Ford
The Ford Transit is a British icon. It’s been the UK’s best selling van since it went on sale in 1965 and outsells its nearest rival by about three-to-one. It’s been so successful because it has proved fit for purpose, sturdy and reliable transport for generations of British working men and women. It’s even given a new phrase to the English language: white van man. (Although the Ford Transit is available in a multitude of colours, 93 percent are sold in white.) The Transit has been produced in Southampton since 1972. Nowadays, the factory operates a two-shift system to meet demand. A Transit is produced every two minutes, and about 50 percent of output is exported. The five millionth Transit rolled off the Southampton line in 2005 – the year of its 40th anniversary.
The Transit is a true British success story. It is designed and engineered in Dunton, Essex, uses engines made in Dagenham, transmissions from Halewood on Merseyside, and is assembled in Southampton. A new Transit was unveiled at the beginning of 2006. It is restyled, better to drive, and has seven new engines – cleaner, more economical and more powerful than before.
The plant was built in the ’30s as an aircraft manufacturing facility, and assembled Spitfires during the last war. Ford bought the site in 1953 and began producing bodies for medium-weight vans and heavy duty trucks. Since 1953, more than £600 million has been invested in Southampton by Ford.
Address:
Ford Motor Company
Southampton Assembly Plant
Wide Lane
Swaythling
SO18 2NQ
Tel: +44 23 8058 7300
