Dive Deeper: The Death of the Small Van
Ford Officially Ends Sales of Transit Connect in North America
Ford's recent confirmation that Transit Connect sales will stop in North America follows a trend of automakers ending sales of their small vans.
April 6, 2023
While sales of the Ford Transit Connect are officially dead in North America, they will continue in European markets.
Photo: Ford
1 min to read
Ford Motor Company recently confirmed it will end sales of the Transit Connect small van in North America after the 2023 model year, according to Emkay's news release.
“The decision stemmed from the company’s “efforts to reduce global manufacturing cost and complexity, alongside decreased demand for the compact van segment," Ford said in a statement.
Ford also confirmed the Transit Connect will continue to be built in Spain and sold in European markets.
Ram announced last year it would end production of the ProMaster City van, and General Motors and Nissan have also dropped their own small vans in recent years.
Mercedes-Benz also announced it will end U.S. sales of its Metris minivan following the 2023 model year.
Sales of the Ford Transit Connect saw a 25% decline between 2020 and 2021.
More Vehicle Research
Fleet Hacks: What Are You Still Doing Manually?
From daily recaps to repeatable workflows, fleet professionals share how AI can cut through busywork while keeping human judgment at the center.
Read More →
How One Fleet Manager Put a New Spin on Safety Training
Joe Lewis turned a pre-trip inspection lesson into an AI-assisted song, then four safety albums. The experiment also revealed why human oversight matters when AI enters driver training.
Read More →
2027 Ram ProMaster City Starts Under $40K
Ram is returning to the smaller commercial van market with a new ProMaster City aimed at delivery, service, trade, and passenger applications. Starting at $39,995 with destination, the 2027 van offers up to 2,000 pounds of towing capacity, more than 2,000 pounds of payload, and multiple cargo and passenger configurations.
Read More →
New Tariff Threats & a Leadership Change at Wheels | AF News Recap
A new tariff threat is creating more uncertainty for fleet ordering, Wheels has named a new president, and we’re asking whether certification is really worth the investment.
Read More →
Certification: What’s in It for the Fleet Manager?
From smarter fleet decisions to stronger career credibility, certification can give fleet managers knowledge they may never gain inside a single operation.
Read More →
Wheels Names Matthew Cole President
Cole brings more than 30 years of automotive and technology experience to the fleet management company, including leadership roles at Aptiv, Visteon and Johnson Controls.
Read More →
AI is changing what fleet managers can build & 849,000 vehicles recalled | AF News Recap
Fleet managers are learning how to build their own AI-powered tools, Stellantis is recalling nearly 849,000 vehicles, and this year’s Fleet Manager of the Year finalists have been revealed. Additionally, we’re examining how to identify repairs that warrant a second look. Here’s what you need to know this week.
Read More →
Geotab Study Finds $105M Opportunity in Reducing Fleet Idling
A study of more than 2.6 million commercial vehicles found that targeting the worst-performing fleet vehicles could save 24.2 million gallons of fuel annually.
Read More →
Stellantis Recalls Nearly 849,000 Vehicles for Rearview Camera Issue
Nearly 849,000 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles are affected by a software issue that can prevent the rearview camera image from appearing. Stellantis plans to address the issue through an over-the-air software update.
Read More →
2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee Adds Upland, Trailhawk and Overland Trims
The 2027 Grand Cherokee lineup adds new trim options, updated standard technology and a choice of V6 or turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains.
Read More →