<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/carbuying/" rel="tag">Car Buying</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/minivans/" rel="tag">Minivan/Van</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/commercial-trucks/" rel="tag">Work</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/ford-transit-connect-in-los-angeles/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/ftc_lead.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><small>Ford Transit Connect in Los Angeles -- click above image for high-res gallery</small></em></strong></div>
<br /> Things that don't surprise us Late August, 2009 Edition: Brett Favre acting like a spoiled <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/08/31/favre-believes-he-has-a-cracked-rib/">seven-year-old</a>, devastating fires <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/08/fire-pushes-west-prompting-evacuations-in-sunlandtujunga-and-a-rescue-in-gold-canyon.html">threatening huge chunks</a> of drought-plagued Los Angeles and the fact that Ford sold over 2,000 Transit Connect vans in its first month here in the States. Why? Because Ford's little van is not only a smart product, but it fills a much needed and until now empty niche. <br /> <br /> For more than a decade, Ford has been selling smart but small little panel vans (starting with the Escort Van) all over Europe. Small businesses in need of a right-sized, practical work truck flock to them and are rewarded with a low initial cost, low total cost and good mileage. Especially the diesels. But here in the U.S., no such vehicle existed. Until last month.<br /> <br /> To quote Ford, "Around the country, small business operators and fleet customers are quickly adding Ford Transit Connect vehicles as an efficient mobility solution for their respective enterprises." Sure, these same businesses and fleets could have chosen something like a Chevy HHR Panel, but those were designed first and foremost as passenger cars and the lack of cargo space proves it. Whereas the Transit Connect was a work vehicle from the start, featuring useful items like dual-sliding rear doors and a low load-in height.<br /> <br /> What types of businesses are buying the Transit Connects? "Laundry mats, caterers, door and lock companies, painters, electricians, restaurant suppliers, satellite dish installers, carpet installers and commercial carpet cleaners." Again, companies that have traditionally been underserved by large platforms like F-150s or Econolines. Full press release below the fold.<br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-transit-connect-in-los-angeles/low/">Ford Transit connect in Los Angeles</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-transit-connect-in-los-angeles/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/ftc00_thumbnail.jpg" alt="ftc00" title="ftc00" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-transit-connect-in-los-angeles/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/ftc10_thumbnail.jpg" alt="ftc10" title="ftc10" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-transit-connect-in-los-angeles/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/ftc20_thumbnail.jpg" alt="ftc20" title="ftc20" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-transit-connect-in-los-angeles/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/ftc30_thumbnail.jpg" alt="ftc30" title="ftc30" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-transit-connect-in-los-angeles/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/ftc40_thumbnail.jpg" alt="ftc40" title="ftc40" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/first-month-of-2010-ford-transit-connect-sales-top-2-000-units/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>First month of 2010 Ford Transit Connect sales top 2,000 units</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/first-month-of-2010-ford-transit-connect-sales-top-2-000-units/">First month of 2010 Ford Transit Connect sales top 2,000 units</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/first-month-of-2010-ford-transit-connect-sales-top-2-000-units/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19146323/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/first-month-of-2010-ford-transit-connect-sales-top-2-000-units/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><small>Ford Transit Connect in Los Angeles -- click above image for high-res gallery</small></em></strong></div>
<br /> Things that don't surprise us Late August, 2009 Edition: Brett Favre acting like a spoiled <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/08/31/favre-believes-he-has-a-cracked-rib/">seven-year-old</a>, devastating fires <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/08/fire-pushes-west-prompting-evacuations-in-sunlandtujunga-and-a-rescue-in-gold-canyon.html">threatening huge chunks</a> of drought-plagued Los Angeles and the fact that Ford sold over 2,000 Transit Connect vans in its first month here in the States. Why? Because Ford's little van is not only a smart product, but it fills a much needed and until now empty niche. <br /> <br /> For more than a decade, Ford has been selling smart but small little panel vans (starting with the Escort Van) all over Europe. Small businesses in need of a right-sized, practical work truck flock to them and are rewarded with a low initial cost, low total cost and good mileage. Especially the diesels. But here in the U.S., no such vehicle existed. Until last month.<br /> <br /> To quote Ford, "Around the country, small business operators and fleet customers are quickly adding Ford Transit Connect vehicles as an efficient mobility solution for their respective enterprises." Sure, these same businesses and fleets could have chosen something like a Chevy HHR Panel, but those were designed first and foremost as passenger cars and the lack of cargo space proves it. Whereas the Transit Connect was a work vehicle from the start, featuring useful items like dual-sliding rear doors and a low load-in height.<br /> <br /> What types of businesses are buying the Transit Connects? "Laundry mats, caterers, door and lock companies, painters, electricians, restaurant suppliers, satellite dish installers, carpet installers and commercial carpet cleaners." Again, companies that have traditionally been underserved by large platforms like F-150s or Econolines. Full press release below the fold.<br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-transit-connect-in-los-angeles/low/">Ford Transit connect in Los Angeles</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-transit-connect-in-los-angeles/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/ftc00_thumbnail.jpg" alt="ftc00" title="ftc00" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-transit-connect-in-los-angeles/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/ftc10_thumbnail.jpg" alt="ftc10" title="ftc10" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-transit-connect-in-los-angeles/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/ftc20_thumbnail.jpg" alt="ftc20" title="ftc20" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-transit-connect-in-los-angeles/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/ftc30_thumbnail.jpg" alt="ftc30" title="ftc30" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-transit-connect-in-los-angeles/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/ftc40_thumbnail.jpg" alt="ftc40" title="ftc40" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/first-month-of-2010-ford-transit-connect-sales-top-2-000-units/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>First month of 2010 Ford Transit Connect sales top 2,000 units</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/first-month-of-2010-ford-transit-connect-sales-top-2-000-units/">First month of 2010 Ford Transit Connect sales top 2,000 units</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/first-month-of-2010-ford-transit-connect-sales-top-2-000-units/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19146323/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/first-month-of-2010-ford-transit-connect-sales-top-2-000-units/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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