Who makes Ford Transit engines?
The engines powering the Ford Transit are designed and built by Ford Motor Company. In Europe and other markets, the Transit runs on Ford-developed diesel engines from the Duratorq/TDCi line (now largely represented by EcoBlue) and, where offered, Ford EcoBoost petrol engines. In short, Ford itself is the primary engine maker for the Transit, rather than an outside supplier.
Engine families powering the Transit
To understand what powers the Transit, here are the main engine families Ford has used in the model over the years. Each family represents Ford's in-house development and manufacturing effort for this van.
- Duratorq/TDCi diesel engines (2.0–2.2 liters): Ford’s earlier diesel family, used across multiple Transit generations, designed and manufactured by Ford as part of its European powertrain lineup.
- EcoBlue diesel engines (2.0 liters): The modern Ford diesel family introduced in the mid-2010s, built by Ford for efficient performance in the Transit with various power outputs.
- EcoBoost petrol engines (where offered in some markets): Ford’s turbocharged petrol options used in regions that sell petrol variants of the Transit; these are part of Ford’s global EcoBoost family and developed in-house.
These are the principal engine families associated with the Transit across its major markets. Variants and power outputs depend on model year and regional specifications.
Diesel versus petrol options
Diesel engines are the most common powerplant for the Transit due to efficiency and torque needs for cargo and commercial use, while petrol (EcoBoost) options have appeared in select markets or configurations where gasoline availability or policy favors them. Ford assigns and calibrates these engines to optimize load capacity, fuel economy, and emissions for each market.
Manufacturing and sourcing
Ford designs and manufactures the Transit’s engines within its own powertrain operations. The engines are produced at Ford's European and North American powertrain facilities, with assembly and integration aligned to Transit production lines. Like most modern engines, the Transit engines incorporate components sourced from a network of specialized suppliers, but Ford maintains overall responsibility for design, engineering, and final assembly.
- In-house development: Duratorq/TDCi and EcoBlue diesel engines built as part of Ford's own engine families.
- Petrol options: EcoBoost-based engines developed and assembled by Ford for markets that offer petrol Transit variants.
Ford emphasizes consistency across markets by using its own engine families, while tailoring specifications to regional regulations, fuel availability, and customer needs.
Summary
The Ford Transit is powered by Ford-designed and manufactured engines. The core diesel line has evolved from Duratorq/TDCi to EcoBlue, with optional EcoBoost petrol variants in some markets. Production and engineering are handled by Ford’s powertrain teams in its own facilities, ensuring control over performance, efficiency, and emissions across the model’s global lineup.
