Ford Romania
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA Ford Otosan-operated vehicle and engine manufacturing company based in Craiova, Romania.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Ford Romania is the Romanian automobile manufacturing operation now operated by Ford Otosan through Ford Otosan Romania SRL. Its modern industrial base is the Craiova facility, a former Oltcit and Daewoo plant acquired by Ford in 2008 from the Romanian government. The company began vehicle production at Craiova in September 2009 with the Ford Transit Connect, followed by the Ford B-Max, EcoSport, Puma and newer commercial-vehicle programs. It also produces Ford EcoBoost engines and has developed into one of Ford Otosan’s principal European manufacturing locations. The Ford name has a much older history in Romania. Ford vehicles were imported into the country from 1911, initially through Royal Garage and subsequently through several other agencies. Ford cars became popular among Romanian political and business figures, helping establish early awareness of the marque. Proposals for a local assembly operation were made in the 1920s, but approval was delayed. Ford ultimately established Ford Româna S.A.R. in Bucharest in 1931 after negotiations involving King Carol II and Henry Ford. An assembly line began operating in 1932, and a purpose-built facility on Calea Floreasca opened in May 1936. The Bucharest plant assembled a range of Ford automobiles, including V8 models, as well as Mercury vehicles, Marmon-Herrington products and Fordson trucks. During the 1930s it was one of Ford’s relatively small number of facilities worldwide combining assembly and production activities. Annual output reached approximately 600 to 700 vehicles, while the plant also assembled vehicles from imported kits. The operation expanded its truck activities before the Second World War, including Fordson-based vehicles manufactured in Romania. Wartime conditions changed the plant’s role. The Romanian Army took control of the facility, which performed repairs and continued producing military trucks and related vehicles. Between 1939 and 1942, the plant delivered thousands of military and fuel trucks as well as Marmon-Herrington vehicles. After Romania changed sides in 1944, repair work continued for Romanian and Soviet military fleets. The company was nationalized in 1948, and the site later became associated with Automatica, an electrical and automation-equipment manufacturer. The modern Ford operation emerged after the purchase of Daewoo Automobile Romania in 2008. Craiova had previously been an Oltcit factory and later a Daewoo Motors facility. Ford introduced vehicle production in 2009 and added engine manufacturing, including three- and four-cylinder EcoBoost programs. The B-Max was produced from 2012, while the EcoSport was selected for European production at Craiova from 2017 after an announced investment of €200 million. The Puma entered production in 2019 and became a major product of the plant. The second-generation Transit Courier and electric Puma Gen-E subsequently expanded the site’s portfolio. In 2022, ownership of the Craiova operation transferred from Ford Motor Company’s European subsidiary to Ford Otosan, a Ford-Koç joint venture with a major commercial-vehicle manufacturing presence in Turkey. The Romanian company changed its legal name to Ford Otosan Romania SRL. Ford Otosan announced plans to increase production and introduce electric vehicles at Craiova. In 2024, the company obtained a €435 million bank loan intended to support investment in equipment, installations and engineering capacity. Ford Romania therefore represents both the historical Romanian Ford subsidiary founded in Bucharest and the contemporary Craiova manufacturing business within the Ford Otosan industrial network.
History
Ford’s Romanian presence began as an import and assembly story before becoming a modern export-oriented manufacturing operation. Ford cars were imported into Romania as early as 1911, when Royal Garage and later agencies developed a local market for the marque. A proposal to establish a Romanian assembly plant was submitted in 1920, and another was made in 1927. These initiatives did not immediately succeed, but Ford eventually created a local subsidiary, Ford Româna S.A.R., in Bucharest in 1931. Assembly began in Bucharest in 1932 after negotiations associated with King Carol II and Henry Ford. Ford later developed a larger facility on Calea Floreasca. The plant opened in May 1936 with an annual assembly capacity of about 2,500 cars and repair capacity for approximately 6,000 vehicles. Its workforce included Romanian workers, technicians, administrative staff and foreign specialists. The facility assembled Ford V8 cars in several versions, Mercury Eight automobiles, Marmon-Herrington vehicles and Fordson trucks. During the 1930s, it was one of six Ford facilities worldwide combining assembly and production lines. Output was reported at roughly 600 to 700 vehicles annually, supplemented by vehicles assembled from imported kits. The Bucharest operation expanded into truck manufacturing before the Second World War. Fordson-based trucks were built with substantial local content, and the company supplied military vehicles after the plant came under Romanian Army control. From 1939 to 1942, it delivered 3-ton trucks, fuel trucks and Marmon-Herrington vehicles. Imports from the United States and United Kingdom were interrupted after Romania aligned with Germany, and the plant’s activities shifted toward military production and repairs. Following August 1944, it repaired vehicles used by Romanian and Soviet forces. The company was nationalized in 1948. The site subsequently changed its industrial role and became Automatica in 1960, producing electrical equipment and automation systems. Ford’s modern Romanian operation was created much later in Craiova, at a former Oltcit factory that had later operated as Daewoo Automobile Romania. Ford acquired the Romanian Daewoo operation in 2008 and began vehicle production in September 2009 with the Ford Transit Connect. Craiova then produced the Ford B-Max and added engine manufacturing, particularly three- and four-cylinder members of Ford’s EcoBoost family. In 2016, Ford announced that the plant would manufacture the EcoSport for the European market from 2017. The decision was linked to rising European demand for sport-utility vehicles and was accompanied by an announced €200 million investment. The Ford Puma entered production in 2019, giving the facility a major compact crossover program. The second-generation Transit Courier later added a light commercial vehicle program, while electric-vehicle production plans culminated in the Puma Gen-E. In March 2022, Ford announced the sale of Ford Romania to Ford Otosan. The transfer of the Craiova facility from Ford of Europe was completed in July 2022, and the company adopted the legal name Ford Otosan Romania SRL. Ford Otosan announced plans to raise production and introduce electric models. In 2024, a consortium of banks extended a €435 million loan for equipment, installations and engineering investments. The Craiova operation is consequently both a continuation of Ford’s long industrial relationship with Romania and a strategic Ford Otosan site serving European passenger-vehicle, commercial-vehicle and electrification programs.
- 2024
Puma Gen-E and major investment financing
[1]The electric Puma Gen-E was listed among the plant’s products, while the company received a €435 million bank loan for industrial investment.
- 2023
Second-generation Transit Courier enters production
[1]The Craiova plant added the second-generation Ford Transit Courier.
- 2022
Ford Otosan completes acquisition of the Romanian operation
[1]Ford Otosan completed the transfer of the Craiova facility from Ford of Europe and renamed the company Ford Otosan Romania SRL.
- 2019
Ford Puma enters production
[1]Craiova added the Ford Puma, a compact sport-utility vehicle, to its production portfolio.
- 2017
EcoSport production begins at Craiova
[1]The plant began producing the EcoSport for the European market.
- 2016
EcoSport investment and production plan announced
[1]Ford announced European EcoSport production at Craiova from 2017, supported by a reported €200 million investment.
- 2012
Ford B-Max production begins
[1]The Craiova plant added the Ford B-Max to its vehicle production program.
- 2009
Craiova vehicle production restarts under Ford
[1]The plant began producing Ford Transit Connect vehicles.
- 2008
Ford acquires Daewoo Automobile Romania
[1]Ford purchased the Craiova-based Daewoo operation from the Romanian government.
- 1948
Company is nationalized
[1]The Romanian state nationalized the Ford company and subsequently redirected the site to other industrial activities.
Products and positioning
A European manufacturing and engineering base focused on compact passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, powertrains and the transition to electric-vehicle production.
Light commercial vehicle · 2009
Ford Transit Connect
The Transit Connect was the first Ford vehicle produced at Craiova after Ford acquired the former Daewoo facility. Its production, beginning in 2009, re-established the site as a Ford vehicle-manufacturing plant and introduced a commercial-vehicle program that preceded later Courier production.
Passenger car · 2012
Ford B-Max
The B-Max was a compact Ford passenger vehicle produced at Craiova during the plant’s early modern period. It followed the Transit Connect and demonstrated the facility’s shift from a single commercial-vehicle program toward higher-volume passenger-car manufacturing.
Automobile engine · 2012
Ford EcoBoost engines
Craiova manufactures three- and four-cylinder versions of Ford’s EcoBoost engine family. Engine production complements vehicle assembly and gives the Romanian operation a powertrain role within Ford’s European manufacturing network.
Sport-utility vehicle · 2017
Ford EcoSport
Ford selected Craiova to build the EcoSport for the European market, moving the program from Chennai and supporting the decision with an announced €200 million investment. Production began in 2017 and continued until 2023.
Compact sport-utility vehicle · 2019
Ford Puma
The Puma entered production at Craiova in 2019 and became one of the plant’s principal passenger-vehicle programs. Its production strengthened the site’s role in Ford’s European compact SUV manufacturing strategy.
Light commercial vehicle · 2023
Ford Transit Courier II
The second-generation Transit Courier is a compact commercial vehicle produced at Craiova from 2023. It broadens the factory’s output beyond passenger cars and aligns the site with Ford Otosan’s wider commercial-vehicle manufacturing capabilities.
Electric sport-utility vehicle · 2024
Ford Puma Gen-E
The Puma Gen-E represents the plant’s move into battery-electric vehicle production. It is part of Ford Otosan’s plan to expand electrified manufacturing at Craiova while retaining the Puma nameplate as a central product of the site.
Brand decisions
2024
Finance further Craiova investmentStrategyBackground
Ford Otosan planned additional industrial development at the Craiova site, including equipment, installations and engineering work.
Action taken
The company received a €435 million loan from a consortium of banks.
Aftermath
The financing was intended to support continued expansion and modernization of the Romanian factory.
Investment loan. €435 million (2024)
2022
Transfer ownership to Ford OtosanM&ABackground
Ford reorganized ownership of its Romanian manufacturing operation within the Ford Otosan industrial group.
Action taken
Ford Otosan acquired Ford Romania from Ford of Europe, completing the transfer in July 2022; the company became Ford Otosan Romania SRL.
Aftermath
Craiova became part of Ford Otosan’s European production network, with plans for increased output and electric-vehicle manufacturing.
2022
Expand production and introduce electric modelsStrategyBackground
Following the ownership change, Ford Otosan sought to develop Craiova as a broader vehicle and electrification hub.
Action taken
Ford Otosan announced plans to increase production and add electric vehicle models at the facility.
Aftermath
The plant subsequently listed the electric Puma Gen-E among its products.
2019
Add Ford Puma to Craiova productionProduct launchBackground
Ford was expanding its European compact sport-utility vehicle manufacturing footprint.
Action taken
Ford began producing the Puma at Craiova.
Aftermath
The Puma became a central product in the Romanian plant’s passenger-vehicle portfolio.
2016
Select Craiova for European EcoSport productionProduct launchBackground
Ford identified growing European demand for sport-utility vehicles and planned to move European EcoSport production from India.
Action taken
Ford assigned European EcoSport production to Craiova from autumn 2017 and announced a €200 million investment.
Aftermath
EcoSport production began at the Romanian facility in 2017.
Announced investment. €200 million (2016 announcement)
2008
Acquire Daewoo Automobile RomaniaM&ABackground
Ford sought to establish a modern Romanian manufacturing base at the former Oltcit and Daewoo facility in Craiova.
Action taken
Ford acquired Daewoo Automobile Romania from the Romanian government.
Aftermath
The acquisition created the basis for Ford vehicle and engine production in Craiova from 2009 onward.
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