Ford Transit Custom wins Richard Parry-Jones Memorial Medal
The award and certificate were presented to Adrian Whittle CEng FIMechE, Chief Engineer for Transit Custom.
Outstanding engineering shapes products, industries and careers. The Richard Parry-Jones Memorial Medal recognises automotive engineering that delivers real-world impact through innovation, customer focus and exceptional vehicle dynamics.
The 2024 award highlights how system-level thinking and platform engineering can meet diverse customer needs without compromising performance or drivability.
Award presentation at Ford Dunton
The medal was presented at Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre on Thursday 19 November, during a dedicated event attended by Transit senior engineering leadership and around 100 key members of the development team. Directors from the US and Asia also joined via video messages, underlining the global significance of the achievement.
The award and certificate were presented to Adrian Whittle CEng FIMechE, Chief Engineer for Transit Custom, recognising the collective work of the wider engineering team.
Why the Transit Custom stood out
The IMechE judging panel recognised the Transit Custom as a clear sector benchmark. Key factors included:
“The IMechE judges were particularly impressed with the way in which the Ford Engineering team were able to offer three very different propulsion alternatives: diesel, plug-in hybrid and full electric, in a common platform, to suit the widest possible range of customers.”
A worthy winner
By combining platform flexibility, advanced dynamics and customer-led design, the Ford Transit Custom demonstrates the kind of engineering leadership the Richard Parry-Jones Memorial Medal was created to celebrate.
Complementing the core vehicle engineering is a suite of connectivity and driver assistance technologies, specifically tuned for professional users. Together, these systems support safety, productivity and ease of use, key reasons the Transit Custom continues to lead its market.
About the Richard Parry-Jones Memorial Medal
Created by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the medal honours the legacy of Richard Parry-Jones, often described as the ‘CEO of driving dynamics’. His influence transformed vehicle development by raising expectations for:
- Vehicle dynamics and ride/handling
- Engineering quality and robustness
- Customer-focused design
The medal celebrates technical excellence that changes expectations across the automotive sector.
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