Case Study and Bid-winning Solution Analysis for the Hefei Municipal Government Procurement of Ford Transit V362 Service Vehicles I. Project Background: From Frontline Needs to Procurement Implementation In Q3 2025, a municipal sanitation department planned to procure a batch of mobile service vehicles to enhance road inspection, emergency repair, and equipment transportation efficiency within its jurisdiction. Following preliminary market research and multiple internal reviews, the Ford Transit V362 was selected as the chassis platform and specified for conversion into a multi-functional service vehicle. The project budget was capped at approximately RMB 399,000. Based on publicly available tender information, Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd. delivered five customized service vehicles. These vehicles are primarily deployed for routine municipal infrastructure inspections, transportation of small-scale maintenance tools and spare parts, and temporary staff commuting. Customer feedback indicates that vehicle delivery significantly improved emergency response times across the jurisdiction—from an average of 45 minutes previously to under 20 minutes. II. Chassis Selection Analysis: Why the Ford Transit V362? In government procurement, chassis selection critically influences subsequent modification costs, maintenance convenience, and overall service life. For this project, Chengli’s technical team engaged in multiple rounds of consultation with the procuring entity and ultimately recommended the Ford Transit V362 as the primary chassis—comparing it against alternative options including Dongfeng, Sinotruk, Foton, and FAW. 1. Differences Among Dongfeng / Sinotruk / Foton / FAW Chassis Dongfeng, Sinotruk, Foton, and FAW chassis are widely used in sanitation and engineering vehicles; however, their strengths lie predominantly in medium- and heavy-duty applications (e.g., water-sprinkling trucks, garbage trucks). For lightweight service vehicles, these alternatives present the following limitations: Dongfeng Series (e.g., CLW5070GSSD6): Robust chassis structure, but relatively high curb weight and modest fuel efficiency; moreover, the conventional cab design is less suitable for service scenarios requiring frequent entry/exit. Sinotruk / Foton: Primarily focused on medium- and heavy-duty trucks; limited light commercial vehicle (LCV) chassis options result in suboptimal space utilization when converting to service vehicles. FAW: Similarly oriented toward heavy-duty trucks; narrow LCV product portfolio and insufficient after-sales service network coverage in certain regions. By contrast, the Ford Transit V362—a purpose-built light commercial vehicle chassis—offers the following core advantages: Load Capacity & Maneuverability: The V362 features a monocoque body structure with a maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of up to 3.5 tons. Its front MacPherson / rear leaf spring suspension system ensures both robust payload capability (supporting ~1.5 tons of equipment) and excellent urban-road maneuverability. With a wheelbase of 2,933 mm and a compact turning radius, it excels in navigating narrow streets typical of older urban districts. Maintenance Convenience: The Ford Transit series enjoys exceptionally high market penetration nationwide, supported by over 800 authorized service centers. Chengli preserved the original chassis structure during modification, enabling direct maintenance at any Ford-certified 4S dealership. The chassis remains covered under Ford’s nationwide warranty program, while the superstructure is backed by Chengli’s lifetime service commitment—including 24-hour express spare parts delivery. Fuel Efficiency: Equipped with a 2.0L turbo-diesel engine, the vehicle achieves an average combined fuel consumption of approximately 8.5 L/100 km—over 30% more efficient than comparable gasoline-powered models. Based on publicly disclosed tender data, the fleet of five vehicles is projected to travel ~120,000 km ann