Ford unveiled a new Courier battery-electric van aimed at winning business customers in Europe, and boxing out electric van startups such as Arrival.
The E-Transit Courier is part of a revamped lineup of small commercial vans for the European market that will also include gasoline and diesel models, Ford said in a statement.
The new Courier vans are 25 percent larger than the current model, and will carry heavier loads, Ford Pro chief Ted Cannis said in an interview.
The electric Courier will respond to European commercial customers who operate in cities, such as Paris, where officials have mapped out plans to ban combustion vehicles from city centers, Cannis said.
However, Cannis said, European countries are not shifting to electric vehicles at the same pace.
"Country by country, it's dramatically different," he said. Gasoline Couriers will stay in the lineup, with new models launching this summer.
"You have to mix and match all options market by market," Cannis said. "Which is what makes it so different for new players."
The E-Transit Courier will enter production next year. It will be built at Ford's Craiova plant in Romania alongside the Puma small crossover. Ford is expected to launch an all-electric version of the Puma next year.
Diesel and gasoline engine models can be ordered from this summer for delivery before year-end, Ford said.
The all-electric powertrain includes a powerful 100-kilowatt (134 hp) motor, the automaker said.
Ford said its full performance and range details will be confirmed closer to launch.