The company has received more than 1,000 orders for the new model from the United Kingdom and almost 2,000 from Germany, said Ford Romania CEO Zoltan Brassai. Therefore, orders are in line with Ford’s expectations, but interest in test driving the B-Max has exceeded expectations.
The factory in Craiova will build 60,000 units of the new model this year and a greater number in 2013, said Brassai without providing more data on its expected production.
In May, Ford began building the EcoBoost 1-liter engine, called 2012 International Engine of the Year by Engine Technology International magazine. Brassai said Ford wants to produce between 800,000 and 1.3 million engines in 2012-2015 in its Craiova and German factories.
In June, the carmaker announced the Craiova plant would also build a new 1.5-liter engine starting next year.
Ford estimates that 95% of the vehicles and engines produced in Romania will be exported. The company wants to sell 7,500 units in Romania, the equivalent of a 7.5% share of the market, said Brassai.
According to data sent to the Finance Ministry, Ford Romania’s revenue grew 31% last year, from 864.1 million lei (EUR189 million) to RON1.13 billion, while losses increased by 70%, from RON275.9 million to RON471.3 million.
In 2011, car sales in Romania declined 7.4% to 110,668 units, from 119,417 units in 2010. Ford sold 5,547 units for a market share of 5.9%.
Passenger car sales fell 16.8% on the year to 35,950 units in January through June, according to the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association (APIA). (EUR1=RON4.5647)