The Ford Transit Custom has won the International Van of the Year Award 2024, securing its fifth title and the most prestigious honour in the light commercial vehicle industry.

The jury of 24 members from leading commercial vehicle publications across Europe gave top marks to the latest Ford Transit Custom, ahead of the new Iveco eDaily which came in second and the Renault Trafic E-Tech in third place.

The other finalists included on the shortlist for the award were the HYVIA Master E-Tech, Mercedes-Benz eCitan and Vauxhall Vivaro-e Hydrogen, indicating the diversity and choice of drivetrains available in the light commercial vehicle sector.

“This is the fifth occasion that the Ford Transit has won IVOTY,” explained Jarlath Sweeney, chairman, IVOTY.

“First in 2001 and 2007 with the then all-encompassing model and soon after launching the new generation, stand alone, one-tonne variant, the Transit Custom secured the title in 2013 and again in 2020 and now for 2024,” he added.

Commenting prior to the IVOTY 2024 trophy presentation at the Solutrans 2023 exhibition at EuroExpo, Lyon, France, Hans Schep, Ford Pro Europe general manager said: “We are very proud that the IVOTY jury has bestowed this prestigious award on the all-new Transit Custom. As the leading one-tonne van of choice for European customers, the all-new Transit Custom has been designed and engineered to meet their wide-ranging needs. Along with our award-winning diesel, customers will soon also have the choice of electric and PHEV versions too. Every model is packed with innovation and superfast connectivity to Ford Pro’s uptime, charging and productivity software ecosystem to help our customers’ businesses thrive.”

Also recognised at the Solutrans event were the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok. The co-developed pick-up trucks were named winner of the International Pick-Up Award, beating the Ford Ranger Raptor and Toyota Hilux GR Sport II.

The Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok have been named as the winners of the International Pick-up Award (IPUA) following the announcement and twin-trophy presentation at the Solutrans in Lyon, France.

Announced at a gala dinner at the EuroExpo fair on 22 November, it is a ‘hat-trick’ of IPUA victories for the pair. The co-developed product saw the jury decide to share the award between the two brands and models. Their combined victory and unprecedented hat-trick is the first time this has occurred since the global honour was established in 2010.

“Following the IPUA 2023 Group Tests, held in Greece last month, it was impossible to separate the two models from each other, as both the new Ranger and Amarok were co-developed and are made at the Ford factory in South Africa. Although a collaboration project, each manufacturer has managed to maintain their unique styling and driving traits, which customers will testify,” explained Jarlath Sweeney, chairman of the International Pick-Up Award jury.

The seventh running of the award sees the sixth generation Ranger adding to the titles it won in 2013 and 2020. Thel Amarok won the inaugural trophy in 2011 and again in 2018 with the upgraded version of the Amarok V6. The Ranger and the Amarok beat competition from the Ford Ranger Raptor and the Toyota Hilux GR Sport II.

For Ford Pro, there was also a significant double in securing the International Van of the Year award for the Transit Custom.

Commenting prior to the handover of the twin trophy presentation, Hans Schep, general manager of Ford Pro Europe, said: “We are delighted that the Ford Ranger has been recognised by the IPUA jury for the third time, which is testament to its enduring appeal as Europe’s favourite pickup for the past eight years. The new Ford Ranger has the most comprehensive series choice yet, offering customers the on-road refinement and off-road capability to suit work days and weekends. It’s built ready for work and play.”

Volkswagen member of the brand management board responsible for procurement, Karl Bernqvist,  said: “The Amarok is a pick-up that delivers reliable performance both on and off the road. It impressed the jury in both cases. The International Pick-up Award for 2024/2025 means the Amarok has already achieved the ‘treble’ in just 14 years of production. This demonstration of trust honours the entire team at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. We would like to say thank you!”