Five million not out

The five-millionth Ford Transit rolled off the assembly line on Monday (July 18).
The five-millionth unit was a white minibus, which is being donated to the Lord's Taverners charity, an organisation that aims to give young people opportunities to participate in sport.

The Transit is assembled in Southampton using engines made in Dagenham, Essex, and transmissions built in Halewood, Merseyside.

Ford said on Monday that the “Transit” has entered colloquial English language as a synonym for a medium commercial vehicle - which is no surprise since it has been Britain 's best-selling van for its entire 40-year, four-generation life span.

Southampton is said to be one of Ford's most productive facilities in Europe. Some 1,441 employees build 329 vehicles each day, working two shifts. The sequence and the quantity of the various versions are completely flexible, ensuring a fast response to changes in customer demand.