Ford to Discontinue its Transit Connect in North America

After the model year 2023, Ford confirmed that the Transit Connect would no longer be sold in North America. The reliable media reported on the small van’s regional demise in the summer of 2022, confirming rumors that it would soon be shipped to Europe. However, this is the company’s first public comment on the subject.

Currently, the vehicle travels to North America via a factory in Valencia, Spain. However, the small van market’s declining popularity has sealed its fate and, presumably, that of its potential successor.

Last year, it was said that Blue Oval would make a new North American model somewhere in Mexico. The vehicle would have used a similar stage as the Nonconformist pickup and Horse Game hybrid. However, it appears that as well has been abandoned due to concerns that consumers might not pay enough attention to it.

For the same reason, General Motors, Nissan, and Ram all discontinued their small work vans, the City Express and NV200, in the past. In 2022, Ram also announced the end of production for the ProMaster City. The Metris will also be discontinued by Mercedes for the 2023 model year, effectively ending the entire segment.

From the start, everything was a little bit of an experiment. In 2010, Ford first introduced the Transit Connect here in the United States for the European market. It was assumed that it would serve as an urban alternative to the gas-guzzling E-Series and would be beneficial to small business owners who did not require a full-size cargo van. However, the small van’s annual sales in the United States rarely exceeded 40,000 units, so its market dominance would not last very long.