It looks like the European Ford Transit will be joining its smaller cousin, the Transit Connect, in being sold to the US market.

The Transit is scheduled to be introduced to the US market in summer 2009 and Ford CEO Alan Mulally has now admitted that the European model will form the basis of Ford’s promised electric van, due to appear in 2010.

The lightweight, front-wheel drive Transit makes a far more sensible base vehicle for an electric, urban van than Ford’s heavyweight US van, the rear-wheel drive E-Series. The Transit also offers a more modern design and drivetrain than the well-established E-Series.

The introduction of the Transit to the US market is just part of a growing trend in the light commercial vehicle sector – the last few years have also seen the successful introduction of the Ford Transit Connect and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (badged as a Dodge) to the US market.

Perhaps the time has come for the automotive divide between the US and Europe to start disappearing, with fewer different models sold across more markets.