Introduction
Ford has a plan to go global. Wait, you say. Isn’t Ford already global? Yes, indeed it is, but its product lineup is not. Ford’s customers in Europe, Asia and Australia get models that Americans don’t, while Americans get models that are not available in Europe, Asia and Australia. And while special market needs and requirements sometimes dictate unique solutions for specific demographic regions, Ford is aiming to reduce as much redundancy and overlap in its global portfolio as possible through its “One Ford” product strategy.

Case in point: the 2010 Ford Transit Connect. In Europe, Ford calls its commercial vans the Transit, whereas in North America we have the E-Series (formerly the Econoline). There is a plan for Ford to combine the engineering and design of these currently distinct models and sell one van lineup in all of its markets around the world. The first volley in this effort is the Transit Connect, a small, urban commercial vehicle for businesses that don’t need—or want—a full-size E-150.

Currently, over 600,000 Transit Connects have been sold in 58 countries on four continents, and Ford says the little van has “a global reputation for durability and toughness.” For its American debut, scheduled for summer of 2009, the Transit Connect gets a new grille and interior refinements.

For more information: