Yesterday, we reported that Ford ’s upcoming, small business-oriented commercial vehicle, the Transit Connect, was delayed due to United Kingdom job cuts – but we’ve learned that’s not the case. The Transit Connect, the smaller of Ford’s two European-designed commercial vans, is still on schedule for the United States, while the larger Transit, which won’t make the journey over the pond, will be delayed indefinitely for Europe.
Ford of Europe has delayed production of the Transit as a result of 850 jobs being cut in the U.K. The smaller Transit Connect, which will be built in Turkey, is still set to be unveiled next week at the Chicago Auto Show and will be on sale this summer.
“As demand across the industry continues to fall, we are facing some immediate and major challenges which require us to take decisive action to reduce all our costs,” John Fleming, Ford of Europe chairman, told Automotive News regarding the larger Transit’s U.K. production.
Ford will cut 500 jobs at the Transit’s Southampton production plant, with another 350 temporary jobs set to be cut at the Dunton Technical Centre in Essex where the next-generation Transit is being designed.
Check back here for Leftlane’s live coverage of the Chicago Auto Show, including the official unveiling of the Transit Connect, next week.
