To about the same extent as Ford's passenger-car division is currently suffering in Europe, the 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 a prestigious venue: Gut Lohmarhohn, founded in 1512, a listed estate near Lohmar, near Cologne. The owner since 2004 is none other than Joey Kelly, known as a member of the Kelly Family and an extreme-sports athlete.
Ford Pro grows against the market trend
Since 2021, when the “Coronadelle” led to supply difficulties at the US company, Ford Pro's sales figures have been steadily rising. In this period, the market share in Germany increased from 11.6% to 18.4% (H1 2025). Especially the jump in 2024 (14.7%) was substantial – a growth against the market trend. Step by step Ford Pro is creeping up on the leader Daimler, having already overtaken Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. In Europe the company has been market leader for ten years. And in the field of e-transporters, Ford Pro has even reached a market share of 24.0% (H1 2025). By the end of 2025, DHL as a major customer will have received 2,400 E-Transit and E-Transit Custom. In total, the parcel- and express-delivery service will have added 4,900 Ford Pro e-transporters to its German delivery fleet.
By the end of the year, Ford Pro aims to sell more than 90,000 commercial vehicles in Germany – compared with just under 78,500 last year, which already set a record here. At least about 11% of them are to be electrified. This share, however, 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 Cars/Commercial Vehicles, attributes these successes mainly to the overhaul 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 vehicles.
“Special requirements require tailor-made 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 available from Ford Pro for vehicles but also on the software side. This is especially true for Ford Pro Telematics. The software converts real-time data 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 expansion “Telematics,” the fleet utilization is to be optimized by tracking the vehicles. On the driver side, there are health warnings, training and communication with the dispatchers, as well as a “driver monitoring” – as a helper feature, 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 in the best possible way.
Connectivity as a Plus
Added to this is Ford Pro E Telematics with specific functions to deploy electric vehicles as efficiently as possible. These include the current charging status, the vehicle-specific state of charge, 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 to Ford, and thus the price per vehicle, is lower. Customers can opt for special packages in this regard, reported Lars Burbach, Manager Ford Pro GTM, 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 their vehicles piloted. The goal from 2026 is that these partners, certified by the vehicle manufacturer, will in the future solve their customers’ problems with the help of software monitoring, so that they can fully focus on their business, ideally even before they occur – thus the shift from reactive to proactive support. So far, the dealer is involved only after a vehicle breakdown or another problem.
In doing so, protecting customer data at Ford Pro is given priority. The high data protection standards are confirmed by the ISO 27001 information-security certification, which 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 demanding ISO certification was very important to us,” emphasized Lars Burbach.
In the past two years, the number of Ford Pro-connected commercial vehicles has grown by more than 40% to around 5.2 million. The US manufacturer recorded a worldwide 27% increase in paid subscribers to its software solutions in 2024, reaching nearly 650,000.
The need for digitization and data security is immense, as a current Ford Pro data study shows. Only one in ten small transport companies knows how to save time and money with vehicle data. And 71% of van drivers know little about telematics usage. At the same time, however, 94% of them worry about data protection.
The Ranger Plug-in Hybrid
At the Ford Pro Heroes Days, of course it was not only about registration figures, software, data security & Co., but about the proverbial “experiencing” of the Ford Pro model range, especially the electrified versions. The focus was on the latest addition among Ford Pro's electrified vehicle variants, the Ranger Plug-in Hybrid. The first plug-in pickup in Europe combines petrol and electric motor and enables locally emissions-free driving with up to 43 km range – more than the distance that 52% of Ranger customers would typically travel, according to Ford. 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, load capacity, and off-road performance.
The new plug-in hybrid model is available as the Stormtrak special edition and in the Wildtrak and XLT trim levels. In addition, the Power-Onboard system is making its debut in the range. This provides up to 6.9 kW of power from the battery via sockets on the loading area to power electric tools or devices for work and leisure – without relying on a loud and bulky generator.
Ten-speed automatic on board
The production of the vehicle for Europe has recently started in Silverton, South Africa. The
first deliveries are already on their way to customers. The completely newly developed plug-in hybrid drive combines a 2.3-liter Ford EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine and a ten-speed automatic with a 75 kW electric motor and a battery with a net capacity of 11.8 kWh – deliberately sized small so that the Ranger retains its working-horse character. If it were larger and heavier, a truck license would have been required to operate the vehicle. The batteries are charged anew energy either via an external power source, the combustion engine, or recuperation. With a single-phase 16-A charger, the energy storage is fully charged in less than four hours.
On test drive: Smooth off-road
The modular hybrid transmission integrates the electric motor into the gearset housing of the ten-speed automatic. An electronically controlled clutch mechanism regulates, depending on the selected driving program, the power transfer of the combustion and the electric motor – thereby optimizing both drivetrain efficiency and the available torque. This is particularly noticeable when towing a trailer or driving off-road. We experienced this live during our test rounds around Gut Lohmarhohn and on to Lohmar and Siegburg. The plug-in-hybrid Ranger proved powerful and traction-ready in the muddy terrain of the day, and at the same time the new form of power transfer also provided a pleasant smoothness and high ride comfort.
Transitions between the individual drive modes occur seamlessly. If the stop-start system switches the petrol engine off temporarily at a red light or in stop-and-go traffic, the standard two-zone climate control can continue to run electrically. The Active Noise Canceling technology – as known from premium headphones – refines the acoustic backdrop independently of the chosen driving mode.
Torque benchmark
The maximum torque of 697 Nm, by the way, represents a new best figure for Ranger series models. With 207 kW/281 hp, the plug-in hybrid version also has higher output than the Ranger with a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel. The torque available immediately at launch and the regenerative braking also enhance off-road capabilities and make it easier to tackle demanding off-road passages.
The e-4WD all-wheel-drive system of the Ranger Plug-in Hybrid can automatically send torque from the petrol, electric, or hybrid drive to all four wheels in such driving situations. In addition, the driver gets support from a transfer case with a reduction gear and a locked rear differential. The driving modes Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, Tow/Haul, Mud/Ruts and Sand are available. With them, the torque distribution can be adjusted to the respective conditions.
Towing capacity up to 3,500 kilograms
In addition, a payload of up to 1 t and a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 kg – requirements that, according to Ford surveys, 55% of Ranger customers place on their pickups. Ford Pro has developed rear frame rails specifically to accommodate the traction battery. This keeps the functionality of the loading area unchanged. A special tuning ensures that, despite the special chassis and the unusual weight distribution, the comfort and handling on road as well as off-road reach the level of the sister models.
Powered
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 operate a portable 5-W refrigerator. The 6.9-kW variant, however, with two additional 15-A sockets in the loading area, each delivering 3.45 kW, also meets more demanding needs from the commercial sector. It provides 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 be used simultaneously.
Each Ranger in the plug-in-hybrid variant offers a double cab with five seats and a rugged loading bed. A Europallet fits between the wheel arches. An easy-lift tailgate makes access to the cargo area easier, and a loading-area light is also part of the standard equipment.
Modern interior
The driver’s cabin features the Ford Sync 4 communications and entertainment system. It offers connected navigation, a vertical 12” touchscreen, digital instruments in an 8” format, and a wireless charging pad for compatible smartphones. Standard driver-assistance systems include Pre-Collision-Assist, Lane-Keeping Assist, and a rear-view camera.
Exclusivity always has its place
Although the blue Ranger MS-RT Plug-in-Hybrid stored in Joey Kelly's barn at the Heroes Days was not yet available for test drives, this variant from the English tuning house MS-RT still conveyed its sportiness. It stands out especially through its look, inspired by extreme Ranger racing versions, from the standard model. It is immediately recognizable by the waffle grille and front-end vents, the distinctive rear bumper with integrated diffuser element, and elegant side skirts. In the wind tunnel, refined air-guiding elements on the cabin roof and on the tailgate – the so-called Ducktail spoiler – are intended to, particularly at higher speeds, provide a balanced aero balance and improve driving stability.
Among the distinctive features are also the chassis modifications. These include, for example, a refined setup with adjusted shock absorbers on the front axle and the pronounced 40 mm lowering of the body. In addition to comfort, this also improves handling and enables more precise chassis responses as well as more stable cornering. The same goes for the 40 mm wider track and 21” diamond-cut wheels with low-profile tires sized 275/45 R21. To fit into the wheel arches, the fenders were widened by 40 mm each and given angular extensions. This increases the vehicle width at the front and rear axles by 82 mm. Exterior colors Fast Blue and Yellow Green as well as the new Turini Purple are exclusive to the MS-RT models.
In the double cab of the dynamic Ranger PHEV model, the sports seats with Eco-Wild and faux-leather upholstery and blue contrast stitching stand out. Passengers in the front row benefit from additional lateral guidance elements and backrests with a special LED focal point: illuminated MS-RT logos. They light up as soon as the doors are opened. Similar LED effects also decorate the floor mats. The heated sport steering wheel features a blue 12 o’clock marker.
Further test drives
During the Heroes Days we tested additional electrified Ford Pro models, including the small and nimble Transit Connect Plug-in Hybrid L1 van, a Ford E-Transit van L4/H3, and an E-Transit Custom van 320 L1. Read more about it in our photo gallery, which offers some visual impressions from
