What was the last year Ford made the Econoline Van?
The last year Ford produced the Econoline van was 2014. Ford subsequently shifted its North American full-size van lineup to the Transit, ending the long-running Econoline/E-Series era.
Context and scope
The Econoline name has long been used for Ford's full-size vans in North America, serving as both cargo and passenger configurations for commercial fleets and large families. In the mid-2010s, Ford reorganized its commercial van lineup, retiring the Econoline/E-Series in favor of the Transit for most markets in North America. This shift marked the end of an era that traced back to Ford's first full-size van introduced in the early 1960s.
Key milestones in the Econoline lineage
Here are the major points that define the Econoline's journey from debut to retirement:
- The original Ford Econoline was introduced in 1961 as Ford's first full-size van designed for commercial use and fleet service.
- Over the decades, the line evolved through several generations and became widely known in North America as the E-Series cargo van and, in some trims, as a passenger van.
- In the 2010s, Ford accelerated the transition to the Transit platform, aligning its global van strategy around a common, modern design language.
- The production of Econoline/E-Series cargo vans in North America ended with the 2014 model year, after which the Transit became Ford's standard full-size van offering there.
- From 2015 onward, the Transit established itself as Ford's primary commercial van in North America, with ongoing development and a global footprint.
These milestones illustrate how the Econoline evolved over time and why Ford ultimately retired the line in favor of the Transit for the North American market.
Regional differences and industry impact
While 2014 marked the end of new Econoline shipments in the United States and Canada, the broader shift to the Transit reflected a wider industry move toward modern, modular van platforms. Fleets that had relied on Econoline models began transitioning to Transit vehicles, with implications for body builders, rental fleets, and commercial operators who had to adapt to new configurations and features.
Summary
The Ford Econoline van’s retirement came with the 2014 model year in North America, as Ford consolidated its lineup around the Ford Transit. The transition reflected broader industry trends toward unified, modern van platforms and signaled the end of a decades-long era for Ford’s traditional full-size cargo and passenger vans.
