Transit: The Backbone of Britain

2025 is a landmark year for Ford’s iconic Transit van as it celebrates its 60th anniversary. Since the first model rolled off the production line in 1965, the Transit has become a trusted workhorse for millions of businesses and communities worldwide. Six decades on, it remains the UK’s best-selling commercial vehicle, having topped the charts for 59 years and accounting for over a quarter of the light commercial vehicle (LCV) market in 2024.

From its earliest days, Transit has been synonymous with reliability, versatility and innovation. Its introduction of practical features such as side-loading doors in the 1960s helped redefine the van market, and today its evolution continues with advanced connected technologies and electrified powertrains designed to boost productivity for modern businesses.

Lisa Brankin, Chair and Managing Director of Ford of Britain and Ireland, underlines the enduring importance of the van: “The words ‘iconic’ and ‘legendary’ are often overused, but both are applicable when it comes to the Transit in the UK. Most of us rely on the humble Ford Transit every single day, whether it’s delivering goods, transporting people or mobilising trade services – Transit is an essential tool to get the job done.”