First All-New Ford Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom Roll off the Production Line

• First all-new Ford Transit Custom produced in Kocaeli, Turkey today; model marks new era for Ford’s global commercial vehicles
• Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom, also produced today for the first time, deliver modern exterior design, car-like interiors and outstanding driving dynamics, durability and load-carrying ability
• New models combine low cost-of-ownership, including best-in-class fuel efficiency, with latest safety and smart driver assistance features

COLOGNE, Germany, July 23, 2012 – The all-new Ford Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom roll off the assembly line for the first time today at Kocaeli in Turkey.

The arrival of the Transit Custom van and Tourneo Custom people mover marks the first step in a complete transformation of Ford’s global commercial vehicle range by the end of 2013.

“The Transit Custom is a completely new kind of one-tonne vehicle from Ford,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe. “This is a stylish, modern van that customers will be proud to have on their driveway, with the hard-working attitude that they expect from a Transit.”

Transit Custom

“The Tourneo Custom is a fantastic-looking people mover – inside and out. It offers outstanding day-to-day, real world practicality as well as being great to drive,” added Odell.

Tourneo Custom

The new Transit Custom sits between the smaller Transit Connect and the larger Transit van in Ford’s commercial vehicle line-up; and is also offered as an eight- or nine-seat people-mover, the Tourneo Custom.

The chassis dynamics have been developed to offer a rewarding driving experience in both models, while car-like interiors and stylish modern exteriors are aimed at broadening the iconic Transit appeal.

Both models are powered by 100 PS, 125 PS or 155 PS versions of Ford’s latest 2.2-litre Duratorq diesel engine, offering class-leading fuel consumption of 6.5 l/100 km (43.5 mpg) for Tourneo Custom and 6.6 l/100 km (42.8 mpg)* for Transit Custom.

The Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom models are built at Ford Otosan’s Kocaeli plant in Turkey. Ford Otosan is one of the most successful joint venture businesses in the auto industry, and is jointly-owned by Ford and Koc Holdings. Its Kocaeli plant has been the home of Ford Transit production since 2001, and to date has built more than 2,250,000 vehicles and exported them to more than 70 countries.

Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom will go on sale later this year.

# # #

*All fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions figures in g/km are from officially approved tests in accordance with EC Directive 93/116/EC, conducted with base equipment level vehicles.  Fuel economy figures quoted are based on the European Fuel Economy Directive EU 80/1268/EEC and will differ from fuel economy drive cycle results in other regions of the world.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 164,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com

Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 51 individual markets and employs approximately 66,000 employees. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford of Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 22 manufacturing facilities, including joint ventures. The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.