Celebrating 60 Years and Counting – Ford Transit’s Unstoppable Story in Numbers

DUNTON, UK, - Did you know that an astonishing 31,536,000 minutes have whizzed by since the first legendary Ford Transit rolled off the production line on August 9, 1965?

From the very first minute, Transit has been an unwavering powerhouse - tirelessly empowering professionals and championing businesses and communities. And while a lot has changed in that time, some things have stayed the same.

“Every shopkeeper, contractor, ambulance driver, builder, baker or candlestick or holiday maker, can find his own special requirements in Ford Transit”, said Ford’s original press announcement from 1965.

That statement is more true today than ever.

In a truly staggering display of enduring appeal, over 13,000,000 Ford Transits have been produced during the past six decades. This remarkable feat equates to a new van rolling off the production line every two and a half minutes, non-stop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

As Transit fans around the world celebrate the iconic vehicle’s 60th birthday – and begin counting down to the exciting Transit Festival in Essex, UK, September 20 – let's dive into more astounding figures that shine a light on the legacy of Ford’s industry-defining van.

Transit in Numbers:

• Transit is the No.1 one best-selling van in the world.
• 10,100,000 is the number of Transit vans that have been produced in Europe and Türkiye since 1965. Globally, over 13,000,000 Transits have been produced.
• Almost 1 in 5 vans sold in Europe in 2024 in the 1-tonne and 2-tonne segments was a Ford Transit or Transit Custom.
• A new Transit van was purchased on average approximately every 2 minutes across Europe in 2024.
• There are over 1,300 variations of 2-tonne Transit available to order including different body styles, lengths, heights, powertrains and trim levels – and that’s before choosing a colour or other options.
• The Mk1 Transit offered payloads up to 35 cwt – approximately 1,700 kg. Today’s Transit panel van offers payloads of more than 2,400 kg.
• The  L4 H3 Transit van can carry almost 236,000 ping-pong balls in its 15.1 m³ loadspace.
• 2,000 PS is the power output of the electric Ford SuperVan 4.2.
• E-Transit’s enhanced range option increases driving range to up to 402 km – a 28 per cent increase compared with the standard battery.
• 52 per cent is the growth in annual Transit and Transit Custom sales in Europe between 2014 and 2024.
• 4 times as many Transits were produced in Europe and Türkiye in 2024 compared with the first full year of Transit production in 1966.
• 822,000 is the number of additional days of vehicle availability across Europe in 2024 enabled by the Transit’s connection to the FORDLiive uptime system.
• 217 Ford Pro Converter partners across 18 European markets ensure that specific customer requirements for bespoke vehicles can be met.
• Transit or Transit Custom has been the best-selling van in the UK for 59 years.