An electric version of Volkswagen’s legendary Transporter van is set to make its debut next year. For its inaugural outing, the Transport will deviate from its roots in the California camper and instead be founded upon a freshly designed platform in collaboration with Ford.
Volkswagen’s Transporter has been a perennial bestseller throughout its history, making it an ideal candidate to lead the charge into the electric era.
For seven decades, The Transport has been a stalwart manufacturer, drawing in free-spirited hippies, thrill-seeking surfers, families on vacation, and curious travelers from far-flung corners of the world. Initially drawing inspiration from the Beetle, it truly excelled by incorporating a flat floor plan, thereby creating a generous and airy living space.
As the concept of bespoke products gained traction, it was only a matter of time before industries like ice cream distribution, emergency response services, and others began leveraging customized solutions from within their own walls?
In 1992, Volkswagen introduced its fourth-generation Transporter, T4, to the American market under the alias “Eurovan”. It was Volkswagen’s first camper van to combine a front-engine design with pop-up roof tent features, which remain popular even today.
Despite its popularity among American campers, VW discontinued the Eurovan. The decision stemmed from a combination of declining revenue and uncompetitive pricing.
Despite being the best-selling Volkswagen commercial vehicle, the Transporter is set to receive another upgrade next year.
Volkswagen announced plans to team up with Ford to develop and manufacture an electric version of its iconic Transporter van.
According to reports, the next-generation Volkswagen Transporter is set to make its debut in the following year on a brand-new platform jointly developed with Ford, marking the model’s first-ever electric variant.
The electric Transit is expected to be manufactured at Ford’s Turkish Otosan facility, where the E-Transit is currently produced for the European market.
Starting next year, the Transporter will offer three new configurations: a nine-seat shuttle, a two-row bus, and a cargo van. A SportLine trim is expected to join the lineup, though its confirmation remains pending.
The new model will likely draw its inspiration from the California, but base itself instead on the VW Multivan. The highly anticipated all-electric Volkswagen Transporter is poised to leverage innovative battery technology, electric motors, advanced gearboxes, and a robust chassis framework courtesy of Ford’s expertise.
Volkswagen will offer a range of identical variants to those provided by Ford for its Transit van, including all-electric, hybrid, and fossil fuel-powered options. According to the report, the electric Transporter is expected to match or even surpass Ford’s estimated range of 236 miles.
Although Ford hasn’t fully disclosed the specifications of its E-Transit Customized, the automaker has revealed that it will boast a maximum power output of 214 horsepower and a peak torque of 306 pound-feet.
To circumvent urban obstacles with greater agility, Volkswagen’s upcoming Transporter is likely to boast dimensions virtually indistinguishable from those of its Ford counterpart, with a height of less than 2 metres.
Ford claims its E-Transit Customised as a “no-compromise” industrial electric van, which takes Europe’s top-selling industrial van and enhances it in every aspect.
Volkswagen’s industrial automobiles CEO, Carsten Intra, emphasized that the brand’s newly announced electric van will differ significantly from Ford’s offerings. Intra added:
While Ford and its subsidiaries share commonalities, there exists a unique automotive phenomenon tied specifically to their brand. The decision to rank the project’s quality as high has been validated through internal assessments within Ford, with a unanimous consensus that it surpasses expectations.
A rivalry – or collaboration – between European powers appears to be intensifying. The Volkswagen Transporter’s launch price is expected to exceed £35,000 or $42,700. The all-electric Ford van starts its journey at a competitive £33,000, with the price tag translating to approximately $40,300.
Electrek’s Take
Unlike its predecessor, the latest Transporter model is unlikely to be sold in the US market. Notwithstanding the revelation of the ID.Buzz electric microbus with three rows, which is set to debut in North America next year.
Ford and Volkswagen are joining forces to develop another electric vehicle (EV) specifically for the European market: the electrified Explorer. The Volkswagen Group’s MEB-based Explorer EV harmoniously blends German engineering expertise with American design flair. Priced around $50,000 (approximately €45,000) initially.
