The date for the start of production of the new vehicle, as well as additional details, are to be confirmed close to the its unveiling.
Ford’s total investment in its Romanian production operations – including the investment announced today – nears $2 billion, since its acquisition of the plant in Craiova, back in 2008.
Mid-February 2021, Ford pledged that all of its passenger cars in Europe would be “zero-emissions capable all-electric or plug-in hybrid” by mid-2026, before ramping up its ambitions to be “completely all-electric by 2030”.
Ford’s new goals include 100% of its passenger vehicles in Europe being zero-emissions capable by mid-2026, with that shifting to 100% all-electric by 2030. Ford said it was going “all in” on electric vehicles and would invest $1bn (£720m) converting a vehicle assembly plant in Cologne, Germany, to become its first electric vehicle facility in Europe. It said the first all-electric cars would start rolling off the production line there in 2023.
In October 2019, Ford announced it had officially started production of its new Ford Puma SUV-inspired compact crossover at its assembly plant in Craiova. Ford Puma uses Ford’s EcoBoost Hybrid 48-volt technology. The mild-hybrid powertrain seamlessly integrates electric torque assistance with a low-friction, three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine to deliver up to 155 PS.