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Last updated: 24 March 2026

This story comes from a Ford of Europe press release dated 17 June 2014, covering the all-new Ford Transit 2-tonne van (the full-size Transit introduced for Europe and also sold in North America). Ford said it used “accelerated ageing” to simulate 10 years of hard use in six months.

Which Transit was this about?

Ford’s release refers to the all-new Transit range being developed at the time, and says the accelerated durability programme covered van, chassis cab and minibus versions.

What Ford said the test programme involved

Ford said the Transit prototypes went through more than 30 vehicle durability tests at its Lommel proving ground in Belgium, alongside testing at Romeo, Michigan.

Key elements Ford highlighted included:

• Durability testing equivalent to 11 million kilometres of driving across proving grounds and extreme climates (Ford gives a temperature range of 40°C to -40°C)
• A trailer tow general durability test, run at maximum weight with a fully loaded trailer
• Being driven at top speed non-stop for two months, plus rough gravel roads and salt- and mud-baths
• Corrosion resistance testing in high-humidity chambers for 12 weeks and non-stop figures-of-eight for one month
• An extreme pothole/bump route completed more than 5,000 times, plus a kerb impact test (driving into a 140 mm kerb at 60 km/h)

Ford also said prototypes completed more than 500,000 km of “tough real-world use” with high-mileage Transit customers ahead of launch, and described engine/component rig testing designed to replicate heavy usage patterns quickly.

What changed as a result (according to Ford)

Ford said its testing led to more than 100 significant improvements. Examples Ford listed include a redesigned side rail on jumbo van models and strengthening of the rear cross-member on chassis cabs.

The practical takeaway for used buyers and fleets

Durability testing is useful context, but it’s not a promise that any individual used van will be trouble-free. If you’re buying or running a Transit (or any hard-worked van), the biggest reliability drivers are still:

• Service history and evidence of preventative maintenance
• Mileage and duty cycle (urban stop-start, heavy loads, towing, idle time)
• Condition checks, especially tyres, brakes, suspension, and corrosion-prone areas
• Whether you have appropriate warranty / breakdown cover for downtime risk (motor insurance typically isn’t there to pay for routine mechanical wear)

Sources

1. Ford of Europe (Ford Media Center) — “How Do You Prepare the All-New Ford Transit for Ten Year’s Hard Labour? With Six Months of Intense Punishment” (17 June 2014)