Ford Adjusts Production at European Plants

Ford has announced new manufacturing sourcing plans at its European facilities. The moves are expected to increase Ford’s manufacturing productivity and retain flexibility as the company prepares to launch at least 20 all-new or significantly freshened vehicles in the next three years, leveraging Ford's global product portfolio.

Under plans, production of the next generation Ford Transit Connect will be transferred from Turkey and Romania to Spain. Ford did not say exactly when next generation Transit Connect will enter production at the Valencia facility.

Ford’s Craiova, Romania, plant will build the all-new Ford B-MAX from early 2012 and will manufacture a second B-segment vehicle in the future. The factory also will begin producing the new fuel-efficient 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine in early 2012. Ford also re-confirmed its commitment to invest in excess of €675 million to transform Craiova into a modern and globally-competitive manufacturing facility.

Ford Otosan’s plant in Kocaeli, Turkey, is to build an all-new light commercial vehicle in addition to the next-generation Transit commercial vehicle. Ford Otosan is to continue providing engineering for the next-generation Transit Connect to be built in Spain.