Ford Will Continue E-Series Cutaway/Stripped Chassis

The Ford E-Series full-size van was scheduled to continue production through 2014 to overlap with its replacement vehicle, the all-new Ford Transit. Ford has announced it will discontinue the E-Series cargo van and passenger wagons later this year, essentially coinciding with the debut of the Transit; however, the E-Series will technically continue to produce two other E-Series models (the E-350 and E-450 stripped chassis and cutaway) until almost the end of the decade. 

The rugged heavy-duty ladder-frame van chassis, which shares many parts with the F-Series pickup trucks, will continue being produced at the Avon Lake, Ohio, production line as long as demand for small school buses, emergency vehicles, airport shuttles, and recreational vehciles is strong.

The European-style full-size Transit van will offer a more flexible platform and much more efficient powertrain lineup. By the time the new Transit hits the market, the only company not to have updated van offerings will be GM, which is still offering its aging Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans. New competition from the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ram ProMaster and the lineup is likely to push this segment into a more aggressive van war well into the next decade.

(This story has been modified on 4/19 to correct model designations and timing.)

Manufacturer images