E-Transit Misses the Future: Ford Runs the Numbers and Walks Away from the Electric Van

Ford is pulling the plug on the next generation of the E-Transit, choosing instead to replace it with a more affordable commercial van powered by a gasoline engine or a hybrid setup. The move is part of a broader strategy shift that also includes canceling several large EV projects and placing a bigger emphasis on hybrids and extended-range vehicles.

The E-Transit has been in production since late 2021 at Ford’s Kansas City plant. Over its lifespan, the van has seen only modest updates. In 2024, it received a revised battery offering slightly more range along with faster charging, but the core powertrain and overall design remained largely unchanged. Ford had previously planned to introduce a new generation of electric vans by the middle of the decade, with production slated to begin in Ohio in 2026. Those plans have now been shelved.

Once the E-Transit is phased out in North America, it will be replaced by a new, lower-cost commercial van featuring either a traditional internal combustion engine or a hybrid system. Ford has not yet said exactly when the current E-Transit will be discontinued. In Europe, the electric van will also lose its planned successor, although Ford will continue selling other electrified commercial models such as the Transit Custom Electric and Transit Courier Electric.

Sales of the E-Transit in the U.S. have been steady but never strong. Ford delivered 7,672 units in 2023 and improved to 12,610 in 2024. That momentum faded in 2025, with just 4,604 vans sold between January and October. As the model exits the lineup, the already small electric van segment in the U.S. is set to shrink even further. Ford, however, believes it can better serve small business customers with simpler, more affordable commercial vehicles that don’t rely exclusively on battery power.