Ford Transit Connect gains traction in market

Monday, April 5, 2010 | Source: metromode
The Ford Transit Connect is showing signs of successfully making the leap from showroom success to market success as orders begin to pile up for the green machine.

DTE Energy has placed an order for 19 of the hybrid and electric commercial vehicles and is looking for ways to incorporate more into its fleet. Canada Post and AT&T are among the other organizations across North America that have claimed some of the 1,175 Transit Connects so far.

Oak Park-based Azure Dynamics makes the electric version of the Transit Connect. It expects to manufacture between 1,000 and 2,000 vehicles next year, thanks to winning awards like Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this year.

"It's a great product for us," says Curt Huston, COO of Azure Dynamics. "It has raised our visibility."

The 20-year-old firm has roots in British Columbia. It moved its headquarters from Toronto to Metro Detroit a few years ago and has since expanded its staff to 30 people. About half of those have been hired in the last 12-18 months.

Huston expects to continue hiring as products like the Transit Connect are picked up into major fleets looking for green cred. He believes those orders will help lower the price of the truck and its components, making the vehicle more affordable to the rest of the market.

Source: Curt Huston, COO of Azure Dynamics
Writer: Jon Zemke
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Oakland County, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Sustainability, Transit, Transportation, Wayne County 

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