Ford Shifts Transit Production to 4-Day Week…

Ford has announced that production of the Transit van at its Southampton plant will be shifted onto a 4-day week until the end of 2008. The move means that Transit van production will be reduced by 17 days for the remainder of this year.

The decision will be an additional source of anxiety for workers at the Southampton plant, which is already the subject of closure speculation due to Ford’s likely decision to move Transit panel van production to Turkey.

Ford aren’t the only company to be feeling the pinch of reduced demand, however – Vauxhall stopped production of its award-winning Vivaro at its Luton plant for one whole day on the 26th September in response to slowing demand across Europe.

…and Gears Up for New Fiesta Van Release

It’s not all doom and gloom at the blue oval, however. Ford used the 2008 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover, Germany, to unveil the latest incarnation of its Fiesta van.

Due to go on sale in spring 2009, the new Fiesta Van will have a loadspace of around 1 cubic metre, offer 65mpg+ fuel efficiency and boast CO2 emissions of just 110g/km from the smaller of the two TDCi engines that will be on offer. It should be a competitive alternative to the two main incumbents in the marketplace, the Vauxhall Corsavan and the Peugeot 207 Van.

More details will be announced closer to launch time.

Peugeot Scoops International Award for Bipper

Peugeot Bipper van

Also at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover, Peugeot scooped the International Van of the Year award for its new Bipper small van. The jury recognised its originality, compact size and on-road competence when bestowing the award.

The Bipper, which has been on sale in the UK since June, is already proving popular – thanks in no small part to its 62mpg fuel consumption, 610kg payload and sub-120g/km CO2 emissions.

As with the other vans made by the PSA Group, the Bipper is also sold badged as the Citroen Nemo and Fiat Fiorino.

(via TNN)