Ford Starts Volume Vehicle Production in Romania; New Ford B-MAX First Off the Line at Craiova Plant

Ford starts volume vehicle production at its new world-class manufacturing facility in Craiova, Romania

• Ford also confirmed it is starting work to build a second engine in Craiova – a 1.5-litre petrol engine – which will go into volume production early in 2013
  First car to be built is the Ford B-MAX, an ingenious new B-segment multi-activity vehicle with a unique “easy access” door system, best-in-class petrol and diesel fuel economy, and smart technologies like Ford SYNC
• Event attended by Romanian President Traian Basescu, who purchased the first new
  Ford B-MAX
• In total, Ford is investing more than €675 million (about $875 million) in its Craiova engine and vehicle manufacturing facility
• Ford has invested more than €500 million (nearly $650 million) to modernise and upgrade the Craiova vehicle manufacturing plant
• Vehicle production follows the start of engine production last month at Craiova facility with start of production of Ford’s class-leading, 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine – the 2012 International Engine of the Year
• Ford also to start building a second engine in Craiova – a 1.5-litre petrol engine – which will go into volume production early in 2013.

CRAIOVA, Romania, June 25, 2012 – Ford Motor Company today started volume vehicle production at its new world class manufacturing facility in Craiova, Romania.
The new vehicle production plant is the result of more than €500 million (nearly $650 million) investment by Ford. In total, Ford is investing more than €675 million (about $875 million) in engine and vehicle production in Romania.

The first car to be built at Craiova is the Ford B-MAX, the innovative new B-segment multi-activity vehicle, which will be manufactured exclusively in the Romanian plant. The Ford B-MAX features best-in-class 1.5-metre unobstructed access to the cabin with the central body pillar uniquely integrated into the hinged front doors and sliding rear doors.

The event was attended by Romanian President Traian Basescu, who became the first official customer for the all-new Ford B-MAX now rolling off the line at the new factory.

“This is a great day for Ford Motor Company, our Craiova manufacturing facility, and for Romania,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe. “This is a world-class facility building two of Ford’s most advanced products – the Ford B-MAX and the 2012 International Engine of the Year, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine – to the highest quality levels for our customers.”

The new B-MAX goes on sale across Europe later this year, and will be class-leading in fuel economy and CO2 emissions in both its diesel and petrol-engined derivatives. For example, with the Ford Auto-Start-Stop system as standard, the 120PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine in the Ford B-MAX achieves class-leading CO2 emissions of 114g/km and fuel consumption of 4.9l/100km (57.6mpg), 15 per cent more economical than its key competitors.

The B-MAX will be available with both the 100PS and 120PS versions of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, winner of the 2012 International Engine of the Year earlier this month. Both versions of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost also are built in Craiova.

The B-MAX also is among Europe’s most technologically-advanced small cars. It will offer Active City Stop, which can sense that a low-speed collision is likely and automatically apply the brakes. The B-MAX also will be the first car in Europe to offer Ford SYNC with Emergency Assistance, the advanced voice controlled driver assist system.

Safety is also a key area of strength for the new vehicle. Ford expects the B-MAX to be awarded a five-star rating by Euro NCAP under its new and tougher protocol.

“Volume vehicle and engine production at Craiova brings a new level of sophisticated manufacturing to Eastern Europe,” said John Fleming, executive vice president, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs, Ford Motor Company. “Craiova is today one of the most competitive and modern production sites in Ford’s global manufacturing footprint and, indeed, in the global auto industry as a whole, with cutting-edge facilities like its class-leading paint shop.”
Ford also confirmed today that it is starting to build a second engine at Craiova, a 1.5-litre petrol engine, which will go into volume production early next year. Further details concerning the engine will be released at a later date.

Impression from the B-Max Job #1 event in Craiova.....

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About Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 164,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 51 individual markets and employs approximately 66,000 employees. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford of Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 22 manufacturing facilities, including joint ventures. The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.