ROMANIA: Ford starts EcoBoost production at Craiova

Ford has started volume production of EcoBoost engines at its new factory in Craiova, Romania.

The EUR180m plant is part of the automaker's total spend there of EUR675m (about US$875m) on engine and vehicle production.

The first engine model is the one-litre EcoBoost petrol, also made in Cologne, Germany. The turbocharged, direct injection I3 is the smallest petrol engine built by Ford and will go into the new B-Max mini-MPV soon also made at Craiova. It’s already available in Europe in the Focus (100 PS and 125 PS versions).

The B-Max will get 100PS and 120PS versions and the motor is also destined for the C-Max/Grand C-Max lines and "several other Ford vehicles".

 “This brings a new level of advanced manufacturing to this part of Europe,” said Dirk Heller, Ford Europe’s head of manufacturing and powertrain operations. “With pivotal products such as the one-litre EcoBoost engine and the new B-Max, which goes into production later this year, Craiova is very important to Ford’s future success in Europe.”

The Craiova engine plant will initially run a single shift with more planned as demand increases.

New manufacturing techniques there reduce the volume of coolant required when machining aluminium engine parts to just 4-5 millilitres per component compared with the usual requirement of up to two litres.

The factory was built by Daewoo and a small number of former employees transferred to Ford.