Ford to re-enter UK ambulance market with Venari partnership

Ford is to re-establish its presence in the UK ambulance market with a Transit-based vehicle following a tie-in the Venari Group.

Under the codename Project Siren, the ambulance is fully compliant with the national specification advocated by the Lord Carter Report within a 3.5-tonne gross vehicle weight.

It has also been designed to be fully compatible with all-electric powertrains.

The conversion will be built in the UK by Venari Group, which is the parent company of mambulance manufacturer O&H Vehicle Technology.

It is scheduled to enter production in 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.”

Project Siren used direct customer input from NHS Ambulance Trusts to create the vehicle.

Digital connectivity supports efficient restocking and vehicle maintenance, while Ford says the lightweight design helps reduce emissions and operating costs associated with using heavier vehicles.