Ford is set to expand its local lineup with more than just one Chinese-built electric vehicle (EV).
In addition to the Bronco New Energy SUV understood to be coming here either late this year or early in 2027, Ford could import another vehicle developed with its joint-venture partner Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC).
The Chinese-built Ford Transit City has appeared in Australian Government approval documents, indicating the electric van could be launched here this year or next.
“Ford continually evaluates opportunities to strengthen our vehicle line-up and meet the evolving needs of Australian customers. Government approval documentation does not necessarily indicate that a vehicle is confirmed for local sale. We have no new-model announcements to make at this time,” said a Ford Australia spokesperson in a statement provided to CarExpert.
“As a global company, Ford sources vehicles from a range of markets. Any future additions to our Australian lineup will be announced through our usual channels at the appropriate time.”
Based on the JMC Touring EV, it’s roughly the same size as the E-Transit Custom already sold here, but could wear a lower price tag than its European-developed showroom-mate, which currently starts at $77,890 before on-road costs.
In the UK, the short-wheelbase Transit City opens at £29,000 (~A$55,000) while the SWB E-Transit Custom is priced from £43,630 (~A$83,000).
A single three-seat variant has appeared in the Australian Government database, called the 300S Van, measuring 4985mm long, 1885mm wide and 1991mm tall on a 3060mm wheelbase.
That makes it shorter and narrower than the E-Transit Custom, which in short-wheelbase guise measures 5050mm long, 1999mm wide and up to 2040mm tall on a 3100mm wheelbase.
Ford has confirmed the Transit City, in some markets, will be offered in three body styles: L1H1 (short wheelbase, regular height); L2H2 (medium wheelbase, tall roof); and cab chassis. The Australian documentation lists only the first of these body styles.
Based on the listed tare mass of 1915kg and gross vehicle mass of 3000kg, the Transit City 300S will offer a payload of 1085kg – though Ford of Europe has previously confirmed some Transit City variants will offer up to 1275kg of payload. The E-Transit Custom has a 1027kg payload in SWB guise, for reference.
The Transit City powered by a front-mounted 110kW electric motor and uses a 56kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. Ford has previously confirmed a WLTP range of around 254km, with DC charging at up to 87kW.
The rear-wheel drive E-Transit Custom, in contrast, is offered in Australia with a 160kW electric motor, a 71.45kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery, 125kW DC charging, and 340-346km of WLTP range.
While the Transit City shares its platform and hard points with a JMC model, it has unique exterior panels with cleaner body surfaces, and new headlight and tail-light units that are more in keeping with other Transit models.
Inside the cabin there are fewer changes, but the Transit City features a larger 12.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. Standard features include push-button start, air-conditioning, a reversing camera, and a heated driver’s seat.
Ford has yet to officially announce any Chinese-built vehicles for Australia – including not only the Bronco New Energy but also the Equator Sport/Territory sold in the right-hand drive South African market – but says it has a wide range of vehicles to choose from globally.
“One of the great things about being part of a global company like we are is we have a choice of products from around the globe, and we’re constantly assessing which ones work for us, what the future environment looks like, what Australian customers need, and what makes a business case for us,” Ford Australia marketing director Ambrose Henderson told CarExpert earlier this year.
“While sometimes it seems very simple to bring cars in [if] they’re already part of the global portfolio, the Australian market demands some things that the rest of the world doesn’t, in terms of minimum safety standards, ADRs, et cetera.
“So it’s not as easy as I think many would hope it would be. Each time we bring in a product, it’s a very specific investment from us. So we make those decisions very carefully and when we bring in a product, we want it to win in that segment that we go into.
“So for us, it’s not about ‘let’s bring in as many products as we can and let’s see which one works’. That’s not our model. Our model is all about what do customers want, where is the Ford brand strong, where can we deliver a great outcome.
“China provides a cost advantage, but… there’s a lot of things that go into deciding whether we bring a car into the country. We have a lot of really exciting plans, and we’ll announce those in due course.”