Ford to end "E" van chassis

[Fred and Bonnie]

Ford will end "E" series van chassis by the end of 2013. I suspect this is another CAFE Standard backwash.

Fred

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred and Bonnie Ford will end "E" series van chassis by the end of 2013. I suspect this is another CAFE Standard backwash.

If they end the name I don't expect that they will end the vehicle class. Too many Ford vans on the street at the moment to just quit. I can't begin to count how many applications there are for the van and for the van cutaway chassis.

The Ford E-Series currently holds 79.6% of the full-size van market in the United States.

I just did a Google seach and the only thing I found (so far) was your post.

Kept lookin'

Upon further review ....

Ford Transit Van to Begin U.S. Production in 2013

[tderonne]

Search for "Avon Lake" there's reports that Ford is moving medium duty truck and F53/F59 there when the Econoline van is done, part of the new UAW contract. Reports do say they will keep building Econoline cutaways though.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tderonne Search for "Avon Lake" there's reports that Ford is moving medium duty truck and F53/F59 there when the Econoline van is done, part of the new UAW contract. Reports do say they will keep building Econoline cutaways though.

tderonne, I take it that they are moving the Detroit Chassis plant from Michigan to Avon Lake? They invested in their current location as a urban development project and it seemed to have been working for the community. The disappointment is that the other plants that were going to move into the area either ran out of start up capitol or went broke. I believe that DC is there all by itself surrounded by barbed wire. Just researched 2012 Ford MDTs, Cummins ISB engine and Allison automatic.

[tderonne]

I couldn't find anything on the fate of the Detroit Custom Chassis. I did see F53 mentioned a few times though as coming to Avon Lake from "outside" Ford.

One story I saw

[Fred and Bonnie]

Make what you will, but the RV Business article, doesn't say anything about the cut-away chassis.

"Ford announced in October, as part of a new labor agreement with the United Auto Workers, that it would convert the Ohio Assembly plant to make larger commercial vehicles when the Econoline van or E-Series is discontinued at the end of 2013."

fred

[Superslif]

Just today I was thinking about all the E-series vans driving down the freeway that contractors use. So who else still makes a heavy-duty full size van? Chevy ..Dodge...

Many RVers use a E-series as a tow vehicle especially if they have a bunch of off spring. I wonder what the Ford Transit will tow?

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred and Bonnie Make what you will, but the RV Business article, doesn't say anything about the cut-away chassis. "Ford announced in October, as part of a new labor agreement with the United Auto Workers, that it would convert the Ohio Assembly plant to make larger commercial vehicles when the Econoline van or E-Series is discontinued at the end of 2013." fred

Isn't the cutaway an E-Series? If so wouldn't that fall under the announcement?

[Izzyblueye]

This morning Ford announced they will be moving their operations in Mexico to the Avon Lake plant. It did mention the end of the "Econoline" model, but did Not elaborate what will take its place. Like most of you the cut away is a big chunk of Ford Business.

[tderonne]

From the press release I noted above:

"Medium-duty trucks in-sourced from Mexico; motor home and stripped chassis added to Ford E-series cutaway production at Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, Ohio, after the plant ends E-Series van production."

That can be read to say that cutaway production will continue.

Chevrolet still makes full sized vans and cutaways. Dodge stopped making full size vans after the 2003 model year.

[Fred and Bonnie]

Thanks Tim, your press release has better information.

fred

[The Shadow]

Tim, do you know anything about the big brother to the Transit coming to North America. Within the last month I read something somewhere that the big Transit will now be built in North America (currently sold in Europe and Australia). I seem to recall seeing a lot of them used for Class C motorhomes in Australia and NZ.

Don

[Route 66]

Ford Econoline Van Reaches the End of the Line

Read more: Ford Econoline Van Reaches The End Of The Line | Fox News

[RustyJC]

From the story Dirk linked above:

Quote:

The Transit van coming in 2013 won't replace the entire E-Series line; heavier-duty chassis-cab versions of the old E-Series will remain in production for most of the current decade.

Rusty