Words: Richard Edwards
Published 2 April 2026
Ford New Zealand Managing Director Annaliese Atina has confirmed the Chinese-built Transit City electric van will be sold locally.
Though a launch date is yet to be set, this is the first time we’ve heard a firm commitment to the model, instead of saying it’s “under consideration.
Speaking to AutoTrader NZ, Atina says Transit City is “definitely on the cards for New Zealand” but that Ford is still working through the timing.
“Our actual launch date is still to be decided when we take that to market,” she says. “We’ll launch it when we have line of sight to the right customer mix for it.”
Ford NZ has the ability to make its own market decisions independently of Australia, meaning Transit City could arrive on a different timeline to its trans-Tasman counterpart. Atina says the current fuel crisis is accelerating internal thinking around where electrified products fit in Ford’s local portfolio.
“Things like this fuel crisis are making people accelerate some of their thinking around what the mix of portfolio looks like going forward,” she says.
Atina says Transit City is not the only Chinese-sourced product Ford is open to bringing to New Zealand. Asked whether sourcing Ford models from China more broadly is something the company is considering, she says nothing is ruled out.
“We’re very lucky we have the ability to source right-hand drive vehicles from lots of different markets,” she says. “Is anything off the cards? No. That’s what we do every month — we’re always looking at where the opportunity is.”
She says the key test for any product, regardless of where it is built, is whether it meets Ford’s brand expectations and the specific needs of New Zealand customers.
“Kiwis are different, diverse, our terrain’s different, our use cases are different and we’re a really small market versus other markets,” she says. “Customers will expect us to bring a certain quality in. Where it’s sourced from simply [doesn’t matter].”
Atina points to Ford’s 118-year presence in New Zealand through its partnership with Colonial Motor Company and the strength of its dealer network as reasons customers can trust the brand regardless of manufacturing origin.
The confirmation follows Ford NZ spokesperson Tom Clancy telling AutoTrader NZ last week that Transit City was under consideration. Atina’s comments represent a clear step forward in Ford’s commitment to the product for this market.
Ford NZ is already seeing growing demand for its electrified commercial vehicles. Atina says inquiry for the BEV E-Transit has lifted, particularly from fleet operators including defence, where the electric van is being evaluated as a people mover. The broader fuel crisis has driven a 400 percent increase in inquiry across Ford’s EV range.
The Transit City is built in China through Ford’s joint venture with Jiangling Motors Corporation. It uses a 110kW front-mounted electric motor and a 56kWh lithium iron phosphate battery with a claimed WLTP range of up to 254km. It comes in two configurations, with payloads of up to 1085kg and 1275kg respectively, and a single fully equipped specification with no optional extras.
Based on UK pricing expectations relative to the E-Transit Custom, which is listed in New Zealand from around $85,990, a local price somewhere in the $55,000 to $65,000 range has been estimated, which would make it the most affordable electric van in Ford’s local lineup.
Orders are open in the UK and Europe, with deliveries expected before the end of 2026. Any New Zealand timeline would follow.
