Ford Starts European Production of the New EcoSport SUV in Romania to Meet Growing Customer Demand | Ford of Europe

Production of new Ford EcoSport SUV begins in Craiova, Romania, meeting growing customer demand for small SUVs and bringing new jobs to Europe
Ford investing up to €200 million in Craiova to build EcoSport; Ford’s overall investment in the country since 2008 in Craiova exceeds €1 billion
New EcoSport production creates 1,700 new jobs at Ford’s world-class Romanian plant; 3,900 people to be employed at the plant by year-end. Craiova-made EcoSport will be sold in 56 markets on four continents
Redesigned Ford EcoSport features a more sophisticated cabin, a powerful, fuel-efficient new 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel, Intelligent All Wheel Drive and as a sporty ST-Line model

CRAIOVA, Romania, Oct. 12, 2017 – Ford Motor Company -- taking aim at Europe’s fastest-growing vehicle segment -- started production today of the new Ford EcoSport small SUV at its Craiova, Romania, assembly plant.

The decision to build the new EcoSport in Europe rather than continue to import the vehicle from Ford’s plant in Chennai, India, will help Ford respond to rising customer demand.

“EcoSport is another example of how Ford is growing our business on our strengths – including world-class SUVs,” said Steven Armstrong, Ford group vice president and president, Europe Middle East and Africa. “With demand growing for EcoSport, and compact SUVs in general, now is the right time to localize production in Europe to meet our customers’ needs.”

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Mihai Tudose and other senior national and local officials joined nearly 4,000 Ford workers as the first of the new EcoSports rolled off the lines.

Total industry sales of SUVs in Ford’s 20 European traditional markets grew by 27 percent last year and accounted for more than one in four new passenger car registrations. Ford’s SUV sales in Europe grew more than 30 percent in 2016 and have risen by 27 percent in the first eight months of 2017.

SUV growth means more jobs, too. By year-end, Ford is creating another 1,700 jobs at Ford Craiova, bringing the total workforce for both vehicle and engine production to 3,900. Ford’s total investment in its Romanian world-class facility now exceeds €1 billion since it took over the plant in March 2008.

Craiova is the sole source of EcoSport production for Europe (excluding Russia), supplying 56 markets on four continents. This includes markets as diverse as the United Kingdom, New Caledonia in Oceania, Turkmenistan in Central Asia, and South Africa.

The Ford Craiova team also will continue to produce Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine – the only engine to win the International Engine of the Year award four years in a row.

New Ford EcoSport

The new Ford EcoSport offers enhanced versatility and capability, more refined interior and exterior styling, plus a range of new technologies such as Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive, which provides improved on- and off-road traction. An advanced new 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel engine delivers up to 125 PS and optimized CO2 emissions.*

The redesigned cabin features easier-to-use controls and soft-touch materials, a new center console and more comfortable seats.
EcoSport also is available for the first time as a sporty, Ford Performance-inspired EcoSport ST-Line model.

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* The declared Fuel/Energy Consumptions, CO2 emissions and electric range are measured according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EC) 692/2008 as last amended. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are specified for a vehicle variant and not for a single car. The applied standard test procedure enables comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers. In addition to the fuel efficiency of a car, driving behaviour as well as other non-technical factors play a role in determining a car's fuel/energy consumption, CO2 emissions and electric range. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 203,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 52,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 66,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and eight unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.