Ford Transit Connect Launched At Romanian Assembly Plant In Craiova

The dissembled cars are brought from a factory in Turkey, Kocaeli, and are assembled at the plant in Craiova. Ford Transit Connect is a small commercial vehicle.

The first cars to be totally manufactured at Craiova plant will be launched on the market next year.

Furthermore, Ford announced the first car produced at Craiova plant will be donated to the municipal hospital in the city, and the cars from the respective lot will be delivered to the Ford dealers in Romania.

Ford launched on Tuesday the first automobile manufactured in Craiova. Romanian President Traian Basescu and Senate Chairman Mircea Geoana attended the event, along with the President of Ford Europe, John Fleming, Transports Minister Radu Berceanu, U.S. Ambasador in Romania Mark Gitenstein, former Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu and Constantin Stroe, vice-president of Automobile Dacia.

"We are all aware that this is a difficult economic period for the world and for Romania. Few industries have felt the effects of the global economic downturn more acutely than the automotive industry (…) Ford's presence here will be a powerful engine for growth in Romania's economy, and in this Craiova community," U.S. Ambasador in Romania Mark Gitenstein said.

Fleming said the number of employees at the assembly pant in Craiova will reach 7,000 from 3,900 as they are at the moment.

He added Ford will invest other EUR675 million in the plant in Craiova.

Basescu said the Romanian Government will continue to support the investments made in Craiova and thanked U.S. carmaker Ford for being so determined to invest in the Romanian auto sector.

Basescu also thanked the former Government for the flexible way it negotiated with the U.S. investor.

He added the privatization of the car plant in Craiova was successful and congratulated former Prime Minister Tariceanu for making it happen.

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