A part of the Fiesta model production will be transferred from Cologne to Craiova in 2017, according to the U.S. group Ford. The transfer aims to reduce costs in the context of massive losses recorded by the company's European operations after the sharp decline in auto sales on the continent.
The information was published by the German newspaper Bild, citing sources close to Ford. The relocation of the manufacturing lines will take place in 2017 and will affect about 1,000 employees of the factory in Cologne.
The partial transfer of Fiesta production from Cologne to Craiova is motivated mainly by salaries and energy costs.
The Ford Company registered losses in Europe last year of 1.6 billion dollars and 1.75 billion dollars in 2012. Since 2008, the European car market fell by over 25%, the lowest level in over 20 years.
Ford Craiova currently manufactures the B-Max EcoBoost 1.0-liter and 1.5-liter petrol.