Factory in Craiova (photo: Ford)
Craiova Assembly Plant in Romania will produce classic and electric versions of a new light commercial vehicle. It will be Ford’s third factory for all-electric vehicles in Europe.
Ford’s investment will contribute to electric vehicle development in Southeastern Europe soon after Romanian carmaker Dacia started the production of Dacia Spring, its first electric model. Also, Kyoto-based Nidec announced it would open an electric vehicle motor factory in Serbia.
It will be Ford’s third factory for all-electric vehicles in Europe
Ford said it would spend USD 300 million on the production of a new light commercial vehicle, scheduled to start in 2023 at its Craiova facility, with an all-electric version due to debut in 2024 – the company’s first all-electric volume vehicle to be built in Romania.
In February, Ford vowed to make its entire commercial vehicle range zero emissions capable, all-electric or plug-in hybrid by 2024 and added two thirds of commercial vehicle sales are expected to be all-electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030.
Ford’s investments in Romania will reach USD 2 billion
Stuart Rowley, president of Ford of Europe, said Craiova operations have a strong record of delivering world-class competitiveness and flexibility.
“Adding an all-electric version in 2024 means Craiova will be our third facility in Europe to build an all-electric vehicle. It follows recent investments this year in the Ford Cologne Electrified Vehicle Center in Germany and Ford Otosan’s Kocaeli plant in Turkey and sends another clear signal that we are on an accelerated path to providing our commercial vehicle customers with a zero emissions future in Europe,” he said.
Since acquiring the Craiova facility in 2008, the company’s overall investment in its Romanian manufacturing operations is close to USD 2 billion if the latest update is included. The factory’s commitment to electrification goes back to October 2019 with the start of the production of the Puma mild hybrid, Ford said.
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