Electric Ford Transit Custom and Volkswagen Transporter twins confirmed
The upcoming commercial vans will go into production during the first half of 2023.
The next-generation Ford Transit Custom and twin-under-the-skin Volkswagen Transporter will be offered with all-electric powertrain options, both manufacturers have confirmed.
Set to go into production in Turkey during the first half of 2023, the upcoming mechanically-identical commercial vans will also be available with hybrid and traditional internal combustion engines.
Earlier this year, Ford claimed its entire commercial line-up would have electrified powertrain options (plug-in hybrid or all-electric) by 2024.
Volkswagen is yet to make such a promise for its commercial range, however has been shifting its focus to electrification brand-wide for some time now.
A spokesperson for Ford in Australia told CarAdvice: "While we have no local plans for the vehicle to share today, we always look to the best of our global portfolio for vehicles that suit the emerging needs of Australian customers. We are pleased with how Australians are embracing [the existing] Transit van."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Volkswagen in Australia told CarAdvice: "[We are] only too eager to import electric vehicles, but Australia’s regulatory backwardness makes it almost impossible to make a case to the factories for prioritisation.
"First world markets, where there are significant penalties for failing to meet emissions targets, will naturally be the first in line for zero emission vehicles," the Volkswagen spokesperson said.
"It is difficult to explain to parent companies that Australia continues to languish in Euro 5 with no intention of meeting Euro 6 until 2027. Meanwhile, Europe moved to Euro 6d this year and will be at Euro 7 as early as 2025. As the Volkswagen Group has frequently made clear, Australia is becoming an automotive third world."
The widely-scoped Ford-Volkswagen alliance is also set to deliver a shared platform for the Amarok and Ranger dual-cab utes, both of which are slated for launch in 2023.
An all-electric Ford – underpinned by Volkswagen’s modular MEB platform – has also been confirmed, with initial reports suggesting this model would also launch in 2023.
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