DAGENHAM / LEEDS, UK, July 1, 2021 – Ford and Venari Group today announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding for a new alliance to take cooperation between the two businesses on emergency vehicles to the next level.
The Ford Venari Alliance brings together Ford, the UK market leader in commercial vehicles and Venari, the UK’s largest emergency service vehicle provider, in plans to manufacture the all-new, lightweight front-line ambulance – 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.
The Ford Venari lightweight ambulance 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.
Integral to Ford Pro, Ford’s new business for distribution and services, the Ford Venari Alliance marks the start of plans to grow and develop opportunities with key conversions partnerships, ensuring customers from every vocation have access to specialised vehicles.
“We’re delighted to be making this important announcement today. The Ford Venari Alliance builds on Ford’s plans to re-establish its presence in the UK ambulance market by working with the U.K.’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.
Project Siren: Ford Venari Lightweight Ambulance
Project Siren used an agile, collaborative process and direct customer input from NHS Ambulance Trusts to create the Ford Venari Lightweight Ambulance, which is designed to improve patient treatment and ease of use for paramedics. Advanced digital connectivity supports efficient restocking and vehicle maintenance, while the lightweight design helps reduce emissions and operating costs associated with using heavier vehicles.
The all-new, lightweight ambulance design is compliant with the national specification advocated by the Lord Carter Report, offering all the equipment and capability of a front-line ambulance within a 3.5-tonne gross vehicle weight. The lightweight design also has been developed to provide a future-proof solution for ambulance operators looking to transition to zero-emission fleets.
More details concerning 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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Contacts:
| Ford: Dan Alcock | dalcock2@ford.com | +44 7860 911465 |
| Venari Group: Craig Thurston | cthurston@ohvtech.com | +44 07813 434079 |
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford trucks, utility vehicles, and cars – increasingly including electrified versions – and Lincoln luxury vehicles; provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company; and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected vehicle services. Ford employs approximately 186,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Britain has been sales leader in the U.K. for passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles for 44 and 55 consecutive years respectively, with Fiesta being the country’s top-selling vehicle the last 12 years. The U.K. is Ford’s third-largest global market, accounting for around 30 percent of Ford total vehicle sales in Europe. Ford is going “all-in” on electrification, with its passenger vehicle range moving to all-electric by 2030. Ford directly employs around 7,000 people in the U.K., with thousands more employed in its extensive dealer network. The Ford Britain Dunton Campus in Essex is the home of Ford’s European commercial vehicle business group, the Ford of Britain national sales company, Ford’s banking arm – Ford Credit Europe – and powertrain engineering. Around 85 percent of engines and all transmissions built in the U.K. are exported to more than 15 countries on six continents. Total value of Ford exports is around £2.5 billion annually.
About Venari Group
Venari Group is the largest and most innovative manufacturer of emergency vehicles and equipment in the UK, employing more than 130 people. Formed in 2019, the fast-growing company acquired 32 year-old O&H Vehicle Technology – Britain’s largest and most established manufacturer of ambulances – to re-ascertain its position as market leader within the sector. Led by industry stalwart, Oliver North, the firm has already won and executed prestigious, multi-million-pound contracts within the fire, ambulance, PTS and healthcare sectors and has partnered with some of the world’s most desirable equipment manufacturers to distribute their products.
