Ford's Accessible Vans to Tour Spain with Adapta Tour

Spain is a global leader in accessibility for people with disabilities. Although the European law on this matter has been approved, its enforcement will begin next month, on June 28.

"We already have more advanced legislation than what Europe establishes, as we have regulations on the built environment and transport, affecting adapted vehicles like taxis or buses," stated Jesús Hernández, Director of Accessibility at the ONCE Foundation, in an interview with ABC.

"The new regulation does not directly impact the vehicle but focuses on systems that can be operated autonomously, such as purchasing a ticket or interacting with a website," which are tangential issues to public transport itself.

"The Madrid Metro is doing quite an interesting job, although we have a long way to go. Significant investments are being made to improve station accessibility, as these are not ordinary elevators and require an expenditure of 20 million euros."

However, "a vehicle can change a life. Ensuring that people with reduced mobility have equal access to transport is not a luxury but a right that allows their full inclusion in society," Hernández concluded.

Last week, Ford announced the Adapta Tour 2025, showcasing some of its commercial vehicles transformed for people with reduced mobility. These will be traveling itinerantly across various Spanish municipalities.

Among them, the new Tourneo Custom will be a highlight, available in diesel or plug-in hybrid engines. Adapted by Rehatrans, it is the only model on the market that allows a wheelchair to travel with up to five companions in the rear and can be modularly adapted to different types of passengers.

Hernández highlighted that 5% of a city's taxi fleet must be equipped to serve people with reduced mobility, and there are cities that still do not meet this requirement. "In many cases, they are not used as needed but are instead used to transport groups," he lamented.

Ford, through its Adapta initiative, has been promoting the development of such vehicles for years and collaborates with other companies to carry out the transformations. Of course, the additional cost is considerable, which is why many are relegated to professional use.

"At Ford, we believe mobility should be accessible to everyone. This tour not only showcases technology and electrification but also reflects our commitment to a more inclusive society," stated Jesús Alonso, President of Ford Spain.