Ford sees Romanian market as having highest potential in CEE
Zoltan Brassai, chief operating officer of the National Sales
Company of Ford Romania, which took over the US brand's imports on
August 1, still sees the domestic market as having the biggest
potential in CEE.
"Romania is the most promising market in the CEE. Why is that?
There's a high level of training here, there are good schools,
taxes are low and there's a flat tax and, of course, the country is
part of the European Union. If I were an investor, I'd invest in
Romania now," said Brassai, in an interview with ZF.
"The fact that Hungary's market was double Romania's ten years ago
and the situation is reversed now, demonstrates the potential of
the market. This is why Ford decided to come to Romania instead of
Hungary or Slovakia, the European country with the highest
automotive industry investments. I believe Ford's decision to
invest in Romania was better than Mercedes-Benz's decision to build
a factory in Hungary," he added.
Starting August 1, Ford has been handling the import of the US
brand onto the Romanian market directly, so that almost all brand
distribution contracts are being re-discussed with each car dealer.
Part of them have already signed a contract with the National Sales
Company, but others are still in talks.
"At present, the Ford network of Romania is active in over 40
locations and we're monitoring the current market conditions before
going ahead with our expansion plans," said Paul Flanagan, managing
director of Ford's NSC a week ago.
According to Brassai, another four new Ford centres will be opened
by yearend.