Ford Motor Co. believes a groundswell of demand is building for medium-duty cutaway truck chassis — so much so that the company has reserved an entire factory production line for the new E-550 cutaway it will roll out in January.
At last month's Great American Truck Show in Dallas, Ford explained that its research indicates some 42% of market demand for the new cutaway will come from package delivery companies.
John Fink, director-commercial truck sales & marketing division, stated that demand for package delivery trucks will grow enormously over the next three years, thanks to e-commerce activity.
“We think the prospective package delivery truck market will grow four to five times faster because of e-commerce,” he said. “Right now, e-commerce activity is predicted to reach $3 trillion by 2004, so we want to position ourselves to be the dominant player in package delivery trucks.”
Fink added that Ford began developing the E-550 two-and-a-half years ago based on feedback from truck body makers. Those manufacturers said there was growing demand for a higher-GVWR cutaway, along with demand for more wheelbase options.
According to Fink, the E-550 was developed to meet those demands. The truck will be offered with 17,500- and 19,000-lb. GVW options. It will be powered by a 6.8-liter V10 gasoline or 7.3-liter Powerstroke diesel engine. The truck will offer five wheelbase options, ranging from 159.5 in. with a 49.8-ft. turning radius all the way up to a 233.5-in. with 70.5-ft. turning radius spec. Ford has also given the truck a beefed-up front axle, boasting a GAWR of 6,000 lb.
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