optimised to help achieve an overall height of under
2m to improve access in height-restricted areas such as
“Ford pulled out all the stops to deliver another huge multistorey car parks, garages and underground loading
leap forward for our customers,” Mashinini says. “The bays.
new generation Transit Custom’s ground-up customer-
led design will set a new benchmark for what small and A larger side load door aperture enhances loading
medium businesses can expect from a commercial and the side door features a new integrated access step
vehicle.” to make entering the load compartment even easier.

46 NO V E MB E R/D E C E MB E R 2024 www .l o g ist i csn e w s .c o .z a