Ford Adding Second Vehicle at Romania Plant

Ford confirms it will add a second vehicle at its Romanian production plant as part of a €200 million ($235 million) investment that will generate 1,500 new jobs.

The undisclosed new model will join current production at the Craiova assembly plant, including Ford’s EcoSport small CUV plus the 1.0L EcoBoost engine. The model and start date for production of the second vehicle will be confirmed closer to launch.

Ford’s overall investment in its Romanian manufacturing operations is nearly €1.5 billion ($1.76 billion) since acquiring the Craiova factory in 2008. Upgrades have included adding more than 550 robots at the facility to improve efficiency and quality in the paint, body and trim and chassis shops. The new jobs come from the addition of a third shift to augment the current workforce of more than 4,400.

Ford says its investment shows it has placed its trust in the Romanian government’s promises to deliver the key infrastructure and logistics upgrades needed to maintain the Craiova operation’s global competitiveness.

The Craiova-built EcoSport, launched in 2017, is sold across Europe and features a powerful and fuel-efficient new 1.5L EcoBlue diesel, Intelligent All Wheel Drive and a sporty ST-Line model.

“This new investment will add to our evolving lineup of exciting new models manufactured in Europe and continues the transformation of our Craiova facility,” says Steven Armstrong, president and CEO-Ford of Europe, Middle East & Africa. “The addition of this second vehicle is a testament to the operational flexibility of our Craiova plant and reflects the strong partnerships we have with local suppliers and the community.”