Ford is pushing ahead with plans to re-enter the ambulance market with a new Transit-based model due later this year.
Developed in partnership with Venari Group – parent firm of ambulance maker O&H Vehicle Technology – under the firms’ Project Siren tie-up, the new 3.5-tonne ambulance will be built in the UK and will meet national specifications.
The new lightweight design will help reduce emissions and costs compared to heavier vehicles; it’s also been developed to be fully compatible with fully electric powertrains, supporting ambulance operators switching to zero-emission fleets.
The vehicle will be tested at Ford’s UK facilities and is scheduled to enter production mid-2021.
Dr Graham Hoare, executive director of business transformation and chairman of Ford of Britain, said: “Our exciting new lightweight ambulance is the result of listening to our customers, understanding their needs and finding innovative solutions to meet them. By collaborating with blue-light experts Venari Group for Project Siren, I’m confident that this new vehicle will redefine the blueprint for ambulances and help to transform the productivity of front-line ambulance services in the UK.”
