Development stopped on electric Transit Connect

Ford and Smith Electric Vehicles have agreed to halt development of the electric version of the Transit Connect because forecast orders did not justify the investment.

Smith’s parent company Tanfield said it remained Ford of Europe's official collaborator on commercial electric vehicles and will continue development and production of the Smith Edison which is based on the Ford Transit platform.

Tanfield will continue its US-funded £6m development of a prototype electric version of the United States Postal Service's long life vehicle (of which there are178,000 in service) as well as its Newton electric truck.