Ford Motor Company celebrated the 40th anniversary of its successful commercial vehicle, the Ford Transit, today with a ceremony at the Ford Otosan Kocaeli Assembly Plant.

Originally introduced in 1965, the Ford Transit created a new chapter in the light commercial vehicle segment. Today, 40 years later and reaching its 5 millionth production milestone, the Ford Transit is produced at Kocaeli, Turkey and Southampton, England .

Kocaeli's Transit 40th birthday ceremony was attended by the Ford of Europe President John Fleming, Koç Holding CEO Bülend Özaydınlı, Ford Otosan General Manager Turgay Durak and Ford Otosan board members.

“We are celebrating a new achievement of the co-operation between the leading automotive brand of the world, the 102-year-old Ford Motor Company, and the leading industrial group of Turkey , the 79-year-old Koç Group,” Ford Otosan General Manager Turgay Durak said in his speech opening the celebration. “This is the 40th year of the Transit, an indispensable tool in the commercial life both in Europe and in Turkey. Its fifth generation is still young and exciting. It will continue to be manufactured with practical and intelligent solutions so that it will exceed customer expectations.”

Ford Otosan Kocaeli Assembly Plant

TRANSIT A SUCCESS STORY OF ITS OWN

The Ford Transit is a Turkish success story. Koç Holding CEO Bülend Özaydınlı said 77 years of co-operation between Ford and Koç gained a natural momentum after 1997, leading to a series of achievements.

“Just 3 months ago, we celebrated the millionth vehicle coming off the line at Ford Otosan. Today, we are celebrating the 40th year of the Ford Transit which plays an integral role in the market leadership of Ford Otosan for the past three years and in future.”

Production records clearly tell the Transit success story. Ford Otosan has manufactured 550,000 Ford Transit since it started the production in 1969. And the smallest member of the Transit family, the Transit Connect, has exceeded the 230,000-unit milestone. Ford of Europe will mark the production of the 5 millionth Ford Transit in its 40th year of production.

TRANSIT ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BRANDS IN THE WORLD

Ford of Europe President John Fleming said he was pleased to celebrate the Ford Transit's 40 th anniversary in one of the key assembly plants producing the important Ford model.

“With this ceremony, we are continuing our celebrations of the 40th year of Transit. In the past 40 years Transit has been a part of the European business life,” Fleming said. “Since production first started on 9th August, 1965, with the features it has provided, Ford Transit has become one of the most important and most popular brands in the world.”

Ford Transit 40 year Specila Editions: Leader, Silverblue, Hallmark

TRANSIT MEANS RELIABILITY AND VERSATILITY IN EVERY LANGUAGE

Transit opened a new, blank page when it was introduced 40 years ago, raising standards in the light commercial vehicle segment, according to Fleming. Today, Transit maintains its leadership by continuing to introduce new technology – its brand standing for reliability and versatility in every language, he said.

“Transit is so well known that in many countries it is a generic term for a van,” Fleming said. He attributed Transit's success to the hard work in both assembly plants, the high quality standards we have and, consequently, Ford Transit being number one in Europe.

Fleming, Özaydınlı and Durak concluded by providing a surprise for the local community of the Ford Otosan Kocaeli Assembly Plant. They presented the newly produced Ford Transit Ambulance from the production line ceremony to commemorate the two important milestones in the success story of the Ford Transit: 5 million vehicles built in 40 years. It will be given as an anniversary gift to the nearby Golcuk State Hospital. In the coming days, another symbolic 5 millionth Transit will come off the line in Southampton, England, to celebrate this remarkable double milestone. It will also be donated to a local charity.

Ford Transit Ambulance