British motoring experts The AA has added 700 new Ford Transit Customs to its fleet of roadside assistance vans - including electric and plug-in hybrid models.
For around 50 years, Ford has supported the AA's work in providing roadside assistance to its more than 14 million members across the UK.
That partnership continues, with Ford and the AA working to enhance the experience not only for members but also for employees and the business as a whole through the integration of digital solutions.
Operating costs must be kept as low as possible, given that the AA fleet consists of around 2,700 vehicles used daily to get customers back on the road. In 2023, the AA and Ford ran a trial using a Ford Transit Custom van fitted with Ford’s Upfit Integration System (UIS) that proved so successful that 700 of the vans are now being added to the AA’s fleet.
The UIS system has been designed to integrate the specialist tools and equipment found in every AA van so that they can all be controlled via the infotainment system. This means that the patrols can enable everything from LED hazard beacons, jump-start connection points, breakdown diagnostics, and towing equipment using the 13-inch cab-based touchscreen.
Each AA van previously combined equipment from 11 different companies, but utilising the UIS makes it less complex, reduces conversion costs, and retains the full Ford warranty.
With fewer extra screens, brackets and switches needing to be mounted on board to control different equipment, the cabin has less clutter, making it a more pleasant environment for the driver — and their temporary customers riding alongside during a recovery.
Alongside the UIS, the Transit Custom van used in the trial had Ford’s Sync integration module on board. This piece of equipment allows a third-party touchscreen located in the load area to be connected, replacing the more costly Toughbooks previously used to access parts information and other AA systems.
To aid the future development of the UIS and other systems, data sharing is being used to enable Ford to see just how patrols use the equipment.
Tony Rich, PR manager at The AA:
“Having a system that allows our patrols to operate crucial systems from one interface is ideal for us. It also needs to be intuitive and require minimal touch, because it’s essential that our patrols are not distracted while they’re driving. The Upfit Integration System has allowed us to tick all those boxes.”
Ryan Wells, special vehicles, Ford Pro:
“In the past, customers with specialist conversions could end up with lots of extra switches and wiring. The Ford Pro Upfit Integration System integrates everything into Transit Custom's 13‑inch display, so now drivers can control the full vehicle upfit using just the touchscreen.”
Of the 700 Transit Custom vans ordered by the AA following the trial's success — each kitted out with Ford’s digital solutions — 15 are electric E-Transit Custom models, and 15 are Transit Custom Plug-in Hybrid vans.
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