Ford and Venari Group have signed a memorandum of understanding for a new strategic alliance to build a new lightweight ambulance.
The Ford Venari Alliance brings together the UK market leader in commercial vehicles and the UK’s largest emergency service vehicle provider, in plans to manufacture the lightweight front-line ambulance that was unveiled by Ford and Venari earlier this year.
Based on the Ford Transit chassis cab, and developed under “Project Siren”, the lightweight ambulance was designed with input from industry experts and front-line medical teams.
It is intended to be produced at a new facility in Ford Dagenham from 2022, utilising an existing, non-production location that will be refreshed to accommodate its manufacturing requirements. It is anticipated that the new business will create around 100 new jobs once production begins in 2022.
The move is the first step in Ford’s plan to grow its market presence through strategic alliances with key vehicle converters
“The Ford Venari Alliance builds on Ford’s plans to re-establish its presence in the UK ambulance market by working with the UK’s leading ambulance builder, and supports our wider ambition of growing Ford’s market presence through strategic alliances with key vehicle converters,” said Paul Baynes, manager, Marketing and Sales – Ford Pro Vehicle Solutions, Ford of Europe.
Venari Group CEO, Oliver North, added: “Following the truly incredible engineering achievements displayed by Ford at the Dagenham facility during the Ventilator Challenge UK project, the next chapter for Dagenham provides a continuation in production of life saving machines, with our next generation ambulance. The Ford Venari alliance will drive efficiency in production of the Transit-based front-line ambulance, whilst essentially creating new jobs.
More details about the Ford Venari Alliance will be announced in due course, with the all-new Ford Venari lightweight ambulance on display at the Emergency Services Show at the Birmingham, UK National Exhibition centre in September.
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Matt has been an automotive journalist for eight years. As senior staff writer he is responsible for the automotive content on Fleet News and also contributes to Automotive Management. Prior to this, Matt worked in the automotive industry for 10 years.
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