In a similar vein, as Ford's passenger car division in Europe is currently suffering, Ford's commercial-vehicle business of the American manufacturer is currently rising steeply. The latest figures were presented at the Ford Pro Heroes Days, which took place at an illustrious venue: Gut Lohmarhohn, founded in 1512, a listed estate near Lohmar by Cologne. The owner since 2004 is none other than Joey Kelly, known as a member of the Kelly Family and as an extreme-sport athlete.
Ford Pro grows against the market trend
Since 2021, when the “Coronadelle” led to delivery difficulties for the US company, Ford Pro's sales figures have risen steadily. In this period, the market share in Germany increased from 11.6% to 18.4% (1st half of 2025). Especially the jump from 2024 (14.7%) was substantial – a growth against the market trend. Step by step, Ford Pro is thus creeping up on the leader Daimler, and has already overtaken Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. In Europe the company has been market leader for ten years. And in electric vans, Ford Pro has now achieved a market share of 24.0% (1st half of 2025). By the end of 2025, major customer DHL will have received 2,400 E-Transit and E-Transit Custom. In total, the parcel and express service will have added 4,900 Ford Pro e-Transporters to its German delivery fleet.
By year-end, Ford Pro aims to sell more than 90,000 commercial vehicles in Germany – compared with just under 78,500 last year, which already represented a record here. At least about 11% of them are planned to be electrified. This share is expected to rise significantly in the coming years, as the corresponding electric models are now widely available. In the second half of the year, the electrification rate already jumped to around 20%.
Wilhelm Buchmüller, Head of Fleet Sales for Cars/Commercial Vehicles, attributes these successes mainly to the revamp of the lineup since the end of 2022. In this process, all five model ranges are now electrified as plug-in hybrids or pure electric.
“Special requirements demand tailored solutions – and that is the core element of our success,” explained Buchmüller at Gut Lohmarhohn.
Software solutions increase efficiency
And tailor-made solutions are not only vehicle-related but also software-related for Ford Pro. This is primarily represented by Ford Pro Telematics. The software converts real-time data directly from the vehicle into information and warnings that simplify fleet management. In the “Essentials” version, the fleet-management tool is free and includes vehicle real-time status as well as proactive maintenance management. In the paid extension “Telematics,” the fleet utilization should be optimized by tracking the vehicles, and operating-cost items reduced through consumption reports. In addition, on the driver side there are health warnings, training and communication with dispatchers as well as a “driver monitoring” – in the sense of an assistance function, not control. Through the corresponding app there is not only contact with the drivers, but the vehicles can also be tracked to plan and execute tours as efficiently as possible.
In addition, Ford Pro E-Telematics provides specific functions to deploy electric vehicles as effectively as possible. These include the current state of charge, the vehicle-specific charge status, and the remaining range. The thresholds
for warnings at low remaining range can be set individually. For this, every Ford electric commercial vehicle has an integrated modem. With it, customers can fully use the Ford Pro offering of connected services and solutions.
Telematics costs 18 euros per month per vehicle. For larger fleets, the total cost for Ford and thus the price per vehicle is lower. Customers can, accordingly, subscribe to special packages, reported Lars Burbach, Ford Pro GTM Manager, during the Ford Pro Heroes Days.
Pilot project with dealers
Ford Pro has, by the way, started a one-year pilot project with 16 dealers and 3,000 of them piloted vehicles. The goal from 2026 is that these partners, certified by the vehicle manufacturer, will be able in the future to solve their customers’ problems with the help of software monitoring, so that they can fully focus on their business, ideally even before they occur – a move from reactive to proactive support. So far, the dealer is involved only after a vehicle failure or another problem.
Protection of customer data at Ford Pro is given priority. The high data-protection standards are confirmed by the ISO 27001 information-security certification that Ford Pro Telematics, Telematics Essentials, and E-Telematics recently received. The sharing of customer data with third parties is strictly taboo.
“This global and very elaborate ISO certification was very important to us,” emphasized Lars Burbach.
In the past two years, the number of Ford Pro-connected commercial vehicles has risen by more than 40% to around 5.2 million. The US manufacturer recorded a worldwide increase in paid subscribers for its software solutions by 27% in 2024, reaching almost 650,000.
The digitalization and data-security backlog is immense, according to a recent Ford Pro data study. Only one in ten small transport companies knows how to save time and money with vehicle data. And 71% of parcel-delivery drivers know little about telematics usage. At the same time, 94% of them are concerned about data privacy.
The Ranger Plug-in Hybrid
At the Ford Pro Heroes Days, it was, of course, not only about registration figures, software, data security, etc., but about the proverbial “experiencing” of the Ford Pro lineup, especially the electrified variants. Focus was on: the latest addition among Ford Pro’s electrified vehicle variants, the Ranger Plug-in Hybrid. The first pickup plug-in in Europe combines a petrol and electric motor and enables locally emission-free driving with up to 43 km of range – more than the distance that 52% of Ranger customers travel daily, as Ford determined. The plug-in hybrid variant has the same characteristics that European customers have valued for more than a quarter of a century in the versatile and rugged pickup: payload, towing capacity, and off-road performance.
The new plug-in-hybrid model is available as the Stormtrak special edition as well as in the Wildtrak and XLT trims. In addition, the Power-Onboard system makes its debut in the range. This provides up to 6.9 kW of power from the battery via outlets on the bed to run electrical tools or devices for work and leisure – without relying on a loud and bulky generator.
The production of the vehicle for Europe recently began in South Africa’s Silverton. The first
deliveries are already on their way to customers. The completely redesigned plug-in-hybrid drive combines a 2.3 L Ford EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine and a ten-speed automatic with a 75 kW electric motor and a battery with 11.8 kWh net capacity – intentionally sized small so that the Ranger retains its character as a workhorse. Had it been larger and heavier, a truck license would have been required to operate the vehicle. The batteries can be energized via an external power source, the internal combustion engine, or by recuperation. With a single-phase 16-A charger, the energy store can be fully charged in less than four hours.
On test drive
The modular hybrid transmission integrates the electric motor into the torque-converter housing of the ten-speed automatic. An electronically controlled clutch mechanism governs, depending on the selected driving program, the power transfer from the combustion and electric motors – thereby optimizing drivetrain efficiency as well as the available torque. This proves especially beneficial when towing a trailer or driving off-road. We experienced this live on our test route around Gut Lohmarhohn and on to Lohmar and Siegburg. The plug-in-hybrid Ranger appeared powerful and torque-rich on the day’s muddy terrain, and at the same time the new form of power transfer also provided smooth running and high driving comfort.
The transitions between the individual drive modes happen seamlessly. If the stop-start system switches the gasoline engine off temporarily at a red light or in stop-and-go traffic, the standard two-zone climate control can continue to run electronically. The Active Noise-Canceling technology – as known from premium headphones – refines the acoustic backdrop independently of the selected driving mode.
The maximum torque of 697 Nm, by the way, sets a new best value for Ranger series models. With 207 kW/281 PS, the plug-in-hybrid version also has higher performance than the Ranger with the 3.0 L V6 turbo diesel. The immediately available torque at launch and the regenerative braking also enhance off-road capabilities and help to master demanding off-road sections.
The e-4WD all-wheel-drive system of the Ranger Plug-in-Hybrid can automatically send the torque from the petrol, electric, or hybrid drive to all four wheels in such driving situations. In addition, the driver receives support from a transfer case with reduction gear and a locked differential on the rear axle. Driving modes available are Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, Towing/Transport, Mud/Ruts, and Sand. With them, the torque distribution can be adjusted to the respective conditions.
In addition, a payload of up to 1 t and a maximum towing load of 3,500 kg – requirements that, according to Ford surveys, 55% of Ranger customers place on their pickup. Ford Pro has developed rear frame rails to accommodate the traction battery. This keeps the functionality of the cargo bed unchanged. A special calibration ensures that despite the special chassis and unusual weight distribution, the comfort features and the driving behavior both on road and off-road reach the level of the sister models.
Under Power
As the first Ranger ever, the plug-in-hybrid version offers the Pro-Power Onboard technology. It can power several electrical consumers simultaneously from the traction battery. The 2.3-kW system is more suitable for leisure use. It can, for example, on
a weekend trip, charge several e-mountain bikes (650 W) and power a portable 5-W fridge. The 6.9-kW variant, however, provides with two additional 15-A outlets at the bed area, each delivering 3.45 kW, also for more demanding commercial needs. It delivers enough power for a small construction site where, for example, a compact cement mixer (1,500 W), an angle grinder (3,000 W) and a floodlight (800 W) can operate simultaneously.
Each Ranger in the plug-in-hybrid variant offers a double cab with five seats and a rugged cargo bed. Between the wheel arches, a European pallet fits. An easy-lift tailgate eases convenient access to the cargo, and bed lighting is also part of standard equipment.
Modern interior
The driver’s cabin features Ford Sync 4, the connectivity and infotainment system. It offers connected navigation, a vertical 12-inch touchscreen, digital instruments in an 8-inch format, and a wireless charging pad for compatible smartphones. Standard driver-assistance systems include Pre-Collision Assist, Lane-C keeping, and a rear-view camera.
Exclusivity, always
Although the blue Ranger MS-RT Plug-in-Hybrid parked in Joey Kelly's barn during the Heroes Days was not yet available for test drives, this variant from the English tuning house MS-RT still wore its sportiness on its face. It stands out particularly through its appearance, inspired by extreme Ranger race versions, from the standard model. It is immediately recognizable by the honeycomb grille and front-end splitters, the distinctive rear bumper with integrated diffuser, and elegant side skirts. In the wind tunnel, aerodynamically refined air-guiding elements on the cab roof and on the tailgate – the so-called Ducktail spoiler – are intended to provide a balanced aero balance and improve driving stability at higher speeds.
Characteristic features
The characteristic features also include the chassis modifications. They include, for example, a refined setup with adjusted shock absorbers on the front axle and the conspicuous 40 mm lower ride height. In addition to the comfort features, this also improves handling and enables more precise suspension responses as well as a more stable cornering behavior. The 40 mm widened track and 21-inch diamond-cut wheels with low-profile tires in 275/45 R21 also contribute. To fit in the wheel arches, the fenders were each extended by 40 mm and given angular extensions. As a result, the vehicle width at the front and rear axles increases by 82 mm. The exterior colors Fast Blue and Yellow Green as well as the new Turini Purple are exclusive to the MS-RT models.
In the double cabin of the dynamic Ranger PHEV, the sport seats with Eco-Wild and leatherette upholstery and blue contrasting stitching stand out. Passengers in the front row benefit from additional side guidance elements as well as seats with a special LED focal point: illuminated MS-RT logos. They light up when the doors are opened. Similar LED effects also decorate the floor mats. The heated sport steering wheel features a blue 12-o’clock mark.
Further test drives
We drove additional electrified Ford Pro models at the Heroes Days, including the compact and nimble Transit Connect Plug-in Hybrid L1 van, an E-Transit Box Truck L4/H3, and an E-Transit Custom Box Truck 320 L1. Read more about it in our photo gallery, which offers some visual impressions of
