Ford Motor Company started volume vehicle production of the B-MAX at its new world-class manufacturing plant in Craiova, Romania ahead of European sales starting in September. Ford is investing more than €675 (approximately $875 million) in engine and vehicle production in Romania. The first car to be built at this plant is the Ford B-MAX, the innovative B-segment multi-activity vehicle, which will exclusively be manufactured at the Romanian plant. To celebrate the event, a special ceremony at Craiova was held which was attended by the Romanian President Traian Basescu, who purchased the first B-MAX to roll off the production line.

“This is a great day for Ford Motor Company, our Craiova manufacturing facility, and for Romania,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe. “This is a world-class facility building two of Ford’s most advanced products – the Ford B-MAX and the 2012 International Engine of the Year, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine – to the highest quality levels for our customers.” The B-MAX features best-in-class 1.5-meter unobstructed access to the cabin with the central body pillar integrated into the hinged front doors and sliding rear doors. Also it is class-leading in fuel economy and CO2 emissions in both diesel and petrol-engine derivatives. The B-MAX is powered by the 1.0-L EcoBoost engine with both the 100PS and 120PS versions.

The new model is among Europe’s most technologically-advanced small cars. Among its features is Active City Stop, which can sense a low speed collision and automatically applies the brakes. It will also be the first car in Europe offered with Ford SYNC with Emergency Assistance, the advanced voice controlled driver assist system. “Volume vehicle and engine production at Craiova brings a new level of sophisticated manufacturing to Eastern Europe,” said John Fleming, executive vice president, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs, Ford Motor Company. “Craiova is today one of the most competitive and modern production sites in Ford’s global manufacturing footprint and, indeed, in the global auto industry as a whole, with cutting-edge facilities like its class-leading paint shop.” Ford also confirmed that a second engine, a 1.5-L petrol engine would be built at Craiova and will go into volume production next year.