American carmaker Ford is currently analyzing the possibility to start producing its EcoSport SUV in Romania, starting 2017. Ford owns a car plant in Craiova, Southern Romania, where it now produces the B-Max compact model.

“We are talking about an intention and an opportunity that Ford will build a second model in Craiova, the EcoSport SUV. Production could start in the second half of 2017,” said Ovidiu Cioroianu, a Ford union leader, quoted by Hotnews.ro.

He added that Ford will most likely make a decision over a couple of months after it analyzes several factors related to production.

Ford representatives met on Monday, March 23, with Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, but the Government’s representatives didn’t release any information on the theme of the meeting.

Ford will likely ask the Government for infrastructure improvements and may even request a new state aid to prepare the production of the new model, according to local media.

Ford took over the car plant in Craiova in 2007 for EUR 57 million. The American group initially promised it would reach a total production of 250,000 cars per year in Craiova, by the end of 2011. The carmaker received a EUR 37 million state aid from the Romanian Government to achieve this goal. Then, Ford got the state's OK to reduce its target to 60,000 cars per year, by the end of 2012, a goal which it also missed.

In 2014, Ford produced some 53,000 BMax cars in Craiova, as the model’s sales in Europe were weak. The plant in Craiova also produces EcoBoost engines.

The EcoSport SUV, which Ford currently makes in India, would have higher production volumes than the BMax, as the American company aims to increase its SUV sales in Europe.

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editor@romania-insider.com